[...learned #178] we don’t swim in your toilet
July 2nd, 2009 Graig
An interesting article in the Metro the other day about pool hygene, and while some of it’s rather sensible (don’t swim when you have the trots, don’t drink the water), some of it is rarely heeded (such as showering yourself down BEFORE getting in the pool). What was interesting was what the article noted about peeing in the pool… it’s not about how it affects water quality (as urine is sterile and any bacteria and germs are killed by the chlorine), but how it affects the air quality.
“The bigger concern is actually air quality, not water quality, which most people don’t realize.” That’s because when uric acid from urine mixes with chlorinated water, chloramines are formed. These, in turn, form into the gas trichloromethane, which is not good to breathe for long periods.
The gases tend to sit low on the water’s surface, which is where swimmers breathe, Hughes explained, adding that it’s more of an issue at indoor pools where the breezes can’t blow the gases away.
Erm. Ick.
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