Private MD News

Study: Chlorine causes asthma, allergies

Category: Allergy Testing

Swimming pools which contain chlorine in excess are likely to increase a child's risk of developing asthma or other allergies, according to new research.

A study published in the September 14 edition of Pediatrics revealed that teenagers who spent more than 1,000 hours in chlorinated pools were eight times more likely to develop asthma than teens who swam in pools that used a copper-silver disinfectant, HealthDay reports. Furthermore, researchers found that the adolescent's susceptibility to asthma was proportionate to the duration of his or her exposure to the chlorinated area.

The risk of developing other allergies such as hay fever also significantly grew in teenagers who spent more than 100 hours near the disinfectant.

Alfred Bernard, lead author of the study conducted in Belgium, summarized for the news source, "when too much chlorine is added to water or builds up in the air of indoor pools, there is unavoidably some irritation of the organs of the bather in contact with the water and air." He added, "children…are the most vulnerable and the most frequent attendees of chlorinated pools."

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health had previously recommended limiting ones exposure to chlorine to prevent negative consequences over the long-term.