Red eyes after a swim? Pee and poop in pools are to blame

[shawn703]

Red-eyed after taking a dip in the pool this summer?

You may be surprised — not to mention grossed out — to know that bodily fluids like pee, poop, sweat and dirt mixing in with chlorine are the culprits, according to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

The group found that the strong chemical smell emanating from pools is actually caused by the chemical that forms when chlorine mixes with pee and poop in the water and the dirt and sweat on swimmers’ bodies.

Diarrhea is the most common outbreak linked to infected water, the CDC reported, and it is caused by germs and viruses like Cryptosporidium, norovirus and E. coli.

http://www.thestar.com/life/2015/06/29/red-eyes-after-a-swim-pee-and-poop-in-pools-are-to-blame.html

[Journeyman]

1. If it's all the same with everyone, I'm gonna continue to believe it's just the chlorine . . .

[onethatcares]

9. you get the chlorine smell

when the free chlorine molecules are too low. In other words, there ain't enough chlorine in the pool to kill the bacteria.

Water chemistry in well run pools is a beautiful thing. I am in charge of a 40,400 gallon one, and although it's pretty small size it
takes constant upkeep to make it and keep it clear. Pools in places like disney, busch gardens, seaworld are a whole nother story.

[Angry Dragon]

2. need to keep the republicans out of the pool

they pee and poop everywhere

[Lyric]

3. And there's animal pee and poop in lakes, ponds, rivers and the ocean.

Sooooo much pee and poop, people!



Our ancestors have somehow survived it for millennia. I'll take my chances. Besides, minute exposure to these germs is what keeps immune systems healthy. Sanitize your environment too much and you lose the ability to fight off infectious diseases.

[Warren Stupidity]

4. I personally never poop in the pool.

However one of our dogs likes to do laps when it is hot and I have no idea about her sense of propriety.

[HassleCat]

5. I'm not so sure

When I was a kid, I swam every summer day in the Mississippi River. We often got skin rashes, itchy spots, and other mysterious stuff, but red eyes were not a problem. I'm guessing we swam in water with very high e. coli content, as well as other organisms.

[Kali]

6. you have to keep that chlorine level up

or it forms chloramines - that is what smells "like chlorine" a correctly chlorinated pool does NOT smell like "chlorine"

anybody taking care of a pool, or worse using a pool service, who wants to learn the easiest, cheapest way to do so should check out this forum - www.troublefreepool.com/forum.php

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

7. I'm so glad I don't go swimming any more as an adult. nt

[Kingofalldems]

8. Me would never pee in your pool.