I never heard of such a thing like swimmer's asthma or lifguard lung until I started learning about the health problems that can be caused from indoor swimming pools due to the inhalation of chlorine.  We all know chlorine is a chemical, but what other alternative is there than this bacteria-killing stink bomb?  Let FitCeleb tell you about the Del Ozone and one of New York City's cleanest public swimming pools, the 92nd Street Y. 

To FitCeleb, the Del Ozone is new technology, but guess what?  It's been around for over 100 years!  Initially the Del Ozone was a purification drinking plant in Nice, France back in 1906.  Then in 1937 a commerical pool in New Jersey installed the system.  It even has been used by the FDA/USDA in 2001 as an antimicrobial food additive and food contact surface disinfectant.  So it's not just used in swimming pools.    

OK, so what does this mean to you and your public pool?  Public pools using the Del Ozone are much cleaner and safer for your health.  Just ask David Schmeltzer, Director of 92nd Street Y May Center for Health, Fitness & Sport.

“I don’t think I could possibly live without it from a professional stand point.”

The 92nd Street Y in New York City, has been using the Ozone for over 10 years. But it wasn't as easy as installing a new filter. A lot of research and conversation happened prior to the Ozone's installation in the recreational facility back in 1994.

In order to keep the Y's pool looking crystal clear everyday with chlorine, it took a lot of work.  Dave said:

“It’s a very, very busy pool - as most pools are in NYC – you know, we always had issues trying to balance the water and keep it clean and keep it healthy, we did a great job but it was quite a task to do so.“

So what's Dave's thoughts after installing the Ozone system?

"I can’t even imagine running a pool, especially a busy pool without an Ozone system."

“The whirpools, my goodness gracious, the water’s crystal clear."

Not only is it easier to maintain, but there is no odor.  Unlike chlorine, Ozone doesn't give off a toxic smell, but one may not notice until they go elsewhere.  Dave added:

“Our members get used to it, so used to it, that they don’t really appreciate it until they do local swimming at a hotel pool or some other facility and then they’re taken aback by that chlorine type of smell. When they come back they appreciate much more.

So why is Ozone beneficial?  Beth Hamil of Del Ozone said:  

“We are an effective antimicrobial, we’re green, we’re sustainable, we’re environmentally sound...the system pays for themselves within (depending on the pool) in anywhere between 1 year to probably 4 years."

“The water quality and the air quality, specifically in an indoor pool application are unsurpassed…they just become clean and fresh air basically without the chemicals."

What are some of the other benefits besides not inhaling toxic fumes according to Beth?  

Your skin doesn’t get dried out, no swimmers asthma, lifeguard lung all those associated with chlorine that’s uncontrolled.

And some other benefits are:

• Reduces Chlorine or Bromine use up to 80%
• Eliminates Chloramines, Bromamines, & their off-gas odor
• Improves Air Quality • Reduces Chemical Structural Corrosion
• Improves Water Quality and Clarity
• Enhances Swimmer Comfort – Eliminates Eye and Skin and Lung Irritation
• Reduces RWI (Recreational Water Illness) which can lead to facility shutdown

"You still need to maintain a small residual of chlorine. What we’ve learned over the last, umm, really over the last 20 years, is that chlorine is very ineffective as an antimicrobial when you put people in the water."

“The reason we put a small residual of chlorine in the water is to protect any [beta] in the water that might be, if you have a swimmer who has a little bit of e. coli on them, it’s being killed right then and there.

"The CDC (Center of Disease Control) is taking a huge look at public swimming pools and spas nationwide. They are currently writing what they are going to be calling the Model of Aquatic Health Code. Right now each state has a health code, and each code is written around the way the regulators should be written, the EPA has some input in it, the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) has some input in it, the F.D.A. – but they vary greatly, they’re all a lttle different."

"It’s been underway for two years. The government is going to mandate using Ozone as a supplemental disinfectant in spray pools, therapy pools, kiddie pools, and highly recommended in regular pools (diving pools, lap pools, recreational pools and spas)."

This is not to scare you and say don't swim in swimming pools - but if you swim in a pool regularly, you may want to look into pools that have the Del Ozone installed.  And if you live in New York City definitely check out the 92nd Street Y.  

For more information on the Del Ozone, visit www.delozone.com.

For more information on the 92nd Street Y, visit www.92y.org.