Three new studies that looked at the use of chemicals in pools have reported that regular swimmers may actually be in for some health risks.
Swimming is terrific exercise, but people who regularly swim in indoor pools may be exposing themselves to some health risks from the chemicals used to disinfect pools, according to new research.
The concern here is with disinfection byproducts. These are substances that form in pool water from the reactions that occur between disinfectants and organic matter that naturally exists in the water. What the three studies have found is that long term exposure to these substances has been linked to an increased risk for bladder cancer.
No one should panic just yet. As the researchers all point out, their studies and the potential risk don’t, at the moment, out weight the health benefits of swimming. These are preliminary studies and more long-term research is needed to explore these issues further.
