Swim Lightly

Adam Eisman - Contributing Writer
Posted on Friday 22nd May 2009

Swimming can be a relaxing and fun way to get in some extra exercise, but it can also be a hazard to your health. The chemical that is used to disinfect most pools, Chlorine, has been linked with cases of asthma, and studies have shown that swimming in a pool at least once a week can increase the likelihood of becoming asthmatic by a factor of 10.

For the past 20 years, the state of New York has documented pool-related illnesses, and the vast majority of those illnesses, about 95%, were respiratory in nature. The problems really arise when chlorine comes in contact with an acid, which will cause the release of a dangerous chlorine gas.

The Center for Disease Control has stated that many of the problems people have after swimming in pools can be avoided with the proper handling and storage of chemicals. About half of all emergency room situations that are the result of pool-chemical trouble, which means that if you have a pool at your residence, you should really speak to professionals about handling and using those chemicals needed to keep the pool clean.

Training sessions for pool staff at places where the pool is not the primary focus, such as hotels and schools, have been shown to reduce the prevalence of chemical related illnesses. Homeowners should consider comparable courses before taking the plunge into home pool ownership.

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