We talked recently that the Spanish Association of Pediatrics did not advise against swimming with babies, despite the news that talk about possible damage from excess chlorine in children. Although it did point out that there was to choose specially prepared swimming pools for babies.
If the level of chlorine is controlled, the aeration of the enclosure is effective in the case of covered swimming pools, or other methods are used to purify the water, the risk does not exist. There are many methods, both physical and chemical, to keep the water in good condition.
Let's go over the purification systems to find the most suitable for swimming with babies. The pool can be purified with chlorine or hypochlorite, with bromine, with ozone, through ionization, salt purification or with ultraviolet rays. Let's see what each of these systems contributes.
Pool purification system
- Chlorine It has been the most used system, a product of unmistakable smell (it smells because it is acting against bacteria) and that is presented in the market in various forms: gas, liquid, tablets, granules, blocks, slow and fast dissolving, stabilized, not stabilized ... One of the forms of chlorine is hypochlorite.
However, chlorine is the one that can produce more problems for users, especially babies, because of its irritating ability. When the chlorine is mixed with organic elements of the bathers (such as skin, urine, sweat ...) a reaction that creates chloramine occurs, which when it occurs in very high concentrations causes irritation of the respiratory tract.
- Bromine It also has disinfectant properties although it is somewhat more expensive than chlorine. It is sold in the form of tablets and has an efficacy similar to chlorine, although it does not cause bad odors or irritate the skin, eyes, mucous membranes, hair or clothing. It also has more capacity to eliminate algae, so it would be suitable for outdoor pools. It is often used in swimming pools for babies.
- Ozone It seems to imply substantial savings and use of water resources, as well as optimal water disinfection. It is a very powerful oxidant, with great elimination power of harmful microorganisms. It also manages to do it in very short periods of exposure. Both in the air and in the water it has a limited period of time so it is transformed back into oxygen without generating any type of waste or by-product. It is often used in swimming pools for babies.
The ozone treatment causes an increase in the concentration of oxygen in the air that is above the surface of the pool vessel, as opposed to the traditional chlorine treatment that generates harmful gases. Its only drawback is its short period of permanence in the water, with an average life time of approximately 25 minutes, due to which the addition of some residual disinfectant is necessary to ensure a correct purification. Generally it is usually done with a small amount of chlorine that will be invaluable for the swimmer and ensures excellent water quality.
- Ionization of water by copper and silver. You need an ionization equipment. The copper and silver ions provided in small quantities have the ability to destroy the microorganisms present in the water, destroying even chlorine resistant protozoa, these ions remaining active for months. Purification is achieved without the addition of any chemical. Suppresses or reduces the use of chlorine eliminating all the inconvenience and damage to which it is associated. As it does not eliminate the need for chlorine, it must be combined with saline or ozone purification.
- Ultraviolet Light Debugging. Ultraviolet light equipment achieves a disinfection of water by reducing chloramines and neutralizing viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms, preventing them from reproducing. During the recirculation of the pool water, which must be chlorinated, it passes through a chamber that contains the ultraviolet light emitting lamps. When chloramines come into contact with UV radiation, they are destroyed. Let's say that this system combines chlorine and keeping it in good condition, without degenerating into harmful chloramines.
- Salt chlorination It is not recommended for public pools with large numbers of bathers, although it could be a good system for small private pools. It is based on obtaining chlorine from a water electrolysis with a moderate salt concentration, imperceptible to the swimmer. There is no skin irritation or itchy eyes, generating a stream of chlorine free of stabilizing agents and chemicals, although it could dry the skin. Saline chlorination tries to manufacture in the pool itself and depending on the needs of each moment, the chlorine necessary for disinfection from a saline solution of water. It is common in baby pools.
In short, according to the sources consulted, bromine and ozone are the best option for baby pools, effective and simpler than other systems that need equipment and do not dispense with chlorine or that need to be combined with each other.
Swimming pool regulations in Spain
In Spain, the hygienic, sanitary and safety conditions of the swimming pools are regulated by the different health areas of the Autonomous Communities, and are subject to strong quality controls.
At present the pools are purified with different mechanisms and systems as we have seen. In the case of chlorine purification, the correct continuous operation of the treatment plants prevents the formation of chloramine and 5% of the water and air in the facilities must be renewed every day, to guarantee the established hygienic conditions.
In the pools for babies, the water temperature should be around 30º C and the depth of the pool should not exceed the meter, especially in the case of courses for babies. Thus, the parents will stand up and have the possibility of reacting to any setback. Finally, it is imperative that there be lifeguards or monitors pending the children continuously.
Definitely, the best swimming pools for babies are those that follow proper control and ventilation in the case of chlorine, and those that use other products such as bromine and ozone for purification, or saline chlorination that is also frequently used in swimming pools for babies.
