Everybody pees in the pool- 18-time Olympic gold medallist says

 

Using public swimming pools comes at a huge price to health, experts warn. For one, the average pool user relieves himself in the pool, it turns out. And when the ammonia in urine interacts with the chlorine that is usually used to treat swimming pools, scientists say they form a chemical called chloramines, which is known to cause birth defects and respiratory illnesses in humans.

Last year, the most successful Olympic athlete in history, Michael Phelps, confessed to relieving himself in the swimming pool. The 18-time gold medallist seemed to speak in support of team-mate Ryan Lochte, who had earlier confessed to using the aquatics centre pool as a lavatory.

Reports quote 27-year-old Phelps as saying, “Everybody pees in the pool. It’s kind of a normal thing to do for swimmers. When we’re in the water for two hours, we don’t really get out to pee. Chlorine kills it, so it’s not bad.”

As for Lochte, 28, who has won five Olympic gold medals, he confesses, “I think there’s just something about getting into chlorine water that you just automatically go.”

With these confessions from world-class swimmers, what do you think is the situation of the public pools around you?

A big part of the problems, experts say, is that 35 per cent of pool users don’t take their bath before using public swimming pools, and that that’s why most public pools contain recreational water bacteria caused by the presence of diarrhoea, respiratory illnesses and ear and skin infections.

For safe swimming

•Don’t swim when you have diarrhoea

•Don’t swallow pool water

•Practise good hygiene. Shower with soap before and after swimming

•Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers

•If you are taking your kids to the pool, be sure to give them frequent bathroom breaks or check their diapers often

•Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area, not at poolside

•Wash your children thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before they go swimming.

Do you pee in the pool too?