Last Thursday at my local YMCA, I almost couldn't complete my workout because I could not control my coughing towards the end. I have been swimming at this Y without any issues for a year. Yesterday (Tuesday), I had the same thing happen. I swam outdoors on Sunday, and had no issues. I ran this morning outdoors and had no issues. This is twice now that this particular Y has caused me to stop swimming because of coughing in the past week. The lifeguards say the water levels are fine.
I hear others complaining of high pH levels in this saline pools which produces higher chlorine levels. I am not a chemist, so I am only repeating what I have heard.
Are there any respitory issues that I could be subjecting myself to by swimming this poorly ventilated pool?
Parents
Former Member
This whole topic makes me angry!
I have had breathing problems in various pools my whole life. New pools, old pools. Cold pools, hot pools. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason, but in some pools, I will begin coughing in as little as 30 minutes.
I researched this a few years ago and one of the culprits of the problem was ascribed to chloramines and the under chlorination at some pools. Reading up on that makes some sense, but it doesn't quite gibe with the experiences that I have had.
The more likely culprit? Too much recirculation of the air. If a pool is designed to be energy efficient it will often recirculate the air many more times than other pools in an attempt to keep the heat in a building longer. The side effect, though, is to keep chloramines around the pool much longer without bringing in fresh air.
I have two Y's near me. In the old one, I have never had breathing problems. In the new one (less than 5 years old), I have problems nearly every time that I swim there. I wrote letters, I spoke with the establishment, but nothing valuable was done.
Like many have pointed out, pool temps, chlorine readings and PH values are often quoted, instead of getting to the real problem. What is the air quality like? I haven't heard of anyone who has measurements to describe that, unfortunately.
Oh, and yes, I have had asthma since I was 12. Started swimming competitively at 7.
This whole topic makes me angry!
I have had breathing problems in various pools my whole life. New pools, old pools. Cold pools, hot pools. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason, but in some pools, I will begin coughing in as little as 30 minutes.
I researched this a few years ago and one of the culprits of the problem was ascribed to chloramines and the under chlorination at some pools. Reading up on that makes some sense, but it doesn't quite gibe with the experiences that I have had.
The more likely culprit? Too much recirculation of the air. If a pool is designed to be energy efficient it will often recirculate the air many more times than other pools in an attempt to keep the heat in a building longer. The side effect, though, is to keep chloramines around the pool much longer without bringing in fresh air.
I have two Y's near me. In the old one, I have never had breathing problems. In the new one (less than 5 years old), I have problems nearly every time that I swim there. I wrote letters, I spoke with the establishment, but nothing valuable was done.
Like many have pointed out, pool temps, chlorine readings and PH values are often quoted, instead of getting to the real problem. What is the air quality like? I haven't heard of anyone who has measurements to describe that, unfortunately.
Oh, and yes, I have had asthma since I was 12. Started swimming competitively at 7.
