Chlorine, Chlorination By-Products and Their Allergic and Respiratory Health Effects
Abstract
Although chlorine and most of its derivates are known toxic agents, it has been pronounced as a safe disinfectant for water treatments. More detailed analyses and extended studies concerning chlorine safety have only started recently. The objective of this article was to review data on the use of chlorine in pool environments, the resulting chlorination by-products in these environments and their potential effects on allergic and respiratory health in humans. The MEDLINE database search comprised articles from 1966 to August 2006. Additional studies were identified by searching references of already published articles. A total of twenty-one studies evaluating effects of chlorine and its byproducts on allergic or respiratory health were included in the analysis. Exposure to chlorination by-products through swimming pool attendance showed adverse health effects on children, subjects occupationally exposed, athletic swimmers and asthmatic subjects. These adverse effects were seen despite the presence of official directives in most countries to control and regulate the use of chlorine for water disinfection. Contact to chlorination by-products might not be the leading reason for poor respiratory health, but might not be as harmless as earlier thought. In particular, baby swimming in chlorinated pools is highly questionable. Keywords: Chlorination by-products, allergic health, respiratory health, swimming pool attendance
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Irritation (respiratory and ocular) associated with exposure to CAMs, particularly TCAM, among swimming pool attendees or workers is well acknowledged.
“Irritation (respiratory and ocular) associated with exposure to CAMs (particularly TCAM) among swimming pool attendees or workers are well acknowledged [8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15].”
From Occurrence and Spatial and Temporal Variations of Disinfection By-Products in the Water and Air of Two Indoor Swimming Pools (2012) · cites this paper as [10]
Kohlhammer and Heinrich (2007) concluded that, for children, a trend of more frequent attendance at chlorinated pools could be an important factor in increasing frequencies of allergic disease and asthma.
“Kohlhammer and Heinrich (2007) reviewed published data on the relationship between chlorination byproducts in pool environments and effects on allergy and respiratory health and concluded that, for children, a trend of more frequent attendance at chlorinated pools could be an important factor in increasing frequencies of allergic disease and asthma.”
From Childhood asthma and environmental exposures at swimming pools: state of the science and research recommendations (2009) · cites this paper as Kohlhammer and Heinrich 2007
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“The toxic effects of high concentrations of chlorine and its byproducts (DBPs) on the respiratory system are documented (Kohlhammer and Heinrich 2007, Zarzoso et al. 2010, Angione et al. 2011, Kucharski 2018), but CONTACT Abbas Norouzian Baghani abbas.jj.norozi@gmail.com Department of Environmental…”
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- Authors
- Kohlhammer, Y., & Heinrich, J.
- Corresponding author
- Heinrich, Joachim
- ORCID
- Heinrich, Joachim
- Venue
- Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews
- Publisher
- Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
- Published
- 2007-02-01
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 39-47
- ISSN
- 1573-398X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1967217296
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews (publishedVersion)
- Site cant be reached (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Occupational exposure and asthma
- Keywords
- chlorine, chlorination by-products, swimming pools, respiratory effects, water disinfection, occupational exposure, infant swimming
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