New Study Highlights Gross (and Even Dangerous) Germs in Pools and Hot Tubs
So much for taking a refreshing dip in the pool. (Photo: Getty Images)
According to new research published in the American Chemical Society’s journal Environmental Science & Technology, germs are lurking in pools and hot tubs — both private and public — even after they’ve been cleaned.
And these microbes could possibly wreak havoc on your body, both inside and out.
The study investigators explain that while pool disinfectants (the most popular ones being chlorine or bromine) destroy pathogens — microscopic, toxic organisms that cause diseases — the combination of these cleaners mixed with other substances that people contribute to the water create other compounds, known as disinfection byproducts.
“Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) form when disinfectants, like chlorine, bromine, or ozone, react with organic matter present in the water,” Susan Richardson, PhD, lead researcher and professor of chemistry at the University of South Carolina, tells Yahoo Beauty. “The ‘not natural’ organic matter can include compounds present in urine (urea, uric acid, etc., along with pharmaceuticals that can be peed out), sweat (urea comes from sweat too), and also compounds arising from personal care products (such as sunscreen ingredients, lotions, hair products, cosmetics, etc.).”
Richardson and her team tested water collected from private and public swimming pools and hot tubs after normal and intense use. Not only did they discover more than 100 disinfection byproducts floating around these waters, but also the samples were between 2.4 and 4.1 times more mutagenic than the regular tap water each pool or tub was originally filled with.
“We also found some DBPs that are unique to pools/spas that have not been found in drinking water before,” she adds. “Of course, most people aren’t drinking this water (although swimmers will ingest a little bit while swimming). The main routes of exposure to DBPs are from breathing them in, and some will go across the skin into your blood stream.”
As a result, these inorganic substances have the ability to cause serious — even devastating — harm to our cells, which may explain why previous reports found that those who swim or work in or near pools have higher rates of respiratory symptoms and bladder cancer.
“More frequent colds, sore throat, phlegm, and red, itchy eyes have also been reported, as well as some skin problems,” says Richardson.
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On the less severe — yet still unsettling — end, chlorine, in and of itself, can inflict damage on hair (Those with dry, thin, or color-treated hair are at risk of being left with porous locks since this disinfectant can strip the hair of oil.) and skin, leaving it dry, red and itchy, depending on the individual. But can the byproducts have even stronger side effects?
The answer: Maybe.
“Concentrations of the disinfection byproducts reported in the study are on the order of micrograms per liter,” Kelly Dobos, a cosmetic chemist with expertise in skin care and personal-care product formulation, tells Yahoo Beauty. “These are very small amounts. And it’s important to understand that the mutagenicity studies were performed using microorganisms.”
So while these compounds made of sweat and chemical cleaner sound frightful, Dobos states that “much more work needs to be done to really prove if there are any detrimental effects.”
She adds that the majority of skin irritations from swimming pools are due to improper levels of disinfectant or pH. “And some individuals are just sensitive to chlorine or bromine.”
As for how to keep pools and hot tubs from becoming murky, the researchers suggest that owners and operators change the water more frequently, and that swimmers rinse off before taking a dip. “Also, products with polyhexamethylene biguanide, known as biguanide, are an alternative for treating pool and spa water,” adds Dobos.
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