Air quality in indoor swimming pools: associations with air distribution, water treatment, aerosols and airway symptoms

Adverse health effects have been reported in indoor swimming pools. Contributing factors may include high air humidity encouraging microbial growth, ventilation,aerosols and volatile organic compounds, as well as microbiological and physico-chemical quality of water. These factors were analyzed in five indoor swimming pools, of which four were to be renovated in the near future and one was only two years old. In addition, technical investigation of building structures, ventilation system, and physical conditions indoors was conducted. The results emphasise the importance of ventilation arrangements in the design and engineering of indoor swimming pools.