Long term Health Effects

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Thu, 24 Oct 2013 07:26:43 GMT

There are studies that show a link between pool cleaning agents like chlorine and bromine interacting with organic material such as hair, skin, sweat, and urine, to trigger DNA markers (genotoxicity?). Here's one of these. I too swam for 45 years, then got bladder cancer (treated successfully without bladder removal) but intend to go back in but perhaps in pools that use other ways to clean it. N Science News ... from universities, journals, and other research organizations www.sciencedaily.com/.../bookmark.png Save www.sciencedaily.com/.../email.png Email www.sciencedaily.com/.../print.png Print www.sciencedaily.com/.../share.png Share Chemicals in Indoor Swimming Pools May Increase Cancer RiskSep. 14, 2010 — Swimming in indoor chlorinated pools may induce genotoxicity (DNA damage that may lead to cancer) as well as respiratory effects, but the positive health effects of swimming can be maintained by reducing pool levels of the chemicals behind these potential health risks, according to a new study published in a set of three articles online September 12 ahead of print in the peer-reviewed journalEnvironmental Health Perspectives (EHP). This study is the first to provide a comprehensive characterization of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in an indoor pool environment and the first to study the genotoxicity of exposure to these chemicals among swimmers in an indoor chlorinated pool. Share This: 308 DBPs form in pool water from reactions between disinfectants such as chlorine and organic matter that is either present naturally or is introduced by swimmers, such as sweat, skin cells, and urine. Previous epidemiologic studies have found an association between exposure to DBPs in drinking water and risk of bladder cancer, and one such study has found this association for dermal/inhalational exposure such as occurs during showering, bathing, or swimming. The new study details a comprehensive investigation of DBPs and mutagenicity of water samples collected from two indoor pools, one disinfected with chlorine, the other with bromine. In addition, short-term changes in biomarkers of genotoxicity and respiratory effects were studied in swimmers who swam in the chlorinated pool. No previous studies have combined investigations of the mutagenicity (ability to cause permanent DNA mutations) of pool water with a comprehensive chemical characterization of the water and studies of human exposures, the authors stated. Evidence of genotoxic effects were seen in 49 healthy adults after they swam for 40 minutes in the chlorinated pool. Specifically, researchers found increases in two genotoxicity biomarkers relative to the concentration of the most common types of DBPs in exhaled breath, which were used as a measure of the swimmers' exposures. The biomarkers that increased were micronuclei in blood lymphocytes, which have been associated with cancer risk in healthy subjects, and urine mutagenicity, which is a biomarker of exposure to genotoxic agents. Detailed measurements were also made of the most common exhaled DBPs (trihalomethanes) in air around the pool and in exhaled breath of the swimmers before and after swimming. Researchers measured several biomarkers of respiratory effects after swimming and found changes in only one -- a slight increase in serum CC16, which suggests an increase in lung epithelium permeability. This result was explained by the effects of exercise itself as well as exposure to DBPs. Further research is needed to sort out the clinical relevance of this acute change, the researchers stated. In addition, the authors identified more than 100 DBPs in the pool waters, some never reported previously in swimming pool water and/or chlorinated drinking water. In vitro assays showed that the swimming pool water was mutagenic at levels similar to that of drinking water but was more cytotoxic (can kill cells at a lower concentration) than drinking water. The human exposures studied were short-term, and further investigations of genotoxic and respiratory effects of longer-term exposures are needed, the authors stated. Also noted was a need for further research on an array of swimming pools under various conditions of maintenance and use, as well as more complete evaluations of the uptake and potential effects of the wide range of compounds present in pool water. These are preliminary results that should be confirmed in studies with larger sample sizes. This work was supported by the Spanish organizations Plan Nacional and Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria, Instituto de Salud Carlos III; and also by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:22:20 GMT

I have a copy of this article,from the journal "Human and Ecological Risk Assessment", if anyone wants it. Send me your e-mail address. "Human and Ecological Risk Assessment" 2006, Volume 12, Number 1, February Development of Factors for Estimating Swimmers’ Exposures to Chemicals in Swimming Pools - 139 Richard Reiss, Gerald P. Schoenig, and Gary A. Wright Abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has developed a model to estimate chemical-specific exposures to swimmers following pool treatments. This model is called SWIMODEL. The model was first introduced in 1996, and the USEPA has made refinements to the model over the last decade. One of the most significant parameters in this model is the duration of exposure. Unfortunately, there was no reliable source of data for these exposure durations, so highly conservative estimates were used in the earlier version of SWIMODEL. In order to address this data deficiency, a telephone survey of competitive swimming coaches was conducted to provide data for the refinement of the SWIMODEL. The survey collected data on practice durations and other factors that are potentially relevant to swimmer exposures. Two different surveys were developed. The first survey was designed for coaches of amateur swim club teams, and the second survey was for collegiate coaches. The survey found that the average practice durations for youth, adult Masters, and collegiate teams were 9.1, 6.4, and 17.0 hours/week, respectively. The use of these data to estimate acute, chronic, and lifetime exposures is discussed. The data developed in this study were used to update the exposure duration and frequency estimates in SWIMODEL for competitive swimmers based on survey responses. The survey was also used to determine the percentage of competitive swimmers that wear eye goggles and other protective gear, and to supplement other measurements of the incidental water ingestion of competitive swimmers. Also, I found this on the EPA web site: Swimmer Exposure Model (SWIMODEL) User's Guide epa.gov/.../swimodelusersguide.pdf

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:43:40 GMT

Also to help balance the chlorine absorbed into your system through your skin there are herbs and minerals you can take (balance your own pH out, just like the pool). Such as?

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:29:42 GMT

Flyman, As the original poster of this thread, I cheer you on with your studies. Knowledge is power and we don't seem to have a lot of science on this. My gut tells me the safety question is highly variable depending on the composition of the "soup" we swim in, the external environment in the pool area, time spent in contact, pre-shower vs. no shower, de-chlorinating rinses and lotions, and on and on. I still believe the health benefits outweigh the risks but vigilance is warranted. I'm sure running is a very healthy activity but I wouldn't recommend doing it on the interstate or in Chernobyl. Besides, you might get something published that would be of interest to somebody. I had a professer once that said "The definition of a drug is any compound which, upon injection into a laboratory rat, generated a paper". Good Luck!

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 28 May 2008 05:49:07 GMT

There's no doubt that too much chlorine exposure is bad. If you have access to a lake or ocean nearby that would help mix it up every once in a while. Also to help balance the chlorine absorbed into your system through your skin there are herbs and minerals you can take (balance your own pH out, just like the pool).

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 26 May 2008 14:40:11 GMT

As usual some worry about how healthy life styles or endeavors might "not" be healthy. I got criticized for running long distances, even by a cardiologist! The sedentary people and even the overweight are sometimes critical and try to find some excuse for not doing exercises. Not your case, I hope. Back in the late 60s the swimming pools were loaded with chlorine, and we didn't have any eye protection. No one ever got hurt or had any health problems even while doing extensive practice in the pools. Nowadays, pools have pretty much a mixture in their sanitation process, using a blend of chemicals that one hardly perceives. I will add that even the sun exposure problem in outdoor pools is exaggerated. As an aside, there are many pool sanitation methods that do not use chlorine.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Sun, 25 May 2008 10:13:50 GMT

When I swam competitively there were 4 kids I knew whose doctors recommended competitive swimming because the kids had asthma. During the years I swam with them none of them had an asthma attack or carried an inhaler. AFAIK, they had no other issues. While swimming 2x/day as well as having meets on weekends, no one I knew suffered any skin, eye, respiratory or other ailments. Everyone was, and continues to be, as healthy as the proverbial horse. That said, I live in San Diego and always swam in outdoor pools. I don't know if that makes a difference... **and a funny P.S....our family dog drank exclusively from our pool. She refused to drink out of a dog dish. The dog was never sick, died at 16, and had the whitest doggie teeth you have ever seen.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Sun, 25 May 2008 08:11:39 GMT

Hi I'm writing an article on the safety of swimming pools, touching on some of the dangers of chlorine disinfecting products. In researching this, I came across your website and read some of the concerns expressed, by athletes, aquatics directors, and parents, having to do with various potential or imagined threats. My impression before this was that few people are even aware of these issues of asthma, respiratory ailments, skin rashes, eye infections, etc. etc. In the aquatics field, do people think this is a serious issue that demands more study? Are parents of athletes in training, coaches, and swim clubs aware of these issues? Let me know if you have any perspectives on this you'd like to share. Thanks..... F Lyman chicha19@comcast.net

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 06:27:54 GMT

DDL, I have found that showering BEFORE entering the pool greatly decreases the chlorine smell I carry around after swimming. Whether this indicates a decreased absorption of chlorine or is strictly anecdotal, I don't know. There may be no changes in health consequences but at least I don't smell like a washing machine after my wife washes the whites!

RE: Long term Health Effects

Redbird Alum — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 02:54:51 GMT

We all have to die from something... not sure if the worms will like the chlorine cologne.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:35:34 GMT

I'm wondering if the street-level chlorine odor is an artifact of how the building is vented, espec if it is an older building. The odor definitely comes from the pool. The building is very new. I do hope it takes years and years of intense training for the harm to be done. OTH given the very strong smell in this place perhaps a few months is bad enough. The smell of chlorine on my skin remains the next day like daggles69.

RE: Long term Health Effects

ViveBene — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 05:16:59 GMT

This is an old thread, wonder if there are folks, like me, interested in this topic? Any new development? If you swim 7 days a week, 1 hour each time, in a heavily chlorinated pool, does it take months or years for the serious harm to be done? The place where I swim, the pool is many floors up on top of the building (indoor pool), but you can already smell very strong chlorine at the building entrance on street level. I'm wondering if the street-level chlorine odor is an artifact of how the building is vented, espec if it is an older building. I'm definitely not an expert, but my take on the above-referenced studies is that you probably do not have the type of exposure that would cause serious harm in a normal, healthy person. The one study I read on exposure in elite swimmers looked at those who swam exhaustively many hours a day. Perhaps it would help to reread the abstracts put up by "daggles69" and note the study groups: "competitive swimmers," "intense training," "two hours" (or more) per day, in a poorly ventilated pool area. If you are highly concerned or have a predisposing condition, you may be able to find a pool that does not use chlorine; the newer ones are more commonly using alternatives.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:10:21 GMT

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 11:41:16 GMT

Rich Well all of this depends on the pool you swim in! I swim in Christchurch New Zealand. Heated indoor and chlorinated! I can smell the chlorine the next day from my skin, and this maybe after 2 showers with complete washes with soap. I also have cancer and I am fighting this from every direction I can. I am very fit, however I now understand cancer. I simply cant take the risk of adding to the long list of chemicals we are already exposed to. Don't worry I will beat it, however I found the above study in my search for answer's. If did not have cancer and lead a life that assisted in my bodies own immune system to fight against cancer buildup then I would continue to swim as I believe the benefit outweighs the risk. It's all in moderation, however the lower the chlorine level the better!!

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 12:38:09 GMT

It takes at least one night for absorbed substances to be removed. If insufficient time exists between training sessions the possibility of toxic build-up is real. Ok what does one night mean? 8 hours? 22hours? Or does something happen when you're sleeping to rid the body of toxins? Just thinking if you're doing 2 a day at 5am and 5pm...is there a "night's worth" of time in there?

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 08:12:10 GMT

RESEARCH In the course of preparing materials for the Swimming Science Journal, I came across the following articles concerning chlorinated pools. Abstracts of contents and appropriate comments are included below. Please read the discussion points and articles that follow the abstracts. WHAT IS KNOWN Exercising competitive swimmers absorb toxic levels of chlorine products in the course of a training session. Training two or more times a day will not allow the toxins to be completely cleared from the body in most swimmers. Children inhale more air per unit of body weight than mature persons, and have lesser developed immune and defense systems. Young children absorb relatively greater amounts of toxins than older swimmers and therefore, are at greater risk. In hyper-chlorinated pools, even dental enamel can be eroded because of the increased acidity in swimmers in training. Exercise intensity and number of sessions increase the toxic concentrations in competitive swimmers. Greater toxin absorption occurs through the skin than through breathing. However, the breathing action alone is sufficient to cause hypersensitivity and "asthma-like" respiratory conditions in at least some swimmers. The percentage of asthma-like symptoms in swimmers that is attributable to exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbons versus being unrelated to chlorine exposure is presently unknown. This is an area clearly deserving of further research. Overchlorination is particularly hazardous to the health of swimmers.CHILDREN DEVELOP ASTHMA IN CHLORINATED POOLS Bernard, A., Carbonnelle, S., Michel, O., Higuet, S., de Burbure, C., Buchet, J-P., Hermans, C., Dumont, X., & Doyle, I. (2003). Lung hyperpermeability and asthma prevalence in schoolchildren: unexpected associations with the attendance at indoor chlorinated swimming pools. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 60, 385-394. This study assessed whether exposure to nitrogen trichloride in indoor chlorinated pools may affect the respiratory epithelium of children and increase the risk of some lung diseases such as asthma. Healthy children (N = 226), were measured for serum surfactant associated proteins A and B (SP-A and SP-B), 16 kDa Clara cell protein (CC16), and IgE. Lung specific proteins were measured in the serum of 16 children and 13 adults before and after exposure to NCl3 in an indoor chlorinated pool. The relation between pool attendance and asthma prevalence were studied in 1881 children. Asthma was screened with the exercise induced bronchoconstriction test (EIB). Pool attendance was the most consistent predictor of lung epithelium permeability. A positive dose-effect relation was found with cumulated pool attendance and serum SP-A and SP-B. Serum IgE was unrelated to pool attendance, but correlated positively with lung hyperpermeability as assessed by serum SP-B. Changes in serum levels of lung proteins were reproduced in children and adults attending an indoor pool. Serum SP-A and SP-B were significantly increased after one hour on the poolside without swimming. Positive EIB and total asthma prevalence were significantly correlated with accumulated pool attendance indices. Implications. Regular attendance at chlorinated pools by young children is associated with an exposure-dependent increase in lung epithelium permeability and increase in the risk of developing asthma, especially in association with other risk factors. It is postulated that increased exposure of children to chlorination products in indoor pools might be an important cause of the rising incidence of childhood asthma and allergic diseases in industrialized countries. Further epidemiological studies should be undertaken to test this hypothesis. SWIMMING IN INDOOR POOLS ACCELERATES THE CONCENTRATION OF CHLORINATION CONTAMINANTS IN SWIMMERS Aggazzotti, G., Fantuzzi, G., Righi, E., & Predieri, G. (1998). Blood and breath analyses as biological indicators of exposure to trihalomethanes in indoor swimming pools. Science of the Total Environment, 217, 155-163. In this article, exposure to trihalomethanes (THMs) in indoor swimming pools as a consequence of water chlorination was reported. Environmental and biological monitoring of THMs assessed the uptake of these substances after a defined period in competitive swimmers (N = 5), regularly attending an indoor swimming pool to train for competition during four sampling sessions. Analyses were performed by gas-chromatography and the following THMs were detected: chloroform (CHC13), bromodichloromethane (CHBrC12), dibromochloromethane (CHBrsC1) and bromoform (CHBr3). CHC13 appeared the most represented compound both in water and in environmental air before and after swimming. CHBrC1w and CHBr2C1 were always present, even though at lower levels than CHC13, CHBr3, was rarely present. In relation to biological monitoring, CHC13, CHBrC12 and CHBr2C1 were detected in all alveolar air samples collected inside the swimming pool. Before swimming, after one hour at rest at the pool edge, the mean values were 29.4 +/- 13.3, 2.7 +/- 1.2 and 0.8 +/- 0.8 micrograms/m3, respectively, while after spending one hour of swimming, higher levels were detected (75.6 +/- 18.6, 6.5 +/- 1.3 and 1.4 +/- 0.9 micrograms/m3, respectively). Only CHC13 was detected in all plasma samples (mean: 1.4 +/- 0.5 micrograms/1) while CHBrC1x and CHBr2C1 were observed only in few samples at a detection limit of 0.1 micrograms/1. After one at rest, at an average environmental exposure of approx. 100 micrograms/m3, the THM uptake was approx. 30 micrograms/h (26 micrograms/h for CHC1c, 3 micrograms/h for CHBrC12 and 1.5 micrograms/h for CHBr2C1). After one hour of swimming, the THM uptake was approximately seven times higher than at rest: a THM mean uptake of 221 micrograms/h (177 micrograms/h, 26 micrograms/h and 18 micrograms/h for CHC13, CHBrC12 and CHBr2C1, respectively) was evaluated at an environmental concentration of approx. 200 micrograms/m3. Implication. Training for swimming in a poorly ventilated indoor swimming pool has the potential to cause illness through breathing undesirable concentrations of mainly chloroform. CHLORINE PRODUCT ABSORPTION IN SWIMMERS IS GREATEST VIA THE SKIN Lindstrom, A.B., Pleil, J.D., & Berkoff, D.C. (1997). Alveolar breath sampling and analysis to assess trihalomethane exposures during competitive swimming training. Environmental Health Perspectives, 105(6), 636-642 Alveolar breath sampling was used to assess trihalomethane (THM) exposures encountered by collegiate swimmers during a typical 2-hr training period in an indoor natatorium. Breath samples were collected at regular intervals before, during, and for three hours after a moderately intense training session. Integrated and grab whole-air samples were collected during the training period to help determine inhalation exposures, and pool water samples were collected to help assess dermal exposures. Resulting breath samples collected during the workout demonstrated a rapid uptake of two THMs (chloroform and bromodichloromethane), with chloroform concentrations exceeding the natatorium air levels within eight minutes after the exposure began. Chloroform levels continued to rise steeply until they were more than two times the indoor levels, providing evidence that the dermal route of exposure was relatively rapid and ultimately more important than the inhalation route in this training scenario. Chloroform elimination after the exposure period was fitted to a three compartment model that allowed estimation of compartmental half-lives, resulting minimum blood borne dose, and an approximation of the duration of elevated body burdens. It was estimated that dermal exposure route accounted for 80% of the blood chloroform concentration and the transdermal diffusion efficiency from the water to the blood was in excess of 2%. Bromodichloromethane elimination was fitted to a two compartment model that provided evidence of a small, but measurable, body burden of this THM resulting from vigorous swim training. These results suggest that trihalomethane exposures for competitive swimmers under prolonged, high-effort training are common and possibly higher than was previously thought and that the dermal exposure route is dominant. The exposures and potential risks associated with this common recreational activity should be more thoroughly investigated. Implication. In this study the greater importance of transdermal (via the skin) uptake of chlorinated hydrocarbons compared to the respiratory route is demonstrated. This indicates that improved ventilation alone will not have a major impact on exposure to these materials because it is being immersed in the liquid that is the greatest threat. In contrast, ozonation allows markedly reduced levels of chlorine in the pool water. EXERCISING INCREASES THE TOXICITY OF A "SAFE" CHLORINATED POOL ATMOSPHERE Drobnic, F., Freixa, A., Casan, P., Sanchis, J., & Guardino, X. (1996). Assessment of chlorine exposure in swimmers during training. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 28(2), 271-274. The presence of a high prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness and asthma-like symptoms in swimmers has been recently reported. Chlorine, a strong oxidizing agent, is an important toxic gas that a swimmer can breath during training in chlorinated pools. Measurements of the chlorine concentration in the breathing zone above the water ("safe" levels, it is a swimmer's exercising that produces abnormal levels of exposure to this toxin. There has not been sufficient research to even begin understanding the health effects of this repetitive exposure. AMOUNT OF EXERCISE IS RELATED TO CHLORINE-RELATED CONCENTRATIONS IN THE BODY Cammann, K., & Hubner, K. (1995). Trihalomethane concentrations in swimmers' and bath attendants' blood and urine after swimming or working in indoor swimming pools. Archives of Environmental Health, 50(1), 61-65 The influence of working or swimming in indoor swimming pools on the concentrations of four trihalomethanes (haloforms) in blood and urine was investigated. Different groups (bath attendants, agonistic swimmers, normal swimmers, sampling person) were compared. The proportions of trihalomethanes in blood and urine correlated roughly with those in water and ambient air. Higher levels of physical activity were correlated with higher concentrations. Within one night after exposure in the pool the blood concentrations usually were reduced to the pre-exposure values. Secretion of trichloromethane in urine was found to be less than 10%. Implication. Exercising in a chlorinated pool increases the levels of assimilation of chlorine related gases. The greater the amount of exercise, the greater the concentrations. Thus, hard training swimmers are at greater risk than more sedentary pool attendants and coaches. It takes at least one night for absorbed substances to be removed. If insufficient time exists between training sessions the possibility of toxic build-up is real.

RE: Long term Health Effects

swimr4life — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 07:17:47 GMT

Are there any chemistry whizes out there that can answer this?....Are Chlorine and Dioxin simillar enough to cause the same effects in the human body?? Dioxin has been proven to cause endometriosis in women. It has also been linked to many other health problems....just curious!

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 07:14:20 GMT

aquawalker

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Tue, 16 Mar 2004 17:26:23 GMT

i tend to itch too if the chlorine levels are up,also my eyes still get sore even with goggles,i have to re shower when i get home .chlorine however does chemically remove greater nasties than it creates..the skin has natural oils and too much bathing removes these oils,this makes you itch..i too shower before and after entering the pool

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 15:07:11 GMT

In regards to chlorine. I recently read that chlorine kills the bacteria in your body- healthy and unheathly. The article even states that chlorine in your shower is a culprit which must be much less than the pool chlorine level. I wonder what any swimming doctors think about this.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 13:58:30 GMT

Oh and I stay away from hot tubs/jacuzzis -- the warmth really grows a lot of little beasties, even in the high chlorine levels.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 13:55:44 GMT

Ok a swimming doctor (family practitioner, not a super sub specialist or toxicologist) I read over all the posts and searched some sites (like the CDC and FDA etc) for research on this. Everything really focuses on chlorine gas as a respiratory irritant, with little research on long term, low level exposure. If you have asthma, this may cause you problems. However, let your doctor know and most likely your medicines can be adjusted to help prevent any asthma complications associated. Some important things to remember. Chlorine is very reactive. It sure does cause some damage, but only very quickly and locally. Your body actually USES its own natural chloride ions in specific places to help manage things like mucous (especially in the respiratory system). There are 3 main sites I can think of that chlorine the swimming pools could theoretically cause some problems. First is the eyes. Obvious: wear your goggles. Next is the surface area of your body. Hair: makes it tougher, strawlike and funky. Use a conditioner or something like that to remove and or block chlorine; also a swim cap. Your skin can definitely be affected, but because of the cool way our skin is put together, it really should not be able to penetrate the skin and cause any damage internally. Thus, you CANNOT kill any beneficial bacteria internally this way. You can (and will) get a local skin irritation depending on length of time in the pool, other existing skin conditions (like eczema), etc. These can be minimized or prevented by showering before getting in the water (then the little microscopic areas of your skin are full of water with less chlorine than the pool already) and using a mild lotion after (not before, it will strip clean off) getting out of the water. Shower again, however, to replace the chlorinated water before lotion. Sorry for the length of this. Next is respiratory. I could not find any data on long term exposure to low level chlorine levels. However, there could in theory be a chance of causing damage to some of the supporting structure of the alveoli. I must hasten to add that one of the reasons I started swimming for fitness is that the healthiest old folks I see as patients are over represented as swimmers. These are 80+ year olds whose lungs sound awesome. So weak anecdotal evidence: I doubt it is a worry. Finally (oops I lied I came up with 4 sites) is accidental swallowing. This would be my guess as to where the funky organic chlorine molecules came from in the study cited above. Ironically enough, chlorine itself would be unlikely to cause much problem in the stomach, and is going to get neutralized as soon as it hits the small intestine anyway. However, weird organic chlorine compounds could in theory survive some digestion. Don't think about this too much or you'll be scared to get any water in your mouth next time. Oh yeah: cancer is unlikely a risk (although never impossible), because cancers really need to come from DNA damage, and chlorine has usually already reacted to your cell membranes, epidermis, etc and "burned itself out" before it could get close to your DNA. BUT: I couldn't find much research on this, so this is largely supposition. Summary: Swimming is great and overall probably better for you than any other exercise, even when chlorine is involved. My opinion.

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 09:25:26 GMT

If you think a lap pool is scary - then you don't want to know about your jacuzzi/hot tubs. If the pool you swim at has an ozone system then you don't have to worry so much about chloramines (not only does the ozone disenfect but it also breaks down/destroys chloramines). Lastly for indoor pools your HVAC system is very importatnt - hopefully the air circulation system isn't at the bottom of the required scale (more air movement is better).

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Mon, 15 Mar 2004 08:54:36 GMT

Emmett, here is the formula used by CPO's: Total Available Chlorine(TAC) - Free Available Chlorine(FAC) = Combined Available Chlorine(CAC) (Also known as Chloramines, Chloramines are the nasty smellers when you walk into a facility) Multiply this number X 10 = Adjustment(Amount needed to reach Breakpoint) This number is then put into a formula to tell you how much chlorine to add to the water to reach the breakpoint. These numbers differ depending on what type of chlorine you're using and how much water you're treating. If any one wants the rest of the formula, let me know. By the way, I am also one of those CPO's that swim in his own pool. Try to keep it as straight as possible!:D

RE: Long term Health Effects

Former Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2004 12:09:55 GMT

This is an old thread. Does anyone know of any new studies re: asthma and swimmers..esp. kids??