Chlorine exposure leads to allergies, asthma-like symptoms in swimmers
Chlorine exposure leads to allergies, asthma-like symptoms in swimmers
Swimmers who leave the pool after a challenging practice or race may feel as though their breath has been taken away. New research has shown that this feeling could be rooted in reality, as prolonged exposure to chlorine could be contributing to long-term respiratory problems among swimmers.
Researchers from France's Lille 2 University of Health and Law studied 23 elite swimmers and found that their lungs had developed scar tissue, in addition to about six times as many immune cells – similar to the amount witnessed in asthma sufferers – as healthy individuals. According to third-party scientists, this test was the first of its kind to study the connection between swimmers who use chlorinated pools and subsequent damage to their airways.
"Intense, long-term swimming training in indoor chlorinated swimming pools is associated with airway changes similar to those seen in mild asthma," the study concluded.
This study builds upon data discovered in 2009 by researchers from the Belgium's Catholic University of Louvain that suggested children already susceptible to allergies or asthma would be even more likely to develop these conditions. Additional research has found that swimmers who inhale copious amounts of chlorine over an extended period of time may become more sensitive to certain allergens, such as pet dander.
Despite prevailing research surrounding this issue, other researchers have suggested that the issue is not with the chlorine, but rather with the strain placed on the lungs while swimming. Other studies have shown similar effects in the lungs of competitive skiers who must use their lungs in the same manner.
Whenever athletes need to exert their lungs significantly, they should be prepared for the health effects that could result. They may need to use allergy medications and inhalers more frequently than those in the general population.
This article was written by Ann O'Reilly