What causes stinging eyes, nose irritation and/or breathing difficulty at the pool and what can I do about it?
Many people experience stinging eyes, nasal irritation, or difficulty breathing after being in the water or breathing in the air at swimming pools, particularly indoor pools. These symptoms are typically caused by a build-up of irritants, known as chloramines, in the water and air. This build-up is usually caused by poor air circulation and lack of fresh air in the pool area. To avoid this problem at home, you can open doors or windows to increase the amount of fresh air coming through the room. You can also turn on a fan to help boost the air flow over the pool surface. Good hygiene practices, such as showering before entering the pool and using the bathroom regularly (to avoid urinating in the pool), will also help reduce the amount of irritants in the air and water. In a public setting, ask your pool operator to open any doors or windows and suggest that they use a fan to increase air flow. You can also suggest that pool operators visit our Irritants (Chloramines) & Indoor Pool Air
