Uric acid in swimming pools is hazardous to health
Last reviewed: 16.10.2021
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Recently, scientists from the United States and China conducted a study of water in the basins and came to the conclusion that it could contain quite toxic compounds - trichloramine and cyanide chloride.
Chloride cyanide has a high toxicity and causes local irritation, choking, and can also lead to death. When breathing harmful vapors, first of all, the lungs and the cardiovascular system suffer. In addition, the compound trichloramine causes severe lung damage. According to the study, a ten-minute inhalation of air containing poisonous compounds, in particular cyanide chloride, increases the risk of death. Prolonged exposure to respiratory tract trichloramine leads to severe burns.
Forming in the pool harmful compounds are a by-product of disinfection and non-compliance with hygiene by bathing. During the study, scientists analyzed how chlorine, which is necessary to contain the development of microorganisms in water, interacts with uric acid and other body fluids. As shown by the results, the uric acid contained in the human urine when interacting with chlorine and forms the above-mentioned toxic compounds.
The trichloramine compound, when interacting with chlorine-containing disinfectants, causes severe damage to the pulmonary system. Scientists are concerned: as studies show, more than 90% of uric acid in the basins is a product of human life, in other words, if one of the swimmers decides to pee right in the pool, this will trigger a chemical reaction, dangerous to human life and health, during which volatile toxic compounds begin to form. Both air and water in swimming pools, according to experts, can and should be greatly improved due to the good hygienic habits of visitors. Many swimmers ignore warning signs about observing proper hygiene in the pools, which leads to the development of serious diseases not only from them, but also from other people visiting the pool.
A survey conducted in 2009 showed that more than 60% of people do not even suspect that inhalation, swallowing and any contact with contaminated water can cause serious illness. Recently, the increase in diseases caused by dirty water from the pools, is increasing. Most often, diarrhea is triggered by the bacteria Cryptosporidium and E. Coli, the latter of which is present in almost half of the public basins in the United States.
To reduce the risk of developing diseases, experts recommend not to visit the public pool during diarrhea, before the pool must take a shower with soap, after going to the toilet you need to wash your hands thoroughly.
Other studies conducted in this area have shown that a systematic visit to indoor swimming pools with chlorinated water can lead to severe respiratory diseases and DNA damage, which increases the risk of developing cancerous tumors.