Chlorinated Swimming Pools and Asthma

Filed in archive Asthma on September 22, 2009

© gabyu
It's been three years ago since I first blogged about the possible link between chlorinated (indoor) swimming pools and asthma. This month, yet another research article has been published, supporting previous reports that swimming in outdoor or indoor chlorinated pools can increase risks of asthma and respiratory allergies among adolescents.

In this particular study, the researchers compared the health of adolescents who swam in chlorinated pools to adolescents who swam in pools sanitized with a concentration of copper and silver. They found that in children with allergic sensitivities (atopy), exposure to chlorinated pools significantly increased the prevalence of asthma and respiratory allergies. They speculate that the chlorine-based oxidants in the water or just above the water cause changes in the airway and promote the development of allergic diseases. They say that the data reinforce the need for further research and to enforce regulations on the level of these chemicals in the water and air of swimming pools.

I personally find this newsbit worrisome, although Asthma UK doesn't seem much perturbed. We've been keeping my son off the chlorinated pools as much as possible because he reacts every single time he goes swimming in chlorinated pools, but never at the beach, lakes or spring pools.

Related Entries:

« Do Antihistamines Make Al... | Main | Stallergenes' Immunothera... »

Permalink: Chlorinated Swimming Pools and Asthma

Tags: swimming chlorine asthma allergy allergies swimming+pools pools+asthma chlorinated+swimming

Vote for Chlorinated Swimming Pools and Asthma:

Currently 9.33/10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Rating: 9.33 out of 3 vote(s) cast.

Response from: Wkpools (12/26/09 4:45am)

Many people find the lower amount of chlorine makes the water more comfortable to swim in and less drying to the skin after a swim. The heavy chlorine smell generally associated with swimming pools is not present in salt water pools, which is wonderful if you are sensitive to scents or have allergies.
Pure chlorine pools create organochlorines which mimic human hormones. They can cause reduced fertility, immune system abnormalities, and numerous cancers. Chloromines can also cause or worsen emphysema and asthma. Saltwater swimming pools do not have this problem because chlorine levels never drop low enough for organochlorines to form

Response from: R Muir (02/02/10 1:27am)

my daughter started to have a reaction while swimming during club training and competitions, she started having problems such as being unable to pick up pace, sprint, loss of stamina. She also developed a cough and we took her to see a doctor who diagnosed that she had a bronchial tract irritation, her results from the Peak Flow Meter were not good '300'. Nine months later and after using inhalers for a short time she now reads 390-400, she has always had a reactive sneeze when swimming in chlorinated pools, therefore uses antihistimines daily. She is 13 now but has been a club swimmer since 8yrs old, has swam at National level and wants to continue but back in training she is starting to have a tightness and is feeling she can't breathe, doctors don't want to register her as asthmatic but I'm not so sure now. At school she does cross country with no problems, goes to a rural school, lives in a rural area with loads of pollen and has no problems. I'm sure she has developed chlorine related asthma and would like to see chlorine banned from public sports and leisure areas, I would also like to know the best way for my daughter to combat the effects to allow her to continue competing at a high level.

Response from: inflatable pool (05/06/10 12:08am)

That's one of the reasons that make me skeptical about allowing my kid to swim in a public pool. I am still waiting for natural pool cleaning solutions or mechanical solutions, a good filter and maybe a good cleaning robot would be enough.

Share It

RSS
Google
Yahoo!
Addthis
Bloglines