14 Risks of Swimming in a Chlorinated Pool
That will make your body unhappy and unhealthy
Chlorinate in a Pool Lately?
Have you experienced any of these symptoms while swimming in a chlorinated pool?
Dry skin
Green hair
Clogged ears
Stinky clothes and skin
Trouble breathing
These outward symptoms are nothing compared to the actual physical damage chlorine can cause to your health. I'll share 14 risks of swimming in a chlorinated pool below.
Swimming is a beloved activity to many, including myself — but is it worth risking your health?
Swimming in A Lake Never Dried Out My Skin
As a child we lived near Lake Isabella, where we swam, skied, and camped as often as we could. I spent so much time in the water that I earned the nickname "Farrah Fish." My long golden blonde hair and the popularity of Farrah Fawcett (especially in Charlie's Angels) was the source of the first part of the moniker. I always assumed "Fish" was because I swam so much — but in retrospect, I suppose it could have been because my last name was Sammons. But that is a different story.
The point is — I have always loved to swim. Nothing has changed.
In all my years of swimming in a lake, I never experienced any adverse reactions from the water -- though I did get sun poisoning a time or two. However, I began to notice that when I would swim in chlorinated swimming pools, it would dry out my skin, turn my blonde hair green, and cause my ears to clog up and kind of hurt, diminishing their ability to function at full auditory capacity. Or said simply, it affected my ability to hear well.
But diminished hearing is not the only adverse affect of too much chlorine.
14 Risks of Swimming in a Chlorinated Pool
It is interesting to note that according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), "decreased hearing" is one of the symptoms listed from excessive chlorine exposure. [1] But that is not all.
Here is a list of 13 other dangers of chlorine exposure according to the NIH [2]:
acute pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
damaged airways (breathing problems)
obliterative bronchiolitis (popcorn lung)
visual and central nervous system impairment (vision and brain malfunction)
impaired balance (with eyes open and eyes closed)
delayed simple and choice reaction times (slowed reaction time)
impaired color discrimination (reduced ability to see color differences)
impaired visual field performance (eyesight problems)
decreased grip strength (weakened strength)
delayed blink reflex latency (also seen in dementia patients)
impaired cognitive performance (can't think well)
increased adverse mood states (emotional disturbances)
reduction in forced vital capacities (life is ebbing away)
How About A Glass of Chlorine?
It always amazes me when I write about these things that chlorine is mandated in our water supply. Interestingly, when I drink chlorinated water for a prolonged period of time, my ears develop the same sensation as when I swim in a chlorinated pool. But that too is a different topic.
Read more here:
How to Remove Chlorine from your Bathwater for Pennies. It Could Save Your Life.
Drinking Tap Water Could be the Final Straw That Destroys Your Health.
Swimming in a Chlorinated Pool Makes Me Feel Yucky.
Back to my story: I love to swim, but swimming in a chlorinated pool makes me feel yucky -- and it smells terrible. It is like taking a chemical bath with the potential to trigger any of the above adverse side effects, especially if there are inherited weaknesses in one of those areas.
This is why I try to avoid regular exposure to the 14 risks of swimming in a chlorinated pool. And recently I have been a been able to enjoy an alternative.
[This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you purchase something after clicking on one of my links. Thanks.]
Not long ago, we moved from our 3 bedroom home on Lake Hartwell — right on the deep water. The view was amazing, and I could swim whenever I wanted — without toxic chlorine. It was a dream come true. But our landlords needed to sell the house and gave us 30-days notice to move.
The Saltwater Solution to a Chlorinated Pool
After hemming and hawing and searching and praying — we decided to downsize to a one bedroom one bath apartment. I wrote about that here and here. Part of the reason we chose a small apartment was because the complex had a saltwater pool.
Saltwater pools are a simple, safe, and effective alternative to chlorinated pools. It is so nice to be able to enjoy the pool without all the weary side effects of chlorine. And my body knows. My skin is always soft and silky after a swim. And there is no overpowering chlorine smell. But best of all — my ears give me no trouble after swimming for hours.
It turns out it is not that difficult (or expensive) to convert a pool to saltwater and avoid the risks of swimming in a chlorinated pool
And you can actually set up your own saltwater pool from scratch — without breaking the bank. Learn more.
If you are still using a chlorinated pool -- you have now been warned about the risks of swimming in a chlorinated pool. And I've given you the saltwater solution. Learn more here.
Never Miss A Thing
Also, people keep saying that sharing is caring. I tend to agree. So please do! Thanks in advance.
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[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10735517
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10735517