Swimming in public pools: Health tips

Swimming is a popular way of keeping fit: it can improve one's cardiorespiratory endurance and body flexibility as well as body composition. 

 

However, people may be infected with diseases when swimming in public pools. How can we swim to keep our bodies fit but stay away from the associated health risks?

 

Swimming pool water is the main source that causes health risks because it directly contacts the human body; the metabolites (especially urine and sweat) and applied cosmetics (sunscreen) which are dissolved in the water provide an environment for microbial reproduction. 

 

What's more, some bacteria and viruses may exist in pool water, which can cause diarrhea, pinkeye and respiratory diseases. 

 

For these reasons, swimming pool water must be sterilized to prevent the spread of diseases and protect the health of swimmers.

 

Common ways of sterilization include chlorination, ozone, chlorine dioxide, ultraviolet rays and bromine products as well as metal ion, such as silver ion. 

 

Chlorination kills bacteria and viruses with hypochloric acid generated by chlorine or chloride reacting with water. This way of sterilization has a long history, and was first used for disinfection of drinking water. 

 

Nowadays, swimming pools are usually sterilized with trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), which contains 85 percent to 95 percent of available chlorine, used to rapidly and effectively kill various bacteria, fungus, mycete and so on while causing little irritation to human eyes and skin. 

 

Factors such as the sanitary conditions of swimming pools, number of swimmers, water temperature and rate of water recirculation can all influence the amount of disinfectant applied. 

 

If the water contains insufficient disinfectant, it cannot be sterilized effectively and will easily breed microorganisms, while if the water contains too much disinfectant, it will irritate the skin and mucous membranes of the human body. 

 

Generally, the disinfectant found in all swimming pools is a strong oxidant, harmful to skin and hair. Additionally, metabolites of the human body and sunscreens dissolving in the pool water will react with the disinfectant to generate by-products that will affect swimmers’ health. 

 

Wear swimming caps, waterproof glasses, nasal plugs, and earplugs.

 

Do not rub your eyes directly after the goggles are filled with water. Wash your eyes and goggles with clean water as soon as you can.

 

If you choke on water during swimming, immediately rinse the mouth with clean water.

 

Refrain from uncivilized behaviors, including swimming without showering, swimming without wearing swimming caps, as well as spitting, urinating or bathing in the pool.