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Table 4 Recommendations to athletes, coaches, and medical staff as potential strategies for controlling the negative effects of swimming pool chlorine on general health and performance

From: Medical Care for Swimmers

Schedule training sessions in outdoor pools as much as possible where natural ventilation helps to reduce surface chlorine levels. If forced to use an indoor pool, avoid older pools that may have low ceilings and poor ventilation systems. In addition, deck-level industrial fans can be effective in enhancing the clearance of surface chlorine in older, poorly ventilated pools.

 

Undergo evaluation of pulmonary function by a certified medical professional for the purpose of determining asthmatic response and/or susceptibility to airway hyper-reactivity in a chlorinated environment [57, 67].

 

Consider prophylactic use of antioxidant supplementation (beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E) to reduce the negative effects of chlorine-induced oxidative stress on pulmonary function [69].

 

Train in a pool where the professional maintenance staff is conscientious and precise in their regulation of optimal chlorine levels, as well as water temperature and ventilation of surface chlorine.

 

Train in a pool where the professional staff ensures that proper swimming pool behavior, etiquette, and equipment are in place to help reduce the level of chlorine exposure. Posted requirements should be in place regarding pre-entry showers, bathroom breaks, suntan lotion, swim caps, goggles, etc.

 

Encourage swimming pool maintenance staff to stay current on the latest information regarding the efficacy of potential substitute disinfectant methods such as electro-physical systems (electrolytic copper and electrolytic silver), ozone disinfection, and ultraviolet disinfection [56].

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