by W. Diane Van Zwol

Created on: July 21, 2009

Swimmer's Alert: Chlorinated Versus Non-chlorinated Water

Health experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the health dangers from swimming in chlorinated water. One must ask whether the dangers from swimming in chlorinated water, outweigh the dangers of swimming in water that has not had chlorine added to it.

Chlorine is the well known chemical that is widely recommended and used for swimming pool sanitation.

"Swimming pool sanitation refers to both visual clarity and level of microflora, such as bacteria and viruses in swimming pools. The goal of sanitation is to prevent the spread of diseases and pathogens between users. Unsanitized water may also support the growth of algae which will present as a greenish tinge initially, then if left unchecked may completely inhabit the pool water displaying a solid green murky appearance." (1)

What is chlorine?

"Chlorine (Greek khloros meaning pale green) is the chemical element with the atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is a halogen found in the periodic table in group 17. As the chloride ion, which is part of common salt and other compounds, it is abundant in nature and necessary to most forms of life, including humans. (2)

Note that this states that "the chlorine ion, which is part of common salt and other compounds" appears to be not only supportive of life, but essential to life, as it pertains to both nature and humans.

"In its common elemental form Cl 2 or "dichlorine", under standard conditions, chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is used in bleaching and disinfectants. As a common disinfectant, chlorine compounds are used in swimming pools to keep them clean and sanitary. In the upper atmosphere, chlorine-containing molecules such as chlorofluorocarbons have been implicated in the destruction of the ozone layer." (3)

What this suggests is that the chlorine that is currently being used in swimming pools is actually the elemental from of chlorine, Cl 2 or a dichloride.

What is Cl 2?

"This is a pale yellow-green gas that has its distinctive strong smell, the smell of bleach." (4)

"A dichloride contains two chlorine atoms bound by a single element or radical." (5)

"Chlorine gas is not usually detected in the environment. Exposure to chlorine can occur following an accident, such as a leak or spill from a chlorine tank or the improper use of swimming pool chemicals. Exposure to low levels of chlorine gas can result in nose, throat and eye irritation."

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