No baby swimming in case of allergy suspicion

No baby swimming in heaped allergies in the family

10.01.2011

Infants under the age of two should not take part in baby-swimming if the family often has allergies. This was announced by the Federal Environment Agency in Dessau.

Babies and toddlers under the age of two should not take part in baby-swimming if the family often has allergies. Otherwise, it could happen that the affected children develop asthma later in life, as explained by the Federal Environmental Agency in Dessau. The reason for this warning is the chemical substance „trichloramine“, which is contained in the chlorine-containing water. Chlorine is used in swimming pools to disinfect the water when contaminated. „trichloramine“ is a reaction product when the chlorine in the water comes in contact with urea, sweat, dander or cosmetics.

So far, health experts can only express suspicions from observations. The Federal Office is currently missing study data that clearly prove this connection. Nevertheless, the Environmental Protection Agency issues the warning, as health risks and secondary diseases such as asthma can not be ruled out if there is an allergy preload in the family.

The Federal Office classifies swimming in a swimming pool with chlorinated water as safe for older children and adults. However, all users of a swimming pool should comply with hygiene precautions. After swimming, you should thoroughly take a shower, as the chlorine-containing water adheres to the body.

Beware of strong chlorine smell
Basically parents have to be careful when the water smells strongly of chlorine. Then, most likely, the water has not been exchanged for new water. The operator of the swimming pool should then be made aware of this fact. By a use of the swimming water is to be foreseen strong smell. In Germany, the permitted amount of chlorine is 0.3 milligrams per liter. (Sb)

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Image: Dieter Schütz