Becky - Goobergirl

[Guest guest]

Becky,

Are you out of the hospital? I've been wondering about you. I'm

glad to see you posting.

Gale

> Young Swimmers May Be at Increased Risk for Asthma

>

>

> from Clinician Reviews ®

> Posted 08/26/2003

>

>

>

> Bernard A, Carbonnelle S, Michel O, et al. Lung hyperpermeability

and

> asthma prevalence in schoolchildren: unexpected associations with

the

> attendance at indoor chlorinated swimming pools. Occup Environ Med.

> 2003;60:385-394.

>

> Swimmers who use indoor pools are exposed to potentially harmful

chemical

> compounds, such as nitrogen trichloride; what effect might this

have on

> their lungs? New research conducted by Belgian scientists suggests

that

> regular indoor pool use by children -- and the concomitant

inhalation of

> gases produced by chlorination agents -- is associated with an

elevated

> risk of asthma.

>

> In three separate studies, Bernard et al measured blood levels of

lung-

> specific proteins that reflect the permeability or cellular

integrity of

> the lung epithelial barrier. Both the acute and chronic effects of

indoor

> pool exposure on lung epithelium were examined, as was the

prevalence of

> asthma among children who swam regularly.

>

> In the chronic effects study, 226 children (mean age, 10) were

recruited

> from seven primary schools at which pool attendance was mandatory.

Blood

> samples were taken, and levels of lung-specific proteins were

measured.

> The children's cumulative pool exposure varied according to the

amount of

> time they spent in the water per week (30 to 60 minutes) and the

age at

> which they began swimming. The researchers found that pool exposure

was

> the one independent variable that consistently influenced serum

> concentrations of lung-specific proteins; more time spent in the

water

> correlated with a greater likelihood of increased endothelial

permeability.

>

> The acute effects of indoor pool exposure were studied in 16

children

> (ages 5 to 14) and 13 adults (ages 26 to 47) at a public swimming

> facility. Blood samples were taken from all participants before they

> entered the pool area and again after two hours of pool use for the

> children; adults spent one hour at poolside without swimming, then

swam in

> the pool for the second hour. Concentrations of lung-specific

proteins

> increased during the study period; the increases among adults were

> statistically significant after one hour of poolside exposure alone.

>

> The third study was a retrospective analysis of data from an asthma

> prevalence survey conducted in Brussels between 1996 and 1999. The

study

> involved 1,881 children (ages 7 to 14) who had been recruited from

15

> urban primary schools. Parents completed a questionnaire about their

> children's health status, respiratory symptoms, and

> environmental/lifestyle variables. The schools provided information

on

> pool attendance. With parents' consent, children's peak expiratory

flow

> (PEF) was measured after six minutes of exercise. A decrease in PEF

of 10%

> or more five to 10 minutes after exertion indicated significant

exercise-

> induced bronchoconstriction. Total asthma prevalence ranged from

5.5% to

> 30.5%, depending on the school. Cumulative pool exposure was again

the

> only variable that significantly correlated with asthma indicators

(ie,

> prevalence of wheezing or other respiratory symptoms).

>

> The authors suggest a future move toward non-chlorine-based

disinfectants

> in order to minimize pool users' exposure to potentially harmful

chemicals.

>

> Use of indoor pools may expose swimmers to harmful chemicals that

could

> compromise their lungs and increase their risk of asthma.

>

>

>

> Becki

> YOUR FAVORITE LilGooberGirl

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>

>

>