Occupational Asthma from swimming pools

I have had two acute asthma attacks requiring short courses of oral prednisolone; both of these exacerbations occurred within a day or two of swimming at the local leisure centre, where the ambient air smelt strongly of chlorine. The Centre manager assured me that the pool water was chlorinated correctly, and that there were very few complaints about the air quality. Furthermore, the local Environmental Health Officer told me that there was no requirement for, nor means of, monitoring chlorine in pool air. So it was, that I had doubts about a link between pool air chlorine and my asthma attacks - but I still don't swim in that pool! I would be glad to know your opinion about the relative importance of chlorine in pool water and in pool air, and whether you know of quantitative studies designed to set tolerance limits on chlorine congeners in pool air. The local leisure centre pool still smells strongly of chlorine even though high level fans have been installed recently to stir up t

Occupational Asthma, Specialist, 2/20/2006, 2/20/2006,

There are different systems used for disinfecting swimming pool water, chlorine releasing agents are the most common in the UK, although bromine releasing agents, and non-halogenated methods are also available. Swimming pool engineering has concentrated on keeping the pool water safe, maintaining sufficient free chlorine to prevent microbial growth. Free chlorine reacts with body proteins such as sweat and urine to form chloramines, the most prevalent and volatile is nitrogen trichloride, which is what many indoor pools smell of (rather than chlorine). There is very little if any free chlorine measurable in the air in indoor pools, but significant levels of nitrogen trichloride. There is conflict amongst physicians as to the dangers of nitrogen trichloride in the air. We believe that it can both cause asthma in pool staff as well as cause deterioration in pre-existing asthma; whether this is by allergic or other mechanisms is unclear. Nitrogen trichloride levels also correlate with the sore eyes and rhinitis which are prevalent in pool staff. We believe that much more attention needs to be placed on controlling the nitrogen trichloride levels in pool air. Most affected individuals are able to swim in outdoor chlorinated pools without problems. Further details in Thickett 2002; Eur Resir J 19:827 (Occupational asthma caused by chloramines in indoor swimming-pool air) Hery 1995;Ann Occup Hyg 39:427 (Exposure to chloramines in the atmosphere of indoor swimming pools) Massin 1998;Occup Environ Med 55:258 (Respiratory symptoms and bronchial responsiveness in lifeguards exposed to nitrogen trichloride in indoor swimming pools) The link and papers below provides more information. Massin N, Hecht G, Ambroise D, Héry M, Toamain JP, Hubert G, Dorotte M,Bianchi B, Respiratory symptoms and bronchial responsiveness among cleaning and disinfecting workers in the food industry , Occup Environ Med, 2007;64:75-81, Thickett KM, McCoach JS, Gerber JM, Sadra S, Burge PS, Occupational asthma caused by chloramines in swimming-pool air, Eur Respir J, 2002;19:827-832, Hery M, Hecht G, Gerber JM, Gendre JC, Hubert G, Rebuffaud J, Exposure to chloramines in the atmosphere of indoor swimming pools, Ann Occup Hyg, 1995;39:427-439, Swimming Pool Asthma

2/20/2006

Actually, as a pool owner, I've been told the strong odor of chlorine indicates a lack of chlorine. Doesn't make sense, does it, but that's what they tell me. You might be interested in a news report released today that links asthma attacks and chlorine. Just do a google search or check out Yahoo's news.

2/20/2006

The effects of lingering chlorine smell and asthma are well documented in indoor pool situations. Ussually chlorimines form due to the heavy bather load and the smell of chlorine is enhanced. Look for a pool that operates as a salt water system that generates Naocl, Sodium Chlorine. The smell of chlorine is virtually none existent in these pools. There also is no salt taste and the feel is 100% better. No skin irritation , red eyes or swimmers hair is evident. The pool water feels like a soft water environment like used in some larger homes to condition incoming city water that has been sanitized. Even though this technology is slowly coming to the US it has been in use in Australia for 25 years. 90% of the pools there are now saltwater pools. The water is much safer because it is consistently injected at consistent levels any time the pump is running. Plus any time locked up chlorine (chlorimines) go through thee electrolytic generator , they are destroyed and only pure sodium hypo chloride is delivered back to the pool. Salt sytem owner

2/20/2006