Respiratory symptoms
Cold and sneezing are the most frequent self-reported complaints (65.4%
and 52.6%, respectively) while only 7.5% of the total indoor
swimming-pools workers reported an asthmatic
condition13. It is discussed whether recreational
swimming or working in indoor swimming-pools may aggravate asthma or
actually cause it16. Irritant-induced asthma (IIA) is
defined as development of asthma, nonspecific bronchial
hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and airway inflammation induced by irritant
mechanisms, as opposed to occupational asthma (OA) caused by immunologic
mechanisms17. Three cases of OA in swimming-pool
workers have been documented18, two of them had a
positive bronchial provocation test to chloramine. Another study with a
large sample of swimming-pool workers (n=624) also showed increased risk
of respiratory symptoms indicative of asthma upon NCl3exposure14.