… actually the chloramines, which are also responsible for making your eyes red when you swim. The irritants are also thought to trigger asthma attacks and may even lead to some skin irritation, she says.
And all this time we’ve been blaming chlorine! It should be known chlorine initially gained favor because of its ability to help prevent the spread of polio. According to Hlavsa, researchers continue to debate the risks of chloramines, though, especially as they may pertain to asthma, as well as other chemical reactions between chlorine and the gunk we add to the mix. “We’ve forgotten how important chlorine is in keeping us safe from germs in the water,” she says. “We have to keep in mind that it’s really important to shower before we go into the water so we leave more chlorine in the water to kill germs.”
While a using soap, rinse and repeat is still the safest bet, a 2012 study found that even just a 60-second rinse goes a long way. Still, keep in mind next time you feel like slacking on your pre-swim shower that “everything that rinses off of our body we share with other swimmers,” says Hlavsa. “In some ways, it’s like getting into a big bathtub together.”
Another thing to look out for in the common pool is a new parasite.
A new report, issued June 2015, documented 90 outbreaks in recreational water venues between 2011 and 2012. The CDC found at least 1,788 cases, 95 hospitalizations and one death. The cases were tracked in 32 states, as well Puerto Rico.
A leading cause of the outbreaks is cryptosporidium, otherwise known as “crypto.” The parasite is easily transmittable in pools or at water parks because of its small size and its ability to resist chlorine disinfection, says the CDC.
A Swimming Pool Is Dirtier Than You Ever Imagined was originally published on blackdoctor.org
