Is That Pool Really Sanitary? New Chemical Approach Has Answers

[question everything]

An artificial sweetener found in more than 4,000 foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products turns up in swimming pools in unusually high concentrations.

That’s intriguing until you learn how it gets there. Then it’s just gross.

“It’s evidence people are peeing in pools,” said Lindsay Blackstock, a doctoral student in analytical and environmental toxicology at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Mrs. Blackstock and several colleagues tested 31 swimming pools and hot tubs in hotels and recreational facilities in Canada for the presence of acesulfame potassium, an artificial sweetener that is largely undigested and almost entirely excreted in urine.

There’s an ick factor to swimming in a pee-tainted pool, but the real concern is what happens chemically. Urine combines with chlorine to create byproducts that irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and the spent chlorine is no longer available to kill disease-causing germs.

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Urine isn’t a primary source of germs in pools or hot tubs, but feces that clings to the body is. At any time, Dr. Hlavsa said, adults have about 0.14 grams of poop on their bottoms and children have as much as 10 grams. Feces can contain bacteria, viruses and parasites such as E. coli, norovirus and giardia that can lead to outbreaks of diarrhea, vomiting and other illnesses.

In 2011 and 2012, the most recent data available, the CDC recorded at least 185 illnesses stemming from exposure to these or similar organisms in pools, hot tubs and spas. Nearly 900 more cases were attributed to a chlorine-resistant parasite known as cryptosporidium.

“We’re not so worried about pee,” Dr. Hlavsa said. “We’re worried it will use up the chlorine that kills germs.”

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But there is another tool that anyone can use: Their nose.

Appropriately chlorinated swimming pools and hot tubs smell strongly of the disinfectant only when it has combined with substances like urine, lotions and hair products. A healthy pool has very little odor, Dr. Hlavsa said, and it should not turn your eyes red.

The solution to keeping it that way is straight forward.

Shower for about one minute before swimming to remove personal care products and traces of feces. And stop using the pool like an Olympic-size toilet.

Write to Jo Craven McGinty at [e-mail]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/is-that-pool-really-sanitary-new-chemical-approach-has-answers-1500642001

[forgotmylogin]

1. So if a pool smells strongly of chlorine

that means it's dirtier than a pool that does not. Interesting.

The larger volume of water in a pool and exposure to sunlight should help. Public and private hot-tubs that don't have water changed periodically can keep bacteria at a livable temperature - especially ones which are covered when not in use that are Petri dishes of potential contamination.

If you've ever seen a hot tub where the water seems foamy - that's lotion and soap and dead skin.