Most swimming pools use chlorine in the water for sanitation purposes. However, high doses of chlorine in water can have harmful effects on human health. People often ask how harmful is chlorine in swimming pool? The answer – it can be very harmful if its levels are not monitored properly. Here are just some of the harmful effects of chlorine which have been proved by studies in the field:
- Skin can absorb the toxins: Chlorine present in the water can be absorbed through skin. At the end of the day, chlorine is a chemical and absorption of chemicals in the human body always has harmful effects. It can reach the blood stream and even affect the vital organs of the body in the long run.
- Can cause skin irritation: Apart from being absorbed by the skin, chlorine in swimming pool can also cause rashes and skin irritation. In some cases, it is also known to cause skin eczema, which is a a more serious form of skin disease, often leading to rashes all over the body.
- Can affect the eyes: Large volume of chlorine in the swimming pool can cause a burning sensation in the eyes and lead to itchiness. Redness of the eyes is common among swimmers who swim without their swimming goggles. You must always wear swimming goggles in order to protect your eyes against the chemical.
- Can damage hair: Chlorine is also said to damage the hair, resulting in a bleaching effect. Exposure to high levels of chlorine has also been seen to lead to premature graying of hair and excessive hair loss. Thus, while going swimming, it is very important to use your swimming cap in order to prevent your hair from the harmful effects of chlorine.
If you don’t call all that harmful, then there is nothing harmful in this world. And it is not as if alternatives to chlorine are not available for swimming pool sanitation. There are chlorine free ionizing capsules, there is BZT available and a few more products which keep the pool clean without causing health hazards. However, what’s lacking is the awareness among pool owners about the availability of such products.
While Swimming, Swimming Goggles Are A Must!
Swimming goggles are made up of three basic components – the gasket, the lens and the strap. The gasket is the part which is attached to the rear of the lens and touches your face. Traditionally, foam is used for gasketting; however, of late, rubber has been used for this purpose. The advantage of rubber gasket is that they are hypoallergenic and cannot be easily separated from the lenses, thus providing better security.
The straps are used to keep the goggles in position. In the olden days, single straps were used. However, they were ineffective of keeping the goggles on. These days, double straps made of rubber are used to provide better grip of lenses on the eyes and the face.
Lenses are of course the part which allows you to see under water. They keep your eyes safe from chemicals and bacteria which may be present in water. Good quality lenses must always be selected to keep your eyes protected when swimming.
Some people think that they don’t really need best speedo swimming goggles and can go swimming without them. Although immediate harmful effects may not be realized, regular swimmers who swim without their goggles on can adversely affect their eyes in the long run. Make sure you always wear your goggles while going swimming; they are important and they are manufactured for a reason.