if chlorine is harmful to human health then why do they put it in swimming pools?

Answer 1

Cities and towns usually add it to the drinking water to kill bacteria. Small amounts aren't harmful to humans.

Answer 2

Chlorine in its diluted form as we find in swimming pools actually isn't that bad compared to it's solid raw form which it some really nasty stuff. But we put it in pools to keep the pools clean from harmful bacteria and viruses.

Chlorine, if you're scientifically inclined, is actually an element found in the 17th column or the halogen group. This means that these elements are very reactive and will bond with other elements well. Since chlorine is so reactive and so widely available now it's an easy pick for keeping our pools clean but of course we also use other chemicals like shock to keep them clean as well.

But all in all the worst chlorine can really do is give you a rash from drying out your skin (becuase of so much chlorine the pool water the solution it makes is actually slightly hypertonic) or give you some red eyes if you open your eyes underwater. There's harsher things that we could put in pools so chlorine is actually a rather safe common cleaning agent for pools.

Answer 3

It depends on who is running the pool. The levels should be: Chlorine 3.5-4.5ppm pH 7.6-7.8 Alkalinity 80-100 Hardness 150-250 Combined chlorine 0.0-0.6 Cyanuric acid 20-50ppm (outdoor public pools) What gets you mostly is the CC. That will make your eyes water and gives you that "chlorine smell". Public pools should run a slightly higher level of chlorine due to its heavy use. I take care of the Y pool, 80,000 gallons, and never have had a bad word about those readings. They should take the chemical readings every 4 hours. There is always a risk when swimming in a public pool, but if the readings are kept, the risk is minimized.

Answer 4

It's only harmful to your health if you consume it in large amounts raw (meaning ONLY chlorine, not mixed with water). The chlorine is used to kill many harmful bacteria in the pool because if it weren't for this chemical, swimming pools would be breeding grounds for bacteria. Chlorine on your skin isn't harmful enough to do any major damage, other than a little dry skin.

Answer 5

Most pools no longer use Chlorine, they haven't for a while. They use Bromine. It pretty much does the same job as Chlorine, with less risk to health.

Answer 6

Ther chlorine in the pool is diluted enough not to hurt us humans, but it is still strong enough to kill the germs and becteria that are in there.

Answer 7

I think chlorine in a gas form is lethal and I bet enough of straight chlorine would kill you but in a pool it is diluted

Answer 8

to make sure people who dont wash ie:cornershop owners,dont pollute the pool & pass on untold germs to normal folk who just want to have fun in the pool.

Answer 9

to kill off all the germs and bacteria from t*****s who urinate in the water,with no regard for other pool users

Answer 10

to kill bad bacteria thats even worse