08:59
Faizan
While some took a fancy to dancing, fitness, aerobic and all other sports, I've always been drawn to the waters. If not for that knack for self-preservation, I could have taken to surfing. I just love the smell of chlorine and the serenity that surrounds a pool when you're about to dive in and race back and forth. For me, it had to be swimming or nothing. From as far back as I can remember, I've always been that kid ready to jump into those speedos and dive into the pool. My parents hoped puberty would rescue me from my madness, but I was literally in love with this beautiful sport and nothing could change that.
For a long time, I dived into the pool completely oblivious of the dangers lurking in the water. Chlorine. I actually came to like the smell and I completely ignored the risks it poses to my health and to the health of so many swimmers.
But is it really wise to ignore those risks?
WHAT THEY DON'T USUALLY TELL US ABOUT CHLORINE IN POOLS.
For all its virtues, such as the sanitation that it brings to the water, even with all the bodies and all unsanitary elements that they bring to it, chlorine also exposes us to potential harm. When chlorine comes into contact with organic materials, such as urine and sweat, it forms a highly dangerous compound called chloramine. Recent researches indicate that this chemical is responsible for a large number of health issues, quite common among swimmers and pool workers.
What kind of health hazards am I talking about? Well, they are quite a few.
1. Skin Rushes, Itches and Even Eczema and Cancers
While the less serious effects of chloramine and other dangerous compounds are skin dryness, rushes and eczema, the studies conducted by the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona indicate that excessive exposure to chlorinated water also causes a rise in blood markers that have been associated with cancer.
2. Ocular Infections
One of the most common and obvious effect of chlorine is the irritation it subjects our eyes to. Most people leave chlorinated pools red-eyed. As a matter of fact, more than one-third of the chlorinated swimming pool related defects are those related to eyes.
3. Hair Damage
The Pacific Center for Health said that chlorine may actually destroy much-needed proteins in our bodies. As a side effect, our hair can become unmanageable and color-treated hair can be completely ruined. Unfortunately, I have been an unaware test subject of this theory, and yeah, it's pretty accurate...
4. Reproductive disorders
While practically water-proof, the skin can absorb several chemicals from the water, including some of the dangerous compounds of chlorine. These chemicals pass through to small blood vessels and tissues and have been linked to reproduction issues, as well as potential birth defects.
5. Respiratory Diseases
These are especially common when chlorinated pools are indoors. The toxic gases surrounding the swimming pool can cause severe damage to lungs, which may lead to respiratory problems or even asthma. Although these toxic gases can be harmful at any age, they pose a higher risk to seniors and children.
Asthmatic swimmers are exposed to an increased risk when swimming in closed environments, but even those who never had asthma may develop some of its symptoms.
6. Other Alleged Problems
Preliminary studies performed in European research facilities seem to indicate that chlorine and its more dangerous by-products may also cause epiglottis, cardiovascular defects, liver & kidney cancer, as well as neurological dysfunctions, among others.
However, the results of these studies are yet incipient and it may take a while to reach a final conclusion.
WHY THEN DO WE USE CHLORINE?
After finding out how dangerous chlorine is, I wondered this myself. The simple answer is that chlorine ticks all the boxes. It keeps the pool almost 100% sterile by eliminating the bacteria that is brought into the water. It also deals with the issue of algae build-up, which is pretty common in water. Its oxidation effect also ensures that organic debris doesn't collect in the pool. Chlorine is also a very cheap chemical.
CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES WHILE SWIMMING?
Did I scare you already? I certainly hope not, because there are simple ways to safeguard yourself.
Let's take a look at them!
For a long time, I dived into the pool completely oblivious of the dangers lurking in the water. Chlorine. I actually came to like the smell and I completely ignored the risks it poses to my health and to the health of so many swimmers.
But is it really wise to ignore those risks?
WHAT THEY DON'T USUALLY TELL US ABOUT CHLORINE IN POOLS.
For all its virtues, such as the sanitation that it brings to the water, even with all the bodies and all unsanitary elements that they bring to it, chlorine also exposes us to potential harm. When chlorine comes into contact with organic materials, such as urine and sweat, it forms a highly dangerous compound called chloramine. Recent researches indicate that this chemical is responsible for a large number of health issues, quite common among swimmers and pool workers.
What kind of health hazards am I talking about? Well, they are quite a few.
1. Skin Rushes, Itches and Even Eczema and Cancers
While the less serious effects of chloramine and other dangerous compounds are skin dryness, rushes and eczema, the studies conducted by the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona indicate that excessive exposure to chlorinated water also causes a rise in blood markers that have been associated with cancer.
2. Ocular Infections
One of the most common and obvious effect of chlorine is the irritation it subjects our eyes to. Most people leave chlorinated pools red-eyed. As a matter of fact, more than one-third of the chlorinated swimming pool related defects are those related to eyes.
3. Hair Damage
The Pacific Center for Health said that chlorine may actually destroy much-needed proteins in our bodies. As a side effect, our hair can become unmanageable and color-treated hair can be completely ruined. Unfortunately, I have been an unaware test subject of this theory, and yeah, it's pretty accurate...
4. Reproductive disorders
While practically water-proof, the skin can absorb several chemicals from the water, including some of the dangerous compounds of chlorine. These chemicals pass through to small blood vessels and tissues and have been linked to reproduction issues, as well as potential birth defects.
5. Respiratory Diseases
These are especially common when chlorinated pools are indoors. The toxic gases surrounding the swimming pool can cause severe damage to lungs, which may lead to respiratory problems or even asthma. Although these toxic gases can be harmful at any age, they pose a higher risk to seniors and children.
Asthmatic swimmers are exposed to an increased risk when swimming in closed environments, but even those who never had asthma may develop some of its symptoms.
6. Other Alleged Problems
Preliminary studies performed in European research facilities seem to indicate that chlorine and its more dangerous by-products may also cause epiglottis, cardiovascular defects, liver & kidney cancer, as well as neurological dysfunctions, among others.
However, the results of these studies are yet incipient and it may take a while to reach a final conclusion.
WHY THEN DO WE USE CHLORINE?
After finding out how dangerous chlorine is, I wondered this myself. The simple answer is that chlorine ticks all the boxes. It keeps the pool almost 100% sterile by eliminating the bacteria that is brought into the water. It also deals with the issue of algae build-up, which is pretty common in water. Its oxidation effect also ensures that organic debris doesn't collect in the pool. Chlorine is also a very cheap chemical.
CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES WHILE SWIMMING?
Did I scare you already? I certainly hope not, because there are simple ways to safeguard yourself.
Let's take a look at them!
Posted in: swimming
