The Long Term Effects of Chlorine on the Body

Updated 2020

 What is Chlorine?

Chlorine is an element denoted by the chemical symbol Cl and has an atomic number 17. It is part of the set of elements called halogens that are highly reactive. In its free element, chlorine is a toxic, greenish-yellow gas. Nevertheless, chlorinated compounds have been used in so many applications such as water purification, disinfectants, among others.

Side Effects of Chlorine Exposure

While chlorine is a sanitizer, exposure to too much of it causes the following health problems:

Respiratory Conditions: Chlorine irritates the respiratory system through coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing.

Skin Irritation: For a long period, it will cause dry, itchy, and irritated skin.

Eye Irritation: Redness, burning, and watery eyes can be caused by chlorine.

Most standard pools use chemicals like chlorine as a quick and simple way to kill bacteria and germs, control organic debris from perspiration and body oils, and prevent algae growth. Sounds good, right? It’s debatable. Chlorine’s job is to promote the health of swimmers but while it may prevent exposure to harmful bacteria, it comes with its own slew of hazards for your long term health. The long-term effects of chlorine on swimmers are relatively unknown.

The Centers for Disease Control have cited negative effects of chlorine overexposure to chlorine on a person’s health. Among the most alarming of these are blurred vision, respiratory issues, and asthma. Less serious and far more common complications of chlorine exposure include eye and nose irritations, dried-out skin and hair, and premature wrinkles. Many studies are inconclusive, and we can’t yet be sure what will happen long term. The possibility of lingering long-term chlorine effects aren’t worth it.

Are natural pools a safer alternative? Natural pool expert, Larry Carnes, says that natural pools will be just as safe from harmful bacteria as the installed plantlife will act as a natural filtration system. An added bonus is that sensitivity to aquatic plants is not common. People who swim in natural pools tend to experience less skin or eye irritation than they do in traditional pools with chemicals like chlorine.

When you swim in chlorinated water, the chemicals are absorbed into your skin, and overexposure can happen quicker than you think. For some, it might take years of regular swimming in chlorinated waters, and for others, it might only take a few months. The unpredictability and uncertainty of long term exposure to chlorine is, to us, simply not worth it for you and your family’s health.

For homeowners that want to keep their backyard pool dreams alive but are worried about the effects of chlorine on their health, there is a better way: going natural. You can switch up the status quo by installing a natural pool – either from scratch, or as a conversion from an existing standard pool. A natural pool has a variety of health and environmental benefits since it doesn’t contain chemicals or devices used to eliminate bacteria or microbes within the pool. Instead, a natural pool is filtered and purified using natural hydraulic and biological processes. Check out our detailed list of a natural pool’s benefits in our recent blog.

How Chlorine Affects Your Skin and Hair

Chlorine has adverse effects on your skin and hair as follows:

Skin: It strips off the natural oils in the skin, and your skin becomes dry, itchy, and even older-looking.

Hair: This chemical ravages the cuticle of the hair, which makes it rough, dry, and brittle.

Protecting Your Skin: Tips for Reducing Irritation

Since you might not avoid swimming in chlorinated water for a long time, here’s a tip on how to minimize the irritation caused by chlorine on your skin:

Wash Thoroughly: For all those who love swimming, get yourself cleaned as soon as possible after swimming in chlorinated water. The longer you leave chlorine on your skin, the more irritation you will experience.

Moisturize: Use a high-quality moisturizer to replenish the lost moisture.

Wear Chlorine-Resistant Swimwear: Wearing chlorine-resistant swimwear

Limit Exposure: Avoid swimming for a long period of time.

Protecting young bodies from chlorine exposure

Young bodies are highly sensitive; hence, it is extremely crucial to take more care and precautions protecting them from chlorine exposure:

Limit Bath Time: Keep a short time slot for bathing to avoid extended skin contact with chlorine.

Use mild cleaners. Avoid strong soaps and cleansers that will make the skin worse.

Apply moisture consistently. Use a fragrance-free, gentle lotion after each bath.

Common Side Effects of Chlorine Exposure

Side Effect	Description
Respiratory Problems	Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing
Skin Irritation	Dryness, itchiness, redness
Eye Irritation	Redness, burning, watery eyes
Hair Damage	Dryness, brittleness, breakage

At Reflections, we’ve converted and installed countless natural pools and can tell you with certainty that our customers are happier for it. Please see our recent featured project and portfolio for some of our many natural pool installation examples. To find out more information or to ask for a quote, please give us a call at 815-955-4911.