Comparing respiratory symptoms and spirometry disorders among healthy people and workers of indoor swimming pools: A case-control study

BACKGROUND: The water disinfection of swimming pools through chlorination method causes unwanted changes such as chlorine-containing byproducts within the air, which might affect the swimming pool workers' respiratory health. The present study is aimed to determine the frequency of respiratory symptoms and spirometry abnormalities among the workers of indoor swimming pools (instructors and lifeguards). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present case-control study was conducted on forty individuals working in indoor swimming pools and forty others working at chlorine-exposure-free jobs as the control group. A questionnaire, including demographic information, smoking information, respiratory symptoms, and years of employment in the swimming pool, was completed for every participant. All the personnel, as well as the participants in the control group, underwent pulmonary examinations and spirometry tests. Then, the obtained data were analyzed using the SPSS 16 software as well as the statistical tests, including t-test, Chi-square test, correlation coefficient, and regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants in the case and control groups was 32.3 and 32.5 years, respectively. Both the case and control groups consisted of 18 males (45%) and 22 females (55%). Among the respiratory symptoms, lacrimation, rhinorrhea, sneeze, throat irritation, and chest tightness were significantly higher in the case group than that of the control group (15%, 80%, 35%, 57.5% and 72.5% vs. 0%, 40%, 12.5%, 2.5% and 27.5%, respectively). The pulmonary examinations indicated a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of the prevalence of wheeze and rhonchi (P = 0.014 and 0.006, respectively). Moreover, showing a statistically significant difference, the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s/FVC indicators were lower in the case group than the control group (P = 0.04 and 0.016). CONCLUSION: Regarding the findings, there was a direct relationship between working in indoor swimming pools and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction.