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Which is the health risk in swimming pools and spas? |
Swimming pool and spas water can become contaminated by germs from swimmers or incoming water from unsafe water supplies. Contaminated recreational water can cause a variety of diseases such as diarrhea and skin, ear, and upper respiratory infections, particularly if the swimmer's head is submerged.
The risk of illness or infection associated with swimming pools, spas and similar recreational-water environments has been linked to faecal contamination of the water. The faecal contamination may be due to faeces released by bathers or contaminated source water. Many of the outbreaks related to swimming pools have occurred because disinfection was poorly or not at all applied. The majority of reported swimming pool-related outbreaks have been caused by viruses; recently, however, reported outbreaks have been more frequently associated with bacteria and protozoa.
Non-faecal human shedding (e.g., from mucus, saliva, skin) in the swimming pool, spa or similar recreational-water environments is a source of potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms.
Opportunistic pathogens (notably bacteria) can also be shed from users and transmitted via contaminated water in pools or spas. In addition, certain free-living aquatic bacteria and amoebas can grow in pool or spa waters, in pool or spa components or facilities (including heating, ventilation and air conditioning [HVAC] systems) or on other wet surfaces within the facility to a point at which some of them (opportunistic pathogens) may cause a variety of respiratory, dermal or central
nervous system infections or diseases.
Only pools and spas that contain filtrated and desinfectated water can be considered safe places to swim. Poor maintenance of the pool may lead to low chlorine or bromine levels and clogged filters that may place swimmers at risk for diseases and infections.
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How swimming pools and spas water can transmit diseases? |
People with diarrheal illnesses are more prone to contaminate the water. Kids who wear diapers or are just learning to control their bowels are more likely to have fecal accidents and, if they are ill with diarrhea, the germs in their stool can contaminate the pool.
Then when swimmers accidentally swallow this fecally contaminated water, can become ill.
Also, some germs such as Cryptosporidium (crypto) can come with the make-up municipal water (mainly in sites with bad sanitation conditions) and are not easily killed by chlorine in the pool, increasing the risk of disease.
Mucus, saliva and skin of infected users can directly contaminate pool or spa waters and the surfaces of objects or materials at a facility with sufficient numbers of primary pathogens (notably viruses or fungi), which can consequently lead to infections in other swimmers who come in contact with the contaminated water or surfaces.
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Which diseases are most common spread in swimming pools and spas? |
The most frequently reported illness are caused by germs such as Cryptosporidium (crypto), Giardia, E. coli O157:H7 (E. coli), and Shigella. Some of these outbreaks may affect thousands of swimmers.
Crypto is the major germ that causes outbreaks in swimming pools and spas, where its extreme chlorine resistance and small size make it a difficult problem for even the best equipped and well-maintained pools.
Major outbreaks associated with Giardia occurred in systems that do not use or have a defect in the filtration system of pools.
E. coli and Shigella are relatively sensitive to chlorine or bromine so most outbreaks have occurred in locations where no desinfectant are added.
In certain countries, fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (caused by naegleria fowleri) has occurred following swimming in warm dirty water.
Other non enteric pathogens that may be found in swimmming pools and spas are legionella spp,pseudomonas aeruginosa ,mycobacterium spp., staphylococcus aureus, leptospira interrogans,molluscipoxvirus, human papilloma virus,acanthamoeba spp.,trichophyton spp.
and epidermophyton floccosum,that usually produce dermic or respiratory infections.
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How preventing to get diseases in swimming pools and spas? |
Disease prevention should be a part of every water quality management program for pool operators, just like the prevention of drowning, injuries, and sunburn.
You are less likely to be exposed to polluted water at swimming pools and spas that are monitored regularly and audited for health hazards. The pool water has to be continuously disinfected by chlorine or bromine so that the concentrations set by standards are maintained throughout the pool water, and also the pH, the clarity and the total alkalinity of the water has to be maintained in accordance with the requirements set by standards.
A rule of thumb is that the water shall be sufficiently clear to permit the main drain to be clearly visible from the pool deck at all distances up to ten meters (eleven yards) in a horizontal direction from the projection of the drain on the pool
surface.
Don't swim in locations where the pool water is not continuously disinfected, or do not use or have a defective filtration system.
The education of parents of small children and other recreationists with regard to good hygienic
behavior at swimming pools is also important for improving health safety at swimming pools and spas. People should also be cautioned about swimming in pools if they are suffering from gastroenteritis or other illnesses where viral pathogens might be transmitted from swimmer to swimmer via pool water.
Since most swimmers are exposed to pathogens by swallowing the water, you will be less likely to get sick if you swim without submerging your head.
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Recommended disinfectant residuals (mg/liter) in swimming pool water |
| Disinfectant | UK | EC | USA | USA (Michigan) | Germany | Italy |
| Free chlorine | 12 | 1.03.0 | 0.41.0 | 0.30.6 | 0.71. | 0.71 |
| Bromine | 1.53.5 |
