The Scary Reason Why You Shouldn’t Pee In The Pool

in science •  9 years ago 

Everyone pees in the pool, right? No big deal. The chlorine will take care of it. It’s just a totally harmless way to relieve yourself when you don’t want to get out of the pool. 

Not so fast.

As it turns out, relieving yourself in a swimming is actually a very unhealthy thing to do. When urine is mixed with chemically treated pool water, it creates a toxic chemical reaction, creating a compound known as DBP (a toxic gas that in higher concentrations is actually used as a chemical weapon). It is this new chemical that causes a host of health issues like eye irritation. 

A clean swimming pool should have almost no noticeable smell. Have you ever been to a public swimming pool that had a strong “pool smell?” What you are actually smelling is the toxic stew (the chemical reaction) that was created from people urinating in the pool. If you ever smell a pool, it’s not the chlorine you’re smelling. It’s something else. Something that shouldn’t be there. 

Swimming pools are not supposed to be public toilets. Let’s keep them clean so we can all enjoy them.

The American Chemical Society has just released a new video explaining the health hazards of urinating in swimming pools. 

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Pretty sure I saw a documentary on this. Wait, no, it was South Park. Good advice nonetheless.

Does number 2 count?

LOL! Technically, chlorine is supposed to kill the bacteria in #2, but I still wouldn't advise doing that in a public swimming pool.