Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees at Swedish Indoor Swimming Pools

Personnel in swimming pool facilities typically experience ocular and respiratory symptoms.

“Personnel in swimming pool facilities typically experience ocular and respiratory symptoms. [11,16 -19]”

Löfstedt et al. (2016) reported significantly more ocular and nasal symptoms during the last week in pool workers with stationary and personal measurements of trichloramine being in the range 0.001-0.64 mg/m3 and <0.001-0.24 mg/m3 (AMs 0.18 and 0.071 mg/m3), respectively, compared to referents, but there was a lack of concentration-response relationships among exposed.

“L€ ofstedt et al. (2016) reported significantly more ocular and nasal symptoms during the last week in pool workers with stationary and personal measurements of trichloramine being in the range 0.001-0.64mg/m 3 and < 0.001-0.24mg/m 3 (AMs 0.18 and 0.071 mg/m 3 ), respectively, compared to referents, but there was a lack of concentration-response relationships among exposed.”

Löfstedt et al. (2016) found an increase in FENO over work shift in pool workers exposed to 0.18 mg/m3 of trichloramine.

“However, L€ ofstedt et al. (2016) found an increase in FENO over work shift in pool workers exposed to 0.18 mg/m 3 of trichloramine.”

No effects on lung function were demonstrated in studies with exposure levels of 0.023, 0.18 (personal 0.071), 0.16-0.28, 0.29, and 0.36 and 0.49 mg/m3.

“In contrast, no effects on lung function were demonstrated in studies with exposure levels of 0.023 mg/m 3 (Westerlund et al. 2019), 0.18 mg/ m 3 (personal exposure 0.071 mg/m 3 ) (L€ ofstedt et al. 2016), 0.16-0.28mg/m 3 (Carbonnelle et al. 2008), 0.29 mg/m 3 (Font-Ribera et al. 2010), and 0.36 and 0.49 mg/m 3 (Carbonnelle et al. 2002).”

No effects on lung function were demonstrated in studies with exposure levels of 0.023 mg/m3, 0.18 mg/m3 (personal exposure 0.071 mg/m3), 0.16-0.28 mg/m3, 0.29 mg/m3 and 0.36 and 0.49 mg/m3.

“In contrast, no effects on lung function were demonstrated in studies with exposure levels of 0.023 mg/m 3 (Westerlund et al. 2019), 0.18 mg/m 3 (personal exposure 0.071 mg/m 3 ) (L€ ofstedt et al. 2016), 0.16-0.28mg/m 3 (Carbonnelle et al. 2008), 0.29 mg/m 3 (Font-Ribera et al. 2010) and 0.36 and 0.49 mg/m 3 (Carbonnelle et al. 2002).”

An increase in FENO over work shift was observed in pool workers exposed to 0.18 mg/m3 of trichloramine, suggesting an inflammatory effect on the airways.

“An increase in FENO over work shift was observed in pool workers exposed to 0.18 mg/m 3 of trichloramine, suggesting an inflammatory effect on the airways (L€ ofstedt et al. 2016).”

Irritation below 0.5 mg/m3 has been reported in some additional studies, but due to lack of exposure-response relationships, these studies were considered less suited to form the basis for a health-based OEL.

“Irritation below 0.5 mg/m 3 has been reported in some additional studies (Chu et al. 2013;L€ ofstedt et al. 2016).However, due to lack of exposure-response relationships, these studies were considered less suited to form the basis for a health-based OEL.”