Surex Eco Blog

Article by Jill Palmer – Medical Correspondant – Daily Mirror

Chlorine in swimming pools could be causing a dramatic rise in childhood asthma, claims new research.

Scientists found that children who swim often have lung damage similiar to smokers.

The problem is caused by by-products of chlorine, trichloramine or nitrogen trichloride.

They are powerful irritants which are easily inhaled and produced when chlorine reacts with organic matter such as urine or sweat.

Nearly two million children suffer from asthma, one in seven and the numbers are rising annually.

The research team studied 226 healthy youngsters who have swum weekly or fortnightly since early childhood.

Lung proteins linked with cell damage were measured in their blood. Samples from 16 children and 13 adults before and after a session in an indoor pool were analysed to see how quickly trichloramine took effect.

Researchers also assessed the prevalence of asthma using data from 2,000 youngsters.

The results showed that swimming in a pool regularly was consistently and significantly associated with the destruction of the cellular barriers protecting the deep lung.

Even sitting by the pool without swimming led to significantly higher marker proteins.

Dr Alfred Barnard, who led the research at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, said “Chlorinated pools might explain the rise in the diagnosis of childhood asthma.”

“Swimmers are mainly exposed to chlorine compounds when inhaling air just above the waters surface”

“Chlorine disinfectants can represent a health hazard for swimming, especially for young children who attend most frequently”

Professor Martyn Partidge of the National Asthma Campaign said yesterday “This is an interesting study”

Exposure of any child to a chemical which may damage airways is a concern and obviously needs further investigation.”

“But its unlikely that swimming – at least by itself – could be the cause for the increase in Asthma”

Article by Jo Macfarlane – Medical Correspondant – The Times

Pregnant women living in areas where tap water is heavily disinfected with chlorine nearly double the risk of having children with heart problems, a cleft palate or major brain defects, a new study found.

Scientists say expectant mothers can expose themselves to the higher risk by drinking the water, taking a bath or shower, or even by standing close to a boiling kettle.

The dangers comes from chemical by products in chlorinated water known as Trihalomethanes, or THMs, which can be absorbed through the skin. They can then pass into the womb.

THMs form because of a chemical reaction between chlorine and natural substances in the water.

They exist in mains water across Britain – but are highest in areas where more chlorine is added because the water quality is poor.

Earlier studies linked chlorine water to an increased risk of still birth, miscarriage, birth defects and bladder cancer. But this is the frst time that the risk has been narrowed down to specific birth defects.

Although a major study in 2007 by Imperial College, London, into births defects and THM levels in Britain uncovererd ‘little evidence’ of a link, the new research appears to contradict its findings.

A research team led by Professor Jouni Jaakkola of the University of Birmingham analysed the birth registry details of nearly 400,000 babies born in Taiwan between 2001 and 2003.  Levels of Chlorine found in water there are similiar to those found in the UK.

Scientists compared the number of birth defects recorded by doctors to the leel of THMs in the drinking water in different areas.

The proportions of certain anencephalus, usually found in 0.01 per cent of births, rose to 0.17 per cent in high THM areas. Hole in the heart defects also nearly doubled from 0.015 per cent to 0.024 per cent. The number of cleft palates rose from 0.029 per cent to 0045 per cent in high THM areas.

Overall, the risks of having chidlren with these three defects increased by between 50 per cent and 100 per cent. there was also a slightly raised risk of urinary tract defects and downs syndrome.

The study appears in Environmental Health Journal.

The number of defects could be much higher as some are not detected until later in childhood.

THM levels across Britain vary widely even within one water company area. They range from 92 micrograms per litre in south Stafforidshire to just five in Hartlepool.  Most areas have levels way above the high range in the Taiwan study. High levels were recorded in South West England, Yorkshire and North East Essex.

Prof Jaakkola said THMs should be cut because the biologial reasons for the defects were unknown.

He said “Our findings dont just add to the evidence that Chlorination may cause birth defects but suggest that exposure to chlorination may cause birth defects but suggest that exposure to chlorination by products may be responsible for some specific and common defects.

Swimming Pool & Spa domestic water disinfection using Halogens.

Haloforms cover a range of chemicals such as Chlorine, Bromine and Flouride amongst others, that will react with substances that naturally occur in Swimming Pool & Spa bathing waters that with the right pre cursors produce Trihalomethanes (thms) & Organo Halides.

These substances are produced when one or more of the Hydrogen Atoms in the Hydrocarbon sustituted by either Chlorine or Bromine.

Almost without eception all Haloforms are:

1. Carcinogenic – Cancer Forming

2. Mutagenic – Capable of causing mutations in humans

3. Teratongenic – Capable of causing malformations in newly born children.

Trihalomethanes are absorbed in outdoor bathing applications both through the skin & through the skin and respiratory system in indoor applications.

In the right conditions they are basically poisonous – therefore ‘TOXIC”

They are the next ‘ASBESTOSIS’

Surex OO2 Oxysure & Surex OO2 Oxypure are not afected or associated chemically or biologically with this imposing salient under estimated deliberation.

These comments are purely for future apprectiation and understanding.

Derek Acca

www.surex.co.uk

The Use of Floating Dispensers is not our way of Health and Safety coverage.  

Covering the responsibility of ecological and environmental control the whole world should be made to understand that both chlorine and bromine and infact all Halogens cannot be recycled and they should not be dumped down the drain because they cause ‘Big Grief’ in water reclamiation in commerical operation plants.

They cause problems in river beds, eco systems in lakes and ponds; chlorine is disipated into the atmoshere from UV exposure.

Chlorine is affecting the ozone layer which is weakening year by year.

Surex Oxysure & Surex Oxypure are based on peroxygen technology. They are quick dissolving, they cannot mess up relative water lines dumped down the drain and affect the ecology and environment.

They can be recycled and have no smell in both spas and pools.

What is a Domestic Whirlpool & Jetted Bath?

Purely a drain and fill house hold unit. Available as fully plumbed unit or supplied as a DIY kit form for own sourced baths. 

You simply fill the bath from a hot water supply, fill to 250 galls (55m3) Max. Start the bath circulation pump from a ceiling mounted pull down start switch, press on/off button on bath to keep surroud to activate the circulation pump. Equally an installed bath light and support bath heater to keep up the heat will have their own on/off buttons. The air venturi control will increase bubble effect by simply turning the head of the air inlet.

After your bath leave the bath pump running for some 4-5 minutes, step out of the bath and with dry hands apply your sanitising compound direct to the water surface. Using the ceiling mounted pump switch off pump and pull out the bath plug to dump water to waste.

You use some 25-50 grams of chlorine to disinfect the lines before dumping. Because Chlorine has seriously offensive odours you can use Surex OO2 Oxysure which is supplied in a 1 1/2kg child lock container for safety reasons. Surex OO2 Oxysure provides No Smell, No Taste and no Chlorine related effects such as Dry Skin, Buring eyes, Surex OO2 is Environmentally Friendly.

Using the blue scoop spoon supplied inside the container will give you some 70-75 treatments. Always follow directions on container.

1. Surex OO2 Oxysure

New age Per-Oxygen technology covering over 20 years of application. A quick dissolving Non-Chlorine Disinfectant (Chlorine Compatible) that has an EEC biocidal directive pass. It has no smell or taste with the same oxidising ‘power’ as any good grade Chlorine donor.

Oxy-sure can be safely dumped down the drain – unlike Chlorine.

It can be recycled – unlike Chlorine

2. Voxsan TLC Cleaning Paste

For Tiles, Acrylic, Fibre Glass, Ceramics & Stainless Steel / Chrome Surfaces

3. Voxsan Le Bloc

A World Exclusive high intensity water clarifier for Pools & Spas for sand and cartridge element filters. No other gel bloc  preparation can be used particularly in spas.

Le Bloc through its unique ‘easy application’ dispenser cleverly emits a phosphate remover that stunts algae growth.

4. Surex Aquastik

A 2 part Epoxy Putty that when applied hardens in 1/2hr. Repairs holes in Spas, cracks in concrete structures, glues tiles underwater. Over a million ways to use – its use is purely limited by your imagination.

Please see www.surex.co.uk for further details and options to purchase all of our showcase products.