Nothing beats jumping into a swimming pool on a long summer day to have some fun. However, many people worry that swimming too often in a pool with unclean water can be harmful to their health. So, is swimming pool water harmful to humans?
Is Swimming Pool Water Harmful to Humans?
Swimming pool water can be harmful to the human body. Generally, if swimming pool water is not disinfected, it is prone to bacteria and algae growth and needs to be frequently changed. However, in China, most swimming pools use chlorine compounds for disinfection to keep the water clean.
So, why is swimming pool water harmful to humans? It turns out that when chlorine compounds are added to water, chlorine can effectively destroy various waterborne bacteria and viruses. It is even believed to have eliminated diseases such as typhoid and cholera that once swept through developed countries. The chlorine in our drinking water is very safe and complies with the recommended standards of the World Health Organization. However, in swimming pools, the chlorine used to purify the water exceeds these standards by 2-5 times, and this is where the problem arises.
What are the Hazards of Swimming Pool Water to the Human Body?
Chlorine Irritates the Skin
In fact, the problem is not caused by chlorine itself, but by its chemical byproduct - chloramine. When chlorine combines with debris and fragments in the swimming pool, such as skin particles, sweat, urine, bacteria, and body oils, chloramine is produced.
These toxic byproducts give off a "bleach-like" odor, which we often associate with swimming pools. This odor is the cause of the problem.
The stronger the smell, the greater the health hazards of the swimming pool. Before swimming, it is important to thoroughly shower and wash away cosmetics, dry skin flakes, hair products, and skincare lotions. The combination of these residues with chlorine forms chloramine, causing irritation from chlorine reactions.
Occasional swimming is unlikely to cause much harm unless you are particularly sensitive to chlorine. However, experts suggest that people who swim once a week or more should be more cautious.
Swimming Pool Water Triggers Childhood Asthma
In 2008, a study conducted in Belgium and published in the European Respiratory Journal found that children who swim in chlorinated pools once a week are more than 5 times more likely to develop asthma compared to non-swimming children. Another recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that almost all elite swimmers examined, after studying 50 elite athletes, were found to have inflamed lung tissues, possibly due to spending a significant amount of time in chlorinated pools.
Children are the most vulnerable group because they tend to play in the pool for longer periods and are more likely to inhale pool water.
Although more research is needed, studies have found that when chlorine and its byproducts are inhaled or swallowed, the protective barrier of lung cells against allergens is attacked. This is why, over the past 50 years, some experts have believed that prolonged exposure to chlorine-based cleaning products can also increase the risk of allergies.
Swimming Pool Water Damages Tooth Enamel
Poorly maintained swimming pools can increase the speed and severity of tooth erosion for swimming enthusiasts. Experts urge people with swimming pools at home to closely monitor chlorine and pH levels.
If the chlorine level is not properly maintained, the pool water may become excessively acidic. Regular exposure to this excessively acidic water, if you enjoy swimming, can lead to serious tooth enamel loss.
Swimming Pool Water Irritates the Eyes
Some people have more sensitive eyes to chlorine than others, but as a general rule, if the water in the swimming pool has a chlorine level higher than five parts per million, chlorine becomes an irritant. Conversely, if the chlorine level is too low, bacteria can linger in the pool. When the cornea is submerged, the protective film is washed away, making the eyes prone to various bacteria, which can lead to conjunctivitis.
Swimming Pool Water Damages Hair
Yes, your blonde hair can turn green in a chlorinated swimming pool, but the color is not from chlorine itself. It is because the copper element in hair pigments reacts with chlorine, turning the hair green.
If your hair starts to turn a little green, you can try using vitamin C spray to neutralize the chlorine or put a tablespoon of tomato sauce in freshly washed hair, leave it on for five minutes, and then rinse. The red pigment helps counteract the green.
