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Industrial and domestic wastes, commonly known as wastewater, are a potential source of pollution of both water and soil.

Their monitoring and treatment ensures the safety of human health and respect for the environment. As Oxigen Laboratories, we provide a range of sampling services and analyses to support wastewater monitoring and treatment plans. Analyses include characterization of industrial and domestic wastes to control quality and compliance with international environmental standards and guidelines. Services also include ecological toxicological analysis such as acute and chronic toxicity to fish, microtox, micro crustaceans (Daphnia similis), seaweeds, etc.

The health principles and requirements for swimming pools in our country have been notified by the Ministry of Health with the “Regulation on Health Principles and Requirements for Swimming Pools” published in the Official Gazette dated March 3, 2011 and numbered 27866 [Amended; dated December 15, 2011 and numbered 28143].

In this regulation, the requirements for swimming pools are listed as

“Annex-1 Chemical properties”,

“Annex-2 Physical properties”,

“Annex-3 Microbiological properties”

and our laboratory is authorized to sample and analyses by our technical staff.

In the early years of hemodialysis, the importance of treating the water used in hemodialysis was not sufficiently understood, and serious poisoning caused by substances such as bacterial endotoxins, chlorinated compounds, excessive calcium, magnesium, fluorine, aluminum, etc., which can always be found in small amounts in city municipal water, has been observed in patients. While the presence of these substances in water may not cause a noticeable problem in people who drink and use this water, they can cause serious poisoning in hemodialysis patients. In end-stage renal disease patients, toxic substances can easily accumulate in the body due to the dysfunction of the kidneys to remove toxins from the body. However, while a normal person drinks 10-15 liters of water per week, a hemodialysis patient comes into contact with 300-800 ml per minute, i.e. 300-400 liters per week, of water in the dialysis solution during hemodialysis and with all kinds of toxic substances contained in this amount of water. This contact occurs directly at the blood level, and the gastrointestinal system and other sensory organs are not able to use any defense mechanisms such as bad taste sensation, nausea and vomiting against these toxins. Dialysis water must therefore be much purer than drinking water and much more pure and free of harmful substances.

The current legislation on the control of water used for the dilution of hemodialysis solutions is based on the European Union Pharmacopoeia. According to this, the chemical, microbiological and toxicological parameters of hemodialysis water quality must comply with the criteria in the pharmacopoeia.

The Water Treatment Directive dated 28.10.2011 and numbered 44047, issued by the Ministry of Health in accordance with the provisions of the Regulation Amending the Regulation on Dialysis Centers dated 14.02.2012 and numbered 28204, covers all dialysis centers without distinction between public and private.

Oxigen Laboratories also analyses drinking water and spring water. Our specialized laboratories perform microbiological analysis to identify potentially harmful bacteria and chemical analysis to detect radioactivity, residues and contaminants, including heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins.

It offers specialized analysis to detect Legionella pneumophila to manage the risk of Legionnaires’ disease. In addition to water quality checks to ensure water safety in public pools and spas, we also carry out checks on the quality of water used for agricultural purposes, water used in industrial processes or municipal and industrial wastewater. With these analyses, our laboratory supports the establishment of preventive measures to limit contamination, prevent bacterial growth in critical environments and monitor levels of other specific contaminants such as Legionella or Pseudomonas.

Legionella bacteria are microorganisms that can cause serious infections in humans.

Legionnaires’ disease was first identified during the American Legion Congress in Philadelphia in 1976, following an outbreak of pneumonia among congress participants staying at the hotel. In this outbreak, which affected 221 people in total, 34 people died.

There are more than 40 species of this bacterium, which is widespread in nature. More than 20 species of Legionella bacteria can cause infection in humans. However, L. pneumophila is the most common species causing infection in the clinic.

L. pneumophila can be found in natural water environments around the world, and artificial water systems can provide a favorable environment for the bacteria to grow in high numbers. The optimum temperature for Legionella to multiply is between 25°C and 45°C, above 60°C they do not survive and below 20°C they are almost impossible to replicate.

Based on this, risky environments for the growth of Legionella bacteria are:

– Hot and cold water systems and tanks,

– Baths, spa pools, swimming pools and thermal spas,

– Pipes through which little or no water passes,

– Showers, shower heads and taps,

– Garden watering systems,

– Central air conditioners, fire extinguisher hoses,

– Decorative pool with fountains,

In our laboratory, ‘Legionella Risk Assessment and Analysis’ is carried out in accordance with ISO/IEC 17020 standard and ‘Legionella Detection’ is carried out with accredited methods according to ISO/IEC 17025 standard.