Chemicals added to swimming pools leach into the air above the surface of the water, with the result that regular lap swimmers must be inhaling them to a significantly greater degree than casual pool users. Have there been any studies on the long term health effects?
Some papers mainly dedicated to the health of swimming pool workers:
Article Respiratory symptoms and bronchial responsivness in lifeguar...
Article Comparison of the sensory irritation response in mice to chl...
Article Exposure to chloramines in the atmosphere of indoor swiming pools
and one for swimmers:
Article Not only training but also exposure to chlorinated compounds...
Several others (some in French) about subjects related upon request.
Thanks, Michel Héry .
I guess pool workers have the advantage over athletes in that they can at least use respiratory masks. I wasn't thinking of chlorine or chlorides in particular, but the alternatives have their own issues:
https://www.houselogic.com/by-room/yard-patio/swimming-pools-alternatives-chlorine/
Researches reveal that chlorine used to disinfect swimming pool water can create DBPs (disinfection by-products), which can cause respiratory diseases, skin rashes, allergies and certain types of cancer. Furthermore, swallowing too much chlorinated water can lead to liver and kidney disorders. Please have a look at the following RG links and PDF attachments.
Article Disinfection of swimming pools with chlorine and derivatives...
Article Potential negative effects of chlorinated swimming pool atte...
Article Disinfection by-products effect on swimmers oxidative stress...
Article Impact of Chlorinated Swimming Pool Attendance on the Respir...
Article Outdoor swimming pools and the risks of asthma and allergies...
Article Chlorine, Chlorination By-Products and Their Allergic and Re...
Article Health Effects from Swimming Training in Chlorinated Pools a...
Chlorinated water is one of the reasons for the increase in the incidence of skin cancer every year. Prolonged exposure to chlorine found in water can cause the production of a toxin which can cause rash or infection of the body.
Chlorinated water is one of the reasons for the increase in the incidence of skin cancer every year. Prolonged exposure to chlorine found in water can cause the production of a toxin which can cause rash or infection of the body.
Any thoughts about the other chemicals besides chlorine or chlorides? As it happens, the pools I've used in the last decade or so have switched to some sort of saline-based additives that perhaps aren't entirely chlorine-free but the chlorine odor is gone or very much mitigated. However, I've also found that pool personnel aren't very knowledgeable about what they're putting in the water.
You can find an assessment of the exposure to products (aldehydes, phenols, haloforms) besides chloramines, in that paper:
Article Exposition aux chloramines dans les atmosphères des halls de piscine
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6223699_Not_only_training_but_also_exposure_to_chlorinated_compounds_generates_a_response_to_oxidative_stimuli_in_swimmers
Dear Karl Pfeifer. Health effects caused by long-term exposure to the volatile trichloramine may aggravate asthma symptoms/respiratory irritations amongst frequent pool users. Irritations have been observed in pool workers, staring from around 0.4 mg/m3. In 2019, the Nordic Expert Group published an occupational health based exposure limit value of 0.1 mg/m3 for exposure to trichloramine in the air of swimming facilities.
The document can be found here: https://gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/2077/61724/4/gupea_2077_61724_4.pdf
We have also studied which determinants are important to consider estimating long-term exposure in indoor swimming facilities, using chlorine to disinfect the water.
https://academic.oup.com/annweh/article/63/5/560/5432168
Article Covariation amongst pool management, trichloramine exposure ...
All the best.
Studies have revealed that pool chemicals and their by-products (some chemicals combine to form new chemicals) cause burning eyes, skin irritation, allergies, asthma and higher rates of cancer.
https://www.spectralightuv.com/are-pool-chemicals-safe#:~:text=Studies%20have%20revealed%20that%20pool,and%20higher%20rates%20of%20cancer.
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