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The Effects of Chlorine on the Lungs

According to Dr. Andrew Weil, it is generally accepted that the chlorine used to clean swimming pools is dangerous to people's health. Not only has repeated exposure to chlorine been linked to the wearing of tooth enamel, certain cancers and heart disease, but it can also have a number of damaging effects on the lungs.

  1. Respiratory Problems

    • According to a study in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, higher concentrations of chlorine in swimming pools contributes to Exercise Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB), a condition in which the airways become constricted, making breathing difficult. During exercise such as swimming, increased levels of chlorine are allowed to enter the lungs because breathing becomes deeper. This leads to even greater difficulties breathing.

    Asthma

    • According to a study in Toxicology Letters, younger children are more susceptible to developing asthma--a condition characterized by inflamed airways and difficulty breathing--from chlorinated water than are older children or adults. A Belgium study of 847 youths revealed that the more exposure the kids had to chlorinated pools, the greater the likelihood they had of developing asthma. Kids who spent over 1,000 hours in a chlorinated pool were four times more likely to develop asthma than those who swam in non-chlorinated pools.

    Chemical Pneumonitis

    • According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, chemical pneumonitis can be caused by a number of factors, including exposure to chlorine bleach or chlorine in swimming pools. Long term exposure to low levels of chlorine can cause inflamed and possibly scarred lung tissue. It can cause severe breathing difficulty as the lungs become less flexible, bringing less oxygen into the body. This condition needs to be treated immediately as it can become dangerous and even fatal.

    Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome

    • Although a temporary condition, exposure to a large amount of chlorine at once can cause Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS). According to Columbia University, RADS is characterized by tightness of the chest, wheezing and coughing. In extreme cases it can last from two to 12 years after a one time exposure to toxic fumes such as those from chlorine bleach.

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