No one is suggesting you give up your regular swim... experts agree that swimming is a great, whole body workout that's right for just about anyone. But, be aware that a trio of new studies are sending a cautionary message to the industry that swimming pool chlorine chemicals need to be reduced due to a possible cancer risk. The industry agrees.
To date, there has been research on chemicals in water, but not in swimming pools. This is why the current studies have focused more intently on indoor swimming pool water.
Science knows that chemicals are produced when you add chlorine to water and the chemical reacts to things like urine, makeup and other substances found in most swimming pools.
The team wanted to look at disinfection byproducts (or DBPs). In the first of a trio of new studies appearing in the journal, researchers assessed 49 healthy adults after they had been swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool for 40 minutes.
By analyzing blood and urine samples, the team found that there was an increase in risk markers associated with cancer. The pool water exposure was linked to a 5-fold increase in one marker in particular.
This does not mean that swimmers have a five times greater risk of getting cancer. What the team saw was an increase in a marker in the blood that has been associated with later cancer risk. Much, much more work in this area needs to be done.
In the second study, the team looked at the respiratory effects of exposure to indoor pool water. They examined markers of lung injury before and after the swim, using 48 subjects this time, all from the same group as the first study. This time there were changes in just one blood marker, CC16, that the researchers say is a result of the exercise itself and the DBP exposure. This work did not see the link with swimming and asthma that's been suggested by other studies.
In the third of the studies, the team looked at water and air samples from two indoor pools. The samples were sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were found to have more than 100 DBPs in the pool water, some not identified before.
Most of what was found is what experts expect to see in tap water. Other substances have been identified in studies on animals to be harmful. The bottom line is that while the water you swim in and the water you drink have the same byproducts, you get a much bigger dose when you immerse yourself in the pool than you do by drinking.
Those in the swimming pool industry agree that finding ways to cut exposure to hazardous chemicals is important. But still they have to keep that water clean. Questions remain around the pools that were studied and how well were they cared for. Plus, if the findings apply to all pools or just the ones studied.
Your best bet for safe indoor swimming is to check out the pool itself. Ask if the operators are certified in how best to disinfect a pool. You can ask to see the maintenance records of the pool you're using to be sure its been maintained properly over a period of time. Sometimes you'll see a certificate on the wall. You might also try test strips that are sold at most pool supply stores and check the level of swimming pool chlorine in the water for yourself. You'll also want to use the bathroom and shower before swimming, to protect yourself and the other swimmers.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from Daily Health Bulletin and click the link now to discover other ways of reducing your cancer risk naturally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker
To date, there has been research on chemicals in water, but not in swimming pools. This is why the current studies have focused more intently on indoor swimming pool water.
Science knows that chemicals are produced when you add chlorine to water and the chemical reacts to things like urine, makeup and other substances found in most swimming pools.
The team wanted to look at disinfection byproducts (or DBPs). In the first of a trio of new studies appearing in the journal, researchers assessed 49 healthy adults after they had been swimming in an indoor chlorinated pool for 40 minutes.
By analyzing blood and urine samples, the team found that there was an increase in risk markers associated with cancer. The pool water exposure was linked to a 5-fold increase in one marker in particular.
This does not mean that swimmers have a five times greater risk of getting cancer. What the team saw was an increase in a marker in the blood that has been associated with later cancer risk. Much, much more work in this area needs to be done.
In the second study, the team looked at the respiratory effects of exposure to indoor pool water. They examined markers of lung injury before and after the swim, using 48 subjects this time, all from the same group as the first study. This time there were changes in just one blood marker, CC16, that the researchers say is a result of the exercise itself and the DBP exposure. This work did not see the link with swimming and asthma that's been suggested by other studies.
In the third of the studies, the team looked at water and air samples from two indoor pools. The samples were sent to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and were found to have more than 100 DBPs in the pool water, some not identified before.
Most of what was found is what experts expect to see in tap water. Other substances have been identified in studies on animals to be harmful. The bottom line is that while the water you swim in and the water you drink have the same byproducts, you get a much bigger dose when you immerse yourself in the pool than you do by drinking.
Those in the swimming pool industry agree that finding ways to cut exposure to hazardous chemicals is important. But still they have to keep that water clean. Questions remain around the pools that were studied and how well were they cared for. Plus, if the findings apply to all pools or just the ones studied.
Your best bet for safe indoor swimming is to check out the pool itself. Ask if the operators are certified in how best to disinfect a pool. You can ask to see the maintenance records of the pool you're using to be sure its been maintained properly over a period of time. Sometimes you'll see a certificate on the wall. You might also try test strips that are sold at most pool supply stores and check the level of swimming pool chlorine in the water for yourself. You'll also want to use the bathroom and shower before swimming, to protect yourself and the other swimmers.
FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from Daily Health Bulletin and click the link now to discover other ways of reducing your cancer risk naturally.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker