Swimming babies face asthma risk

BABIES taken to chemically treated swimming pools before the age of two are at a greater risk of developing asthma and chronic lung problems, a study shows.

International toxicology expert Professor Alfred Bernard found that children taken to swimming classes when they were under two years of age were twice as likely to develop asthma.

His study of 341 schoolchildren found that 23% of the 41 children who were former baby swimmers had developed asthma, compared to 11% of the whole group.

He found damage to specific deep lung cells among former baby swimmers similar to that caused by smoking among adults.

The professor of toxicology at Belgium’s medical school, the Catholic University of Louvain, said he did not wish to spread panic but the risks were significant for children with a genetic predisposition to developing asthma.

“If the pool is well managed and you don’t get a strong chlorine smell, I think that is fine,” he said.

Prof Bernard, who is also research director of Belgium’s state-funded National Fund for Scientific Research, said pools used by babies and toddlers should be thoroughly ventilated to clear dangerous gases.

His research centred on the role of trichloramine, a toxic gas produced by the reaction between chlorine in swimming pool water and urine, sweat and saliva.

Prof Bernard found higher levels of trichloramine around baby pools and pointed out that this was linked to the higher water temperature in most toddler pools and the frequency with which young children urinate while swimming.

Irish respiratory consultant Dr Pat Manning said mothers with young babies at risk of developing asthma should avoid going to crowded pools where a lot of splashing was likely.

Heavily chlorinated pools should also be avoided, said Dr Manning, who is chairman of the Irish Asthma Society’s medical advisory committee.

He also urged mothers to bring their children to swimming pools that use an alternative to chlorine to sterilise the water.

Dr Manning said most people get asthma by the time they are six or seven years of age.

Studies show the risk of teenagers developing asthma had risen from one-in-10 in the 1980s to one-in-five.

It is still not known exactly what triggers an asthma attack. While air pollution has been blamed, Dr Manning believes the swimming pool risk is very low.

Chief executive of Irish Water Safety (IWS) John Leech said some of the country’s older pools were not as well ventilated as the newer ones and mothers with babies should be careful and limit the time they spent in the water.

IWS does not recommend teaching very young children how to swim. Most children start learning when they are five or six years old.

“We would much prefer to see mothers bath their children in open water as it improves the water confidence of the child” said Mr Leech.

Chemical content

* Up to 50 different types of chemicals can be used in swimming pools. They vary considerably in amount and variety.

* The basic ones used are chlorine, sodium hypochlorite and sodium carbonate.

* Chlorine is used in water purification and bleaches.

* About 400,000 people in Ireland have asthma and 250,000 are children.