Chlorine and health

[TomAtlanta]

This is just a theoretical question, but I am curious -
At what chlorine level would it be unhealthy to swim in a pool, and what would the health hazards be? It you raise the level up to the high shock levels recommended for mustard algae, would it be unhealthy to swim in the water, and why?

 

[JasonLion]

We don't recommend swimming when FC is at shock level or above. However, the effects are minimal until you get much higher. The goal is to have a very large safety margin.

The first obvious effect of extremely high FC levels is that swim suits start to wear out more quickly than expected. Then hair starts falling out, slowly at first and then more quickly as FC goes up more (it grows back). People who swim a great deal in indoor pools tend to have some of these effects, as the effective FC levels in indoor pools are almost always far higher than what we recommend.

 

[Isaac-1]

Like so many things there is no one straight forward answer, are you talking about short term effects, long term effects, chronic exposure levels, or one time events, also are we talking about free chlorine, or a combined chlorine product, if combined which one (it can make a big difference)...

 

[TomAtlanta]

the effective FC levels in indoor pools are almost always far higher than what we recommend.

Interesting. How high are they?

are you talking about short term effects, long term effects, chronic exposure levels, or one time events, also are we talking about free chlorine, or a combined chlorine product, if combined which one (it can make a big difference)...

All of that. It was a question based on general curiosity because I couldn't find any info online.