A recent study discovered that the application of disinfectants in recreational pools may cause asthma and bladder cancer in swimmers who take a dip in such pools.

The application of disinfectants in recreational pools is necessary to check infectious diseases. However, the study found out that when the disinfectant mixes with organic matter in the pool water, it forms negative reactions.

The pool waters contain in them sweat, hair, skin, urine and cosmetics and sunscreen etc. from swimmers. Most of these cosmetics etc. contain nitrogen, which produce nitrogenous disinfection by-products when mixed with the disinfectants.

The consumer products become chemically modified when they come in contact with disinfectants and change into more toxic materials. These by-products may mutate genes thereby causing birth defects, aging, respiratory diseases and even cancer if the exposure is long.

The study was conducted by examining and comparing water samples from public pools and tap water and the results showed that the disinfected pool samples caused greater genomic DNA damage than the source tap water.

The study suggested that disinfection through brominating agents be avoided and the pool water be treated with a combination of UV treatment and chlorine instead.