Swimming in Allergens?: Pool Use and Asthma
2006
Swimming Pools and Childhood Asthma
Sample size: 341
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Angela Spivey
Primary Institution: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Hypothesis
Does increased use of indoor chlorinated swimming pools contribute to the rise of atopic asthma in children?
Conclusion
Regular attendance at indoor chlorinated pools, especially during early childhood, may promote the development of atopic asthma.
Supporting Evidence
- Cumulative time spent at swimming pools was a consistent predictor of asthma.
- The association was strongest for children with elevated serum IgE.
- Effects were most pronounced for pool attendance before age 7.
Takeaway
Swimming in indoor pools with chlorine might make kids more likely to have asthma, especially if they go when they are very young.
Methodology
The study involved questionnaires, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction tests, and measurements of serum IgE in children aged 10-13 who attended indoor pools.
Participant Demographics
Children aged 10-13 years from Brussels, Belgium.
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