Chlorine Health Consequences

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Thu, 09 Oct 2003 05:56:43 GMT

I used to have the runny nose/sneezing fits when I started swimming. I got a lot of relief by irrigating my nose with a saline nasal spray after the workout. You can purchase this at any drug store or make your own with a little water and salt. It cleans the chlorine out of the nasal cavity. Worked for me.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 16:32:05 GMT

Nancy Graham- I think the earlier discussion I cited above had some posts from people who were also "allergic" in the way you describe. If you swim at an indoor pool, you may also be reacting to breathing chlorine or other chemicals trapped in the air. Some of the earlier posters also maintained that if the pool chemistry is properly adjusted and maintained you should not be knocked over by the chlorine odor at an indoor pool.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 14:41:57 GMT

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have tried nose clips in the distant past, and felt quite "confined" by them. I do exhale out of my mouth and nose as well, and felt very uncomfortable with the clips. I may give them another try however, and see how I do with them. I have noticed that when I have swum in a different Y recently the problem is much reduced. My nose ran only slightly and for a short time. Unfortunately, this Y is not convenitent enough for me to use on a regular basis. So I am guessing the amount of chlorine must be the culprit. If I cannot adjust to the clips, I guess I will go the way of the drugs (I too am anti-drug except as a last resort). Thanks again for your help. Nancy

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 12:56:55 GMT

When I see the older masters swimmers, who are in very good shape, and have been swimming most of their lives, and compare them to the predominantly overweight, and hobbling population that is of the same age as the swimmers, I think--ok, whatever chlorine does, it's not nearly as bad as what not swimming does.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 09:46:36 GMT

what about good, old fashioned antihistimines?

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

aquageek — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 08:22:25 GMT

What exactly does "major disruptions in your biochemistry" mean? I've been swimming my whole life and other than green hair and dry skin, I seriously doubt there is any major health concerns. I imagine swimming in most rivers, lakes and beaches presents much more serious health threats.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 07:33:57 GMT

Sorry I picked up this thread so late - Nancy, many people have the runny nose symptoms you describe, especially in some indoor pools. You can try chemical (drug) solutions, but the most simple solution is to use nose plugs. You get used to them pretty fast, and they work. I can't believe people would take strange chemicals, with who knows what side effects, before trying a mechanical and low cost solution.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Betsy — Mon, 06 Oct 2003 03:09:14 GMT

I am one of the swimmers who believe it is the balance of the chemicals and the ventilation. I swam at at Y pool for many years with no trouble until they changed the ventilation system. Some days I was okay, on other days I would get about 300 yards into the workout and start having trouble breathing. I could stay and do the workout at a slower pace, but then I'd have problems for several days. One evening, I got out, did not change clothes just wrapped a towel around my waist, and went to another Y. I had no problem swimming at all. Since then, much to my regret, I have avoided my original Y. Every once in awhile at a long meet I'll have trouble sitting around in the pool area all day. I'm okay swimming my races, but I find a place to wait for my events outside the pool area. I have asthma, but it is controlled by medication and being aware of the conditions in the pool. Betsy Durrant

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Sun, 05 Oct 2003 13:05:58 GMT

I wonder if I have an allergy to chlorine! After my early morning swim, my nose runs continuously, and I sneeze incessantly for many hours. I don't know if there is a way to avoid this, or if it is simply a propensity that I have in "breahing in" too much water into my nose. Any thoughts on this? Nancy

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Sat, 04 Oct 2003 11:26:37 GMT

One swimming book claimed that chlorine doesn't soak in far enough to do real harm--it's all on the surface. Of course, that's scary enough--one alternative medicine guru claimed that chlorine in tap water is more likely to cause skin cancer than the sun.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Sat, 04 Oct 2003 07:50:59 GMT

It's not the pee, That worries me. It's the poo, In the pool. Seriously, I've noticed very few people do more than loosen the dirt in the shower before heading to the pool, so chlorination is a must. Some chlorine may be absorbed, but as long as the pool isn't over chlorinated, and you don't drink the pool water, health problems from chlorine should be minimal, as long as the pool area is well ventilated.

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2003 10:41:04 GMT

I believe I read some of that thread when it was originally posted... it scared me a little; however, one rule of thumb that I came across (it may have been on that thread), is if you can smell or taste chlorine, there is far TOO much chlorine in the h2o... When I started swimming here in sunny fla. after the u.k., I noticed that the pools at the various aquatic complexes here were really well maintained- in neither of them could I even tell that the water had been treated, the water was sooo clear and, well, fresh...

RE: Chlorine Health Consequences

Former Member — Fri, 03 Oct 2003 10:32:21 GMT

i find that nothing helps..even pre,post showering,even total shampooing afterwards.Ithink this is because the chlorine gets absorbed past the skin to hell knows where.If other users of the pool stopped ****ing in the pool perhaps chlorine rates could be reduced to a safer level