evil pools and doomsday scenarios

[atomichaggis]

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

The worst infection I've ever gotten was in the ocean (Oahu). Was not used to the warm water bacteria, burst both eardrums, hospital trip, whole trip spent on hardcore painkillers. Thats the only one I've gotten from the water though(pool or ocean)

Oahu is a bit of an open sewer is it not?

[naiad]

Since I don't want to give up on all fun activities such as freediving, and I don't want to end up seriously ill, I have decided on a happy medium. I still do pool training once a week, which has no noticeable effect on my health. I don't go swimming, because I don't enjoy it and the chlorine exposure is risky. I only do open water activities such as diving, swimming or field work in reasonably clean water, avoiding water which smells bad, looks polluted or has a bad reputation for pollution.

[monkeyhatfork]

pipe goggles for web.jpgThanks, NAIAD for the info thats about what I was looking for, hope all goes well with your health.
I train in an outdoor pool 4-5 days a week dyn, olympic swimmers train there so they are super anal about testing the water. No health problems but my hair is so pourous from bleaching and absorbs the chlorine which seems to almost melt the hair (see attachment).
I've have been in some very scary pools(cheap hotel pools for example) that I would be horrified to spend much time in.

to:atomichagis oahu is a great place but like all overdeveloped locations they have thier problems

[monkeyhatfork]

also noticed that while I have no problem at all in pools, I sometimes feel a little sick to my stomach in jacuzzis/spas, where you are inhalling 100's of times the amount of fumes you would in a pool.

on another note not so health related, I can't stand when people jump in the pool covered in cologne/perfume I can taste it all the way on the other side of the pool

[naiad]

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

Thanks, NAIAD for the info thats about what I was looking for, hope all goes well with your health.

Thanks.
I am much better now, and much more careful.

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

I train in an outdoor pool 4-5 days a week dyn, olympic swimmers train there so they are super anal about testing the water. No health problems but my hair is so pourous from bleaching and absorbs the chlorine which seems to almost melt the hair (see attachment).

The outdoor pool is probably much better than most indoor pools. The hair bleaching is a problem, I don't think much can be done about that, but at least there are much less fumes in the air.
Nice pipe goggles too.

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

I've have been in some very scary pools(cheap hotel pools for example) that I would be horrified to spend much time in.

There are many very scary pools here in the UK. There often appears to be no limit on the amount of people allowed in the pool, mostly without showering beforehand, and no limit on the amount of chemicals added.

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

also noticed that while I have no problem at all in pools, I sometimes feel a little sick to my stomach in jacuzzis/spas, where you are inhalling 100's of times the amount of fumes you would in a pool.

I also find that those are the worst. The air is warm, damp and full of chlorine. I was going to one when I was ill.

Originally Posted by monkeyhatfork

on another note not so health related, I can't stand when people jump in the pool covered in cologne/perfume I can taste it all the way on the other side of the pool

Same with me, I wish that all sprays were banned. It is unpleasant and dangerous to breathe chemical perfumes, as some people are sensitive to them.

[DiverTodd]

I'm in a pool 3 to 4 times a week, with no ill effects (other than dry skin in the Winter). I suppose one of the worst effects would be from breathing chlorine fumes, as they can't really escape from an indoor pool area, but a swimmer would only be exposed to them for a short time. Then, the lungs would recover. As for the accelerated hair loss, that could be from swim caps! But then, I buy that about as much as the fact that it's caused by baseball caps... lol

Todd

[Rhys]

I used to go swimming training in a small indoor pool. Iit was the only indoor pool in our area so all the children learnt to swim in it, to combat this they put enormous amounts of chemicals in the water. It was an old pool with possible dubious filtration (it was also 15years ago), and I would spend upto 20hours a weak swimming there. One year all my squads hair turned a light shade of green (too much copper?) but usually just went white/blonde. my hair became so weak that large sections could be ripped cross ways by hand.
one day after training I went to a doctor who collected blood and displayed it on a monitor, he then pointed out the large number of red blood cells which were being destroyed, he put this down to the osmotic effect of chlorine ions (I don't know if they were exploding or imploding). I don't know how he came to this conclusion except based on my history, I also wonder if it was just a mounting problem although my parents blood did not show similar behaviour. I have also heard that chlorine may be linked to asthma
Rhys

[DiverTodd]

I guess, in the long run, it all comes down to 3 things; personal sensitivity to chlorine, amount of chlorine in the water, and amount of time spent in the water a week.

Todd

[cdavis]

Ahh, green hair, I remember it well. Mine will go green in a few weeks if I don't use a shampoo called "Ultraswim", made by Chattem of Chattanooga ,TN, USA, after every pool session. The stuff has some kind of chemical in it that strips the chlorine out of your hair before it does much damage. Seems to work on bathing suits as well; they last longer.

Monkeyhatfork, based on your picture, I'd suggest you try it.

Connor

[monkeyhatfork]

thanks, try some next time I grow my hair back, have already shaved off all my melty hair.