Pollutants wading pool as health risk

Many wading pools contain pollutants

07/18/2014

Paddling pools are fun for children during summertime, but they pose some health risks. The drowning hazard should be mentioned first, but also the contaminants contained in the plastic of the children's wading pools can be a health hazard. The magazine „Eco test“ has found in a recent study that in 14 of the 16 tested paddling pools „lots of pollutants“ were included. Only a hard plastic pool was recommended and a frame pool have achieved a respectable success, reports the consumer magazine.

The information of the magazine „Eco test“ Phthalates (plasticizers), which are not firmly bound in the material, could thaw out and could enter the body via the oral mucosa and sometimes also through the skin in five tested children's wading pools. Due to their hormonal effects, phthalates are associated, among other things, with impairments of fertility, obesity and diabetes. Both proven phthalates are according to the consumer magazine „in toys and childcare articles suitable for being put into the mouth of children in concentrations above 0.1% by mass.“ Of course, a paddling pool can not be equated with a pacifier or a teething ring, but the children are sitting in the paddling pool „almost naked and maybe even suck on the accessible film parts of the frame pool“, reported „Eco test“ and therefore demanded: „In the interests of preventive consumer protection, the provider should provide for phthalate-free children's products.“ Only three pools are in the current investigation „plasticizer-free“ while all other products contained the softeners DEHT and / or DINCH, which have not yet been sufficiently researched to give a final assessment of the health risks.

Softeners, solvents and PAHs in children's wading pools
In addition to the plasticizers, the testers found polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in 13 out of 16 children's paddling pools, which in the worst case can have a carcinogenic effect. The PAHs would enter the rubber and soft plastic via process oils, reports „Eco test“. In addition, the solvent isophorone was detected in five products, which „irritates the eyes, skin and respiratory organs and for which a carcinogenic potential can not be excluded.“ Here, with careful production, a significantly lower isophorone content in the final product can be achieved, „as those who measured the laboratory we commissioned.“ Overall, the manufacturers have a duty to minimize possible health risks for the little ones while splashing.

Danger of drowning
However, the biggest health risk for young children in the paddling pools is not the pollutants but the risk of drowning. Here already a water level of ten centimeters can be dangerous. Therefore, infants should never romp unattended in the paddling pool. Furthermore, it is important to observe some hygiene rules in order to prevent the proliferation of germs in the paddling pool water and then threatening infections. Here, for example, the water should be changed daily if there is no pump with filter system. In addition, children should not jump from the heat directly into the cold water, but ideally first slowly get used to the temperature difference. (Fp)