SWIMMING POOL CHLORINATION - A HEALTH-HAZARD

A pilot study addressed potential effects of long-term exposure to chl orination products in swimming pools. The indicator compound chlorofor m was detectable in blood from competitive swimmers in an indoor pool (mean = 0.89 +/- 0.34 mu g/l; n = 10), but not in outdoor pool swimmer s. No hepatotoxic effect was indicated by serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) or gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) enzyme levels. beta-2-microgl obulin, an indicator of renal damage, was significantly elevated in ur ine samples of the slightly, but significantly, younger indoor swimmer s. The precise ratio between these 2 possible causes, age and chlorofo rm exposure, as well as the mechanism of the former, remain to be eluc idated.