Indoor swimming pool environments and self-reported irritative and respiratory symptoms among lifeguards

Abstract

A web survey was conducted among 870 lifeguards (current and former) to assess the relationship between exposure to indoor swimming pool environments and respiratory health. Associations between respiratory symptoms and asthma with varying lengths of occupational exposure were assessed by multiple logistic regression. Lifeguards exposed more than 500 hours in the previous 12 months experienced more cough (adjustedOR = 2.54, IC95 % = 1.51–4.25), throat (aOR = 2.47, IC95 % = 1.44–4.24) and eye irritation (aOR = 4.34, IC95 % = 2.52–7.50) during this period than non-exposed lifeguards. Upper and lower respiratory symptoms while on duty were related to duration of lifetime exposure (> 500 days vs. ≤ 50 days: Upper aOR = 5.84, IC95 % = 3.60–9.50; Lower aOR = 2.53, IC95 % = 1.58–4.06). Physician-diagnosed asthma was high among lifeguards (23 %). Highly exposed asthmatic lifeguards (> 500 hours) over the previous 12 months had a significantly higher risk (aOR = 3.74, IC95 % = 1.39–10.02) of suffering from asthma attack(s) than non-exposed asthmatic subjects. Exposure to indoor swimming pool environments is related to respiratory symptoms among lifeguards.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• indoor swimming pool
• chlorination by-products
• respiratory symptoms
• lifeguards

Acknowledgments

We thank Mélanie Tessier for programming assistance and all lifeguards who kindly accepted to answer our questionnaire.