I have been swimming for at least 20 years. I am an ex-runner, and now swim, do power yoga, play tennis, walk, etc. I am in excellent shape, yet I am seriously torn as to whether or not I should give up swimming. The club I belong to has the best schedule and available lanes, (and I pay dearly per month as well!) yet for the last year, I've waged a battle about their incessant use of tilex, windex and some horrific smelling metal cleaner they use in the aquatic center while classes and swimming is going on. I brought in the warning articles about the toxicity of inhaling these chemicals, passed them out to instructors and fellow swimmers, managers, etc. Recently, an article was posted by our Poison Control Center about the dangers of inhaling such chemicals --which stated that ventilation was not enough to prevent health issues (Of course, they do not and will not open the door when cleaning). Despite all this info I've provided, they stop for while, then will claim there is the smell of urine in the shower (I was in both showers just seconds before and there was NO urine smell) and they have to use the Tilex, etc. The other day, the manager asked me how long I was going to swim, because they wanted to use the Tilex. They continue to lie to me and tell me they won't use these products, yet the smell is so strong in there all the time, you can barely breathe. I used to swm next to a guy who would get out of the pool and literally chase them out when they started spraying. I guess I need to consider a sex change.:bump: Unfortunately, there isn't another gym where I can go with such a great schedule. However, I'm really worried about breathing thse fumes. People complain all the time, but not to management, only to one another. It seems like I am defeating my purpose to stay healthy swimming there. Yet, I feel this is as important an issue as second hand smoke - there should be no toxic chemicals used while the center is operational. Geez, would they go into a yoga or spin class and start spraying chemicals? (I've asked them that question) Thanks for any input or suggestions:bow:
It was probably my imagination after reading this thread yesterday, but I detected a hint of cleaning chemicals when I went to swim in my gym's pool last night.
I have seen the maintenance guy sweeping/mopping on the rare occasion I go during the day. He props the back door open, letting in fresh air, and it hasn't been an issue.
This gym is open mostly 24 Hours (it is a 24 Hour Fitness). However it doesn't live totally true to its name; it is only open Mon 5am to Fri 9pm, then Sat/Sun 5am to 9pm. I always wonder who (if anyone) is there at 2-3AM.
OK, I'll try to tone this down somewhat but, seriously, are you being a little dramatic? Every pool stinks to high heaven of various chemicals and while it can be a little annoying claiming respiratory diseases and toting around toxicology reports seems overkill. And, a feather duster causing some great concern? I wipe down my treadmill after every use at the gym, I can't imagine there is some sort of dust cloud exploding.
And, Tilex akin to second hand smoking? Well, that's just looney. Maybe you could go hang out at Phelps' pad and get a control sample of second hand smoke.
Glad I toned it down, I feel better now.
I suspect quite possibly you are just getting various whiffs of the natural aroma of New Jersey.
I completely understand the smell sensitivity. Try swimming with a coach who wears too much cologne! Or when they leave the locker-room door open and you smell all the shampoo washing down the drain and it feels like you're breathing in soapy water. I'm even sensitive to the white board markers, particularly when they are new. It's amazing the scents one can be sensitive to on the pool deck despite the chlorine. And they can feel pretty toxic when you're trying to swim a hard set. Keep making noise - you can't get them to change behavior if you keep quiet!
Contact Public Health Dept. and take a copy of the Poison Control Center notice.
Someone in a pool I swam in long ago got tired of greasy-looking water and contacted Public Health Dept. They actually came out and found the pool mngt in violation. A mere letter from them ("We have received a complaint...") to pool mngt might also scare mngt into better behavior.
To make a case, I would also try to keep a contemporaneous record of incidents.
McDonald's sweeps the floor right around and under diners. I've never understood why more stores haven't been shut down.
It was probably my imagination after reading this thread yesterday, but I detected a hint of cleaning chemicals when I went to swim in my gym's pool last night.
I have seen the maintenance guy sweeping/mopping on the rare occasion I go during the day. He props the back door open, letting in fresh air, and it hasn't been an issue.
This gym is open mostly 24 Hours (it is a 24 Hour Fitness). However it doesn't live totally true to its name; it is only open Mon 5am to Fri 9pm, then Sat/Sun 5am to 9pm. I always wonder who (if anyone) is there at 2-3AM.
LOL!. Ours closes generally around 10 and opens 5:30 AM. They can definitely clean before or after members leave. They will not open the door even in the summer if it's 90 degrees out because of the seniors who cry immediately, "SHUT THAT DOOR, I"M COLD!" Even though you can't get sick that way, and you can get respiratory diseases from inhaling chemicals, management caters to their insanity. It is sooo frustrating. I've been sick all week and today I went to the gym (after putting my bathing suit back in the drawer, regretfully, as I fear it may be too soon to go back in the water) and was on the treadmill, and there's maintenance with a feather duster, spending 5 minutes a piece on each treadmill, just moving dust around. I finally asked him to stop, because I am sick. :cry:
One day I was talking to a friend and he popped open a diet coke. 'That stuff will kill you' I said. He looked at me and said 'If I live long enough for diet coke to kill me, I'm happy'.
So swimming adds ten years and joy to your life. Tilex takes off a month. That's a solid win for swimming and I'm happy. There's no point in worrying about everything, because no matter what you do or don't do
Nobody gets out of here alive.
Contact Public Health Dept. and take a copy of the Poison Control Center notice.
Someone in a pool I swam in long ago got tired of greasy-looking water and contacted Public Health Dept. They actually came out and found the pool mngt in violation. A mere letter from them ("We have received a complaint...") to pool mngt might also scare mngt into better behavior.
To make a case, I would also try to keep a contemporaneous record of incidents.
McDonald's sweeps the floor right around and under diners. I've never understood why more stores haven't been shut down.
Thanks, I will personally take it to the Health Dept. My prior calls to them resulted in frustration - she told me to call her when they actually using Tilex and they would come over. Right! So I will get out of the pool, call them, hope I get a human being on the phone, and I am sure they will just drop everything and drive over just in time to catch the Tilexers in the act! What a joke.:blah:
You know, it makes me crazy when I'm eating dnner and they are cleaning floors around my table. This is in 3 star restaurants!
Can't this be used when the pool is closed @ night ?
That would make too much sense, wouldn't it? I've told them that repeatedly. Do not use chemicals while we are exercising. Do it after hours! There are tons of classes for seniors in there too--you think they'd be more concerned and proactive. Instead, all they complain about is how cold the water is. Some people are so misguided by silly old wives tales.
OK, I'll try to tone this down somewhat but, seriously, are you being a little dramatic? Every pool stinks to high heaven of various chemicals and while it can be a little annoying claiming respiratory diseases and toting around toxicology reports seems overkill. And, a feather duster causing some great concern? I wipe down my treadmill after every use at the gym, I can't imagine there is some sort of dust cloud exploding.
And, Tilex akin to second hand smoking? Well, that's just looney. Maybe you could go hang out at Phelps' pad and get a control sample of second hand smoke.
Glad I toned it down, I feel better now.
I suspect quite possibly you are just getting various whiffs of the natural aroma of New Jersey.
Always a smart guy in the bunch.:D I wipe down all machines as well. A feather duster simply moves stationary dust into the air, which I am breathing! Feather dusters are like from the stone ages! Second, chlorine is bad enough in an enclosed area, but read the ramifications of inhaling or ingesting Tilex, window cleaners, etc. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the "looneys" out there include the highly acclaimed Doctors TV show, which just yesterday had a segment on the dangers of these very chemicals (bathroom/window cleaners) and encouraging the use of more "green" friendly products. These products are not only dangerous to our respiratory system, but get into the soil, water, etc. I will bet you that inhaling a bottle of Tilex will kill you a lot quicker than inhaling a carton of ciggies!
