Is there such a thing as allergy to swimming pool chlorine?

Question

I swim at a popular public pool and have congested sinuses afterwards, what gives?

Answer 1

You are probably not allergic to chlorine, just sensitive to it or to other chemical conditions present when you swim. Depending on the chlorine level and type used, the is sure can be caused by several different conditions. Low chlorine, high chlorine, and pH imbalance all can cause a whole range of bather issues.

When the bather load is high, the chlorine can be low, and bacteria can thrive. This could cause sinus irritation as well as other issues. Many different strains of bacteria can reside in the water and, if left unsanatized, can infect unsuspecting bathers, causing illness and even death.

Additionally, if a pool smells of heavy chlorine, it is a sign of too little chlorine, not too much. That smell is caused by chloramines, the combined form of chlorine, or chlorine that has already bonded with the nitrate substance in the water. Properly balanced water should have very little or no smell at all.

Most public pools use gas chlorine, which is wonderful when it comes to killing bacteria and other junk, but it has a very low pH, causing the water to become very acidic and irritating to skin and eyes, not to mention low pH over a long time can cause plaster etching, causing the pool surface to be rough and unsightly. If the plaster shows signs of etching, chances are your issue is general bather irritation caused by the acidity of the water. I guess that if said water caused you to have a stuffy nose perhaps it irritated and caused inflammation in the delicate mucous membranes in the nasal cavity. It makes sense to me.

My suggestion is to try to find another pool, maybe one that is not so crowded or one where you can verify the maintenance schedule and type of chemicals used. If this is not possible, try speaking with the operator about the chlorination schedule and go in between times when chlorine and other chemicals are added. Who knows, perhaps the operator is not well trained or the equipment is malfunctioning. You may help bring this issue to their attention. Also, try swimming before or after the crowds, as bather load can affect the sanitizer level. Obviously, the best advice is to swim in a pool serviced by a professional pool company or by yourself, as you can keep a better handle on what is going on chemically, and hopefully have a lower bather load.

Good luck. I hope this helped...

Answer 2

There are such things as allergies to chlorine. Many city pools are switching to saline pool systems. I am having one installed at my house for this very reason. Find a local pool that is using salt not chlorine.

Splash! Getting our kids physically active is a top priority for their short and long-term health, and swimming is a wonderful, fun way to do it. Public pools are typically treated with chlorine-based disinfectants to help keep kids safe from the spread of infectious diseases while swimming. A careful study published in the June 2003 issue of Occupational and Environmental Medicine demonstrated a downside of these chlorines. The layer of chlorine gases hovering just above the water has the potential to damage the lungs and cause asthma, if the levels are high enough. The chlorine that stings the eyes can also 'sting' the sensitive tissue of the lungs. At some pools the chlorine smell is oppressive. The risks are highest in indoor pools, and the lower the ceiling, the higher the risk. In looking at 1,881 children, the researchers found a consistent direct correlation between the total cumulative time a child had spent splashing in an indoor pool and the risk that the child developed asthma. They also found that blood levels of lung proteins rose immediately after swimming; the protective membranes in the lungs had become temporarily open passages. This doesn’t make me want to limit swimming – far from it! -- but it does make me want to urge clean, fresh air. This means better ventilation at swimming pools, and exploring gentler methods to prevent infection such as better swimmer hygiene, better water circulation, and non-chlorinated disinfectants

Answer 3

As a coach, I've had many a swimmer react to the pool in some way. Your symptoms of congestion demonstrate inhalation of water through your nose, but not an allergy. Allergic reactions will show in the form of a red, itchy rash. Also, the smell of chlorine has been known to congest sinuses. When I'm sick, I can almost feel the chlorine in the air attaching to the hairs in my nose. It's strong stuff, but luckily, most pools are now switching to a salt-water solution that is much easier on the eyes, nose, and skin.

Answer 4

I think you can have a allergic reaction to just about anything.
My father gets swollen eyelids if he goes underwater in a
swimming pool. Its the chlorine bothering him.
Its possible the levels of chlorine is very high when you are
swimming.

Answer 5

I get that too when I go to the public pool. I also break out in a horrible rash. I've just stopped going. Fortunately, I live close enough to the ocean that I have alternate means to go swimming if I want to. I've never asked a doctor about it though.

Answer 6

i don't know but I am a swimmer that allergic to chlorine my skin gets red irritated and itchy, my head is also cogested so maybe?

Answer 7

i dont think your allergic to it, you have some other problem, you can be allergic to evaporated chlorine/chlorine in the air, i think it makes you start coughing

Answer 8

yes.. my sister is allergic and she is a hardcore swimmer..i have many friends on the team who are also allergic..there is medication for that go to the doctor, make sure you really are and if so then get a prescription..but just because you have major congestion doesn't mean you are allergic..i get that sometimes too but it eventually passes..no biggie.