Diving into a public pool this summer? You might be plunging into a petri dish.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While chlorine is the go-to germ killer, it doesn\u2019t work instantly. Some nasty germs can survive in treated water for minutes or even days, turning a refreshing swim into a risky dip.<\/p>\n
And the threat is growing. Outbreaks of waterborne illnesses tied to pools and other recreational venues are on the rise \u2014 especially those caused by a resilient parasite that\u2019s waiting to crash your summer plans with a case of watery diarrhea.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Waterborne illnesses are most prevalent during the summer months. Tropical studio \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
Not-so-crystal-clear<\/p>\n
That sparkling blue water isn\u2019t always as clean as it looks.<\/p>\n
Every time someone jumps in, they bring more than just sunscreen and swimsuits, leaving behind germs, grime and bodily fluids that can make others sick.<\/p>\n
According to the CDC, the average swimmer introduces:<\/p>\n
All of those substances mix with chlorine to form chloramines, a chemical byproduct that can irritate your eyes and lungs and give off that strong \u201cpool smell\u201d most people wrongly associate with cleanliness.<\/p>\n
Experts say a strong smell of chlorine indicates a high level of urine in pool water. Angkana \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
\u201c\u200b\u200bIt is a common myth that a strong chlorine smell is a good sign of a clean pool,\u201d Lisa Cuchara, an immunologist and infectious disease specialist, wrote in The Conversation<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIn fact, it may actually be a red flag that means the opposite \u2014 that the water is contaminated and should perhaps be avoided,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n What\u2019s really lurking in the water<\/p>\n Most pool-related illnesses happen when swimmers swallow contaminated water or come into contact with it through their skin.<\/p>\n If its levels are properly maintained, chlorine can kill many germs, like E. coli, in under a minute. Some germs, however, are far more stubborn.<\/p>\n Take hepatitis A. It can survive in a chlorinated pool for about 16 minutes. The virus usually gets in the water through fecal contamination, like if if someone uses the bathroom and doesn\u2019t wash their hands before hopping back in.<\/p>\n Chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant for swimming pools. Evgeniya Sheydt \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Once infected, the virus can inflame the liver and disrupt its ability to function properly. <\/p>\n Then there\u2019s giardia, a parasite that often enters pools when people have accidents in the water or don\u2019t rinse off properly. It can take 45 minutes or longer to kill with chlorine, and just a small sip of contaminated water can trigger diarrhea, stomach pain, gas and nausea.<\/p>\n Super pooper parasite<\/p>\n Perhaps the worst offender is cryptosporidium, a microscopic germ with a tough outer shell that enables it survive in chlorine-treated water for up to 10 days.<\/p>\n Like giardia, cryptosporidium commonly spreads when someone with diarrhea contaminates the water and another swimmer swallows it.<\/p>\n Between 2009 and 2017, crypto caused nearly 450 outbreaks across 40 states and Puerto Rico, sickening more than 7,400 people, according to the CDC.<\/p>\n Waterborne illnesses can leave swimmers with gut-churning symptoms, including diarrea. Satjawat \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Outbreaks jumped 13% each year, with most traced back to people swallowing water from treated pools.<\/p>\n \u201cSwallowing just a mouthful of water with crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting,\u201d Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC\u2019s Healthy Swimming Program, said in a statement<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bacteria, viruses and fungi, oh my! <\/p>\n Other troublemakers \u2014 including Shigella, norovirus and adenovirus \u2014 can also lurk in chlorinated water and wreck your gut. <\/p>\n Bacteria like Legionella and Pseudomonas pose additional risks. Legionella can cause a serious form of pneumonia, while Pseudomonas is known for triggering skin rashes and ear infections.<\/p>\n Even fungi get in on the act. Pool decks, ladders, and locker rooms are breeding grounds for fungal spores. Once established, they\u2019re hard to eliminate and often resistant to regular cleaning.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how infections like athlete\u2019s foot \u2014 and other skin irritations \u2014 spread so easily in damp, high-traffic areas like your local community pool. <\/p>\n Swimmer\u2019s ear is a bacterial infection caused by water that stays in the outer ear canal for a long period of time. Satjawat \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n But don\u2019t toss your trunks just yet<\/p>\n There are simple steps you can take to reduce the spread of viruses, bacteria and other germs in swimming pools.<\/p>\n Last year alone, New York City\u2019s parks department had to shut down pools 203 times to clean up after someone defecated, according to data obtained by The Gothamist.<\/p>\n That\u2019s 44 out of 52 public pools closed at least once for a \u201ccode brown.\u201d On one day in August, 12 pools were shuttered because of poop in the water. <\/p>\n\n