5 Ways Pool Chlorine Can Harm Your Health – And How to Swim Safer [Infographic]

Chlorine & Your Health
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Swimming is one of the best full-body workouts. It’s low-impact, refreshing and great for heart health. But if your pool is treated with traditional chlorine or salt alone, it may be doing more harm than good.

Chlorine and its disinfection byproducts (DBPs) can create hidden risks that affect your senses, skin, lungs and even long-term health. The good news? You don’t have to give up the benefits of swimming to protect your body. With Clear Comfort’s Hydroxyl-Based AOP (Advanced Oxidation Process) pool treatment, you can swim in water that’s clean, clear – and healthier.

Here are five ways Clear Comfort can help you enjoy the benefits of swimming without chlorine-related health concerns.

1. Senses: Red Eyes, Itchy Skin & Chemical Smells

Chlorinated pool water often causes red eyes, dry skin and that strong “pool smell.” But that odor isn’t chlorine – it’s chloramines (or combined chlorine), a type of disinfection by-product (DBP) formed when chlorine reacts with sweat, urine and other organic material. These irritating compounds can ruin the comfort of your swim and linger long after you’ve dried off.

With Clear Comfort: You’ll enjoy water that feels gentle, smells clean, and leaves no lingering irritation. No red eyes. No strong chemical odors. Just water that feels refreshing.

2. Lungs & Breathing: Chlorine and Respiratory Health

Breathing in air from heavily chlorinated pools – especially indoors – has been associated with increased risks of asthma, allergies and a condition called “Lifeguard Lung,” caused by repeated exposure to disinfection byproducts (DBPs).

With Clear Comfort: Our AOP system reduces DBPs at the source, supporting better air quality around the pool and making it easier to breathe – especially for children, swimmers with asthma, and anyone spending time in indoor pools.

3. Invisible Threats: Chlorine Can’t Kill Everything

Even a well-maintained chlorine pool isn’t foolproof. Harmful contaminants like Cryptosporidium – a chlorine-resistant parasite – can survive for days in traditional pool water and may cause serious illness if swallowed.

With Clear Comfort: Independent university studies show our AOP technology quickly destroys Cryptosporidium – providing an extra layer of protection that chlorine or salt alone can’t match.

4. Reproductive Health: Less Chlorine, More Peace of Mind

Some research has raised concerns about long-term exposure to high levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in chlorinated water, especially for pregnant women and young children. While more research is needed, the Environmental Health Perspectives reported potential associations between DBP exposure and certain reproductive and developmental risks, such as birth defects and pregnancy complications.

With Clear Comfort: You can swim with confidence knowing your water is safer. Our chlorine-alternative system is gentle enough for infants and expectant mothers, without the risks linked to DBPs.

5. Skin Health: Dry, Itchy and Irritated Skin

Chlorine strips your skin of natural oils, causing dryness, rashes and discomfort. For people with sensitive skin or eczema, this irritation can be even worse.

With Clear Comfort: Your skin stays soft, smooth and hydrated. No more post-swim itch. Just pure, gentle water your body will love.

The Bottom Line: The Best Way to Swim

You deserve to enjoy your pool without worrying about chlorine DBP’s harsh side effects. Clear Comfort’s AOP pool system delivers crystal-clear water that’s always crystal clear, easy to maintain and feels like freshwater for your skin, eyes and lungs – all while making pool care healthier for you and your family.

Ready to swim without the side effects of chlorine DBPs?
See how Clear Comfort can transform your pool water. »

 

Gabrielle Palumbo

Marketing Director

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