Help with ? about poor air quality in pool - coughing swimmers
Former Member
I work out at a small YMCA pool. We have had increasing problems with our swim team kids and some of the masters swimmers struggling to breathe in the pool area during workouts (more than normal!). We get an asthma-like coughing response when working hard, and some kids now get it as soon as they walk in the pool room. My observation is that the problem has worsened recently. When asking the obvious questions of the staff, there has been no known change in the chemicals, etc. We get mostly shrugs of denial from the YMCA.
This really concerns us as parents and swimmers about what we are doing to our athletes' respiratory systems.
How can I get this problem diagnosed? What sort of professional could evaluate the problem? It could be an air quality issue caused by a chemical treatment problem, or an HVAC air handling problem, or both. Poor ventilation has been one theory.
Any suggestions?
Parents
Former Member
gull80-
I suspect you are right. Since I started on this research campaign this morning, I have found several articles discussing asthma/swimming/chlorine/trichloramine levels. All indicating our asthma responses are likely being triggered by thrichorlamine (or other compunds) resulting from organics (dirt, sweat, urine - yuck, etc) in the pool reacing with chlorine and the air not being well ventilated.
A study done by Belgian researchers has been quoted by a number of health reports stating that youngsters that regularly swim in indoor pools showed increased signs of asthma. Some scientists refute the generalization of the results.
There is also a discussion of the role of chlorine disinfection by- products and chloroform levels representing unacceptable risks to highly exposed populations (competitive swimmers). Hmmm.
I don't know if there are indoor air quality standards for trichloramine. I bet we're off the chart, and our 30-yr-old ventilation system is not doing the job.
gull80-
I suspect you are right. Since I started on this research campaign this morning, I have found several articles discussing asthma/swimming/chlorine/trichloramine levels. All indicating our asthma responses are likely being triggered by thrichorlamine (or other compunds) resulting from organics (dirt, sweat, urine - yuck, etc) in the pool reacing with chlorine and the air not being well ventilated.
A study done by Belgian researchers has been quoted by a number of health reports stating that youngsters that regularly swim in indoor pools showed increased signs of asthma. Some scientists refute the generalization of the results.
There is also a discussion of the role of chlorine disinfection by- products and chloroform levels representing unacceptable risks to highly exposed populations (competitive swimmers). Hmmm.
I don't know if there are indoor air quality standards for trichloramine. I bet we're off the chart, and our 30-yr-old ventilation system is not doing the job.
