INDIANAPOLIS Even athletes with no history of ailment show
signs of breathing trouble after swimming in chlorinated water.
Chlorine in pools leads to breathing trouble in trained swimmers,
regardless of past history of such problems, and the likelihood
increases with the amount of chlorine used in the water. A study
presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American College
of Sports Medicine (ACSM) showed an incidence rate of over 60
percent for Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB) after
several minutes of swimming in water chlorinated at a concentration
commonly found in home and public pools.
Trained swimmers participated in the study by testing the capacity
of their lungs after swimming in pools with different levels of
chlorine and also by running and cycling next to the pools.
Exercise intensity and duration remained the same for each test.
Researchers then used a machine to test airflow during forced
exhaling to diagnose bronchoconstriction. When the chlorine
concentration was 0.5 parts-per-million (PPM) or less, the
incidence rate for respiratory trouble was just under 20 percent
the same as with exercise outside the pool. But when the chlorine
concentration reached 1.0 PPM, a concentration commonly recommended
for the care of home pools, the rate of EIB jumped to over 60
percent, regardless of prior history of such breathing
problems.
"Weve long suspected that chlorine has an adverse effect on the
respiratory health of swimmers, said lead researcher Arthur J.
Williams, M.D., of the Sport Science Institute of South Africa.
Now we know the likelihood increases significantly with the
concentration of chlorine used. Swimmers should be aware of the
concentration of chlorine exposure they receive, and those who care
for pools should closely monitor chlorine levels.
The researchers add that caution is especially necessary since
swimming is often prescribed as an effective exercise for
asthmatics. They reason that it is more important that these
swimmers utilize pools where the chlorine concentration of the
water is kept below 0.5 PPM. They point out that recommended
chlorine level for disinfecting private pools can be as high as 2.0
PPM.
"This research is the first to investigate how increases in
chlorine concentrations in swimming pools can enhance respiratory
problems, said Williams. We hope people who appreciate swimming
as a quality form of exercise will continue to reap its enormous
physical benefits, but also be more aware of the potential hazards.
We believe these hazards can be minimized through awareness and
proper pool maintenance.
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports
medicine and exercise science organization in the world. In 2004,
ACSM celebrates 50 years of leadership and scientific contribution.
The College was founded in 1954 by a small but dedicated group of
11 professionals interested in the study of physical activity and
sports. Today, more than 20,000 International, National, and
Regional members carry on the Founders goals of advancing and
integrating scientific research to provide educational and
practical applications of exercise science and sports
medicine.
