Swimming pool water presents 2 types of dangers to swimmers

Chlorine-Resistant Microorganisms

Many types of pathogenic microorganisms enter swimming pool water through swimmers’ body fluids, sweat, saliva, particles of skin, hair, fecal matter, etc.

Chlorine resistant microorganisms like Cryptosporidium, Guardia, viruses, etc. are proven to be unaffected by Chlorine disinfection at dose levels commonly used for swimming pools. This applies regardless of the form of chlorine used.

Chlorine resistant pathogens in swimming pools expose swimmers to a numerous types of infectious diseases.

Disinfection Byproducts

Organic matter like body fluids, dirt and debris from swimmers’ bodies and the environment enters swimming pool water. Chlorine is proven to react with other chemicals and the organic matter to form disinfection byproducts.

Free Chlorine in pool water reacts with the organic matter to form disinfection  Byproducts (DBPs). Depending on pool water chemistry, temperature, concentrations of various chemicals in pool water, complex chemicals are created.

Health Effects of Disinfection Byproducts

Disinfection byproducts have been linked to several health effects ranging from breathing difficulties, asthma, skin irritation and eye irritation. Worse effects of disinfection byproducts include various types of cancers of bladder, intestine and other parts of human digestive track.