What’s in the pool?
CDC researchers recently published a study of contaminants found in public pools (in the metro-Atlanta area). It's worth reading if you plan to take a dip in a public pool this summer. Here are the highlights:
During the 2012 summer swimming season, filter concentrate samples were collected at metro-Atlanta public pools... Escherichia coli, a fecal indicator, was detected in 93 (58%) samples; detection signifies that swimmers introduced fecal material into pool water. Fecal material can be introduced when it washes off of swimmers' bodies or through a formed or diarrheal fecal incident in the water. The risk for pathogen transmission increases if swimmers introduce diarrheal feces...
The detection of E. coli in over half of filter backwash samples indicates that swimmers frequently introduced fecal material into pools and thus might transmit infectious pathogens to others... A single diarrheal contamination incident can introduce 107–108 Cryptosporidium oocysts into the water, a quantity sufficient to cause infection if a mouthful of water from a typical pool is ingested.
The frequent occurrence of fecal contamination of pools documented in this study... underscore the need for improved swimmer hygiene (e.g., taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea). This study also found that the proportion of samples positive for E. coli significantly differed between membership/club and municipal pools. This finding might reflect differences in the number of swimmers who are either diapered children or children learning toileting skills.
The detection of E. coli in over half of filter backwash samples indicates that swimmers frequently introduced fecal material into pools and thus might transmit infectious pathogens to others... A single diarrheal contamination incident can introduce 107–108 Cryptosporidium oocysts into the water, a quantity sufficient to cause infection if a mouthful of water from a typical pool is ingested.
The frequent occurrence of fecal contamination of pools documented in this study... underscore the need for improved swimmer hygiene (e.g., taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea). This study also found that the proportion of samples positive for E. coli significantly differed between membership/club and municipal pools. This finding might reflect differences in the number of swimmers who are either diapered children or children learning toileting skills.
Comments
Long ago at a nudist resort we frequented they had sexy male and female lifeguards. They would shower you off before entering the pool. BTW ... NO SEX IN THE POOL !!! :gulp: 😕
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 05/19/13 at 10:30 AM
When I was a care giver (and I recently read that the standard remains the same) we were told that a one part bleach to 10 parts water kills everything including the Aids virus. That being the case, I would surely think that chlorine levels would surpass that. I wonder if some of these stories are just to scare people. Also, if pools are that bad imagine what lake whater must be like. GROSS!
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 05/19/13 at 10:38 AM
Whoa Patty, At that mix (1 part bleach/10 parts water=9%)You would have a chlorine level of about 90,000 ppm(parts per million). The CDC says NORMAL POOL LEVELS for chlorine are between 1.0-3.0ppm! OUCH! I tried to figure the ph level that would result in but that was beyond my ability. :shut:
Posted by Tyrusguy on 05/19/13 at 11:21 AM
No chit, CDC?
Posted by ToeTagger on 05/19/13 at 11:36 AM
Oops, chemestry is not my gig sweetie. Thanks for the correction.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 05/19/13 at 12:04 PM
So... it ain't just the fish.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 05/20/13 at 12:55 AM
The pool I went to as a kid had so much chlorine you could smell it for 2 blocks away and could never stand to be in it for more than 10 mins without showering it off. NOTHING lived through that! I barely survived it myself.
Posted by EvilSpaceLordMang on 05/20/13 at 01:59 AM
That is why nudists all take a shower before entering the water! Perhaps mainstream america could take a page from the nudists 😊
http://nudistnaturistamerica.org/
http://nudistnaturistamerica.org/
Posted by Jordan Blum on 05/23/13 at 04:33 PM
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Category: Hygiene | Excrement | Swimming, Snorkeling, and Diving