5 Side Effects of Swimming in a Pool With Too Much Chlorine

Pool season isn't complete without the scent of chlorine in the air. But does smelling the chemical mean the pool is over-chlorinated? And if so, what is the highest chlorine level that's safe to swim in, and what happens if you're over-exposed to the disinfectant?

Chlorine is added to pools to kill germs — there's a lot of stuff that can come off (and, ahem, out) of the human body when dipping into a pool. And if there are kids in diapers in the pool, well, forget about it.

The thing is, a strong scent of chlorine probably isn't from the chlorine itself.

"What you're smelling is chloramine, which is a reaction between chlorine and amines. Amines are compounds that can occur in sweat, urine and stool. This reaction kills bacteria and causes that 'chlorine' smell," Brad Uren, MD, associate professor in emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

The presence of chloramine or too much chlorine in a pool can cause several health problems. Here are the signs and symptoms of swimming in a pool with high chlorine levels (or not enough chlorine) to watch out for — and how you can test the waters (literally) to stay safe.

Chloramine is heavier than air, so it hangs at the pool's surface, Dr. Uren says. This can smell especially strong, and if gets into your eyes, it can cause stinging and irritation.

However, "generally, this is a sign not that there is too much chlorine, but that there's not enough chlorine," Dr. Uren says. In short, the water needs to be better balanced.

Still, exposure to dangerously high levels of chlorine can produce similar symptoms like burning or watery eyes, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Chlorine and chloramine gas are both respiratory irritants, Dr. Uren says. As a result, you may experience side effects like lung irritation from unbalanced chlorine in swimming pools, especially if you have asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a lung injury.

Other symptoms to look out for include nasal irritation, coughing and wheezing, according to the CDC.

The good news is that in a properly maintained pool, a brief swim won't harm your skin, Channa Ovits, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Westmed Medical Group in Westchester, New York, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

But even if there's a safe chlorine level in your pool, you may still experience side effects if you're swimming too frequently. "Those who swim often and for extended periods can have the chlorine strip the oils from their skin and hair and get some dryness and irritation, as well as brittle hair," Dr. Ovits says.

There's more of a risk of skin and hair dryness, along with itching and brittle nails, if there's too much chlorine in the pool, she says. Another sign of too much chlorine in the pool is if your colored blonde hair develops a green tint.

Can you swim in a pool with high chlorine? Well, high chlorine in pools comes with a risk of chlorine poisoning. It happens when someone swallows or inhales chlorine, according to Mount Sinai.

For instance, there are past reports of 19 adults and children needing to be taken to the hospital after excess chlorine was put into a swimming pool at a California swim school.

Symptoms of over-exposure to chlorine include the following, per the CDC:

• Blurred vision
• Red and blistered skin
• Burning in the nose, throat and eyes
• Coughing and difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Getting to fresh air and rinsing your eyes (if affected) with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes can help, but see a doctor if symptoms persist or get worse.

Pool chemical injuries send more than 4,500 people to the emergency room every year, per the CDC. These often happen in children and teens at home when pool chemicals, like chlorine, are mishandled.

"Read the instructions, because there are many [chlorine] products. Powdered and liquid chlorine, for example, are both used differently," Dr. Uren says.

Storage also matters. For instance, keep chlorine in a well-ventilated place in case of a leak or spill, and also store it on a tray to contain any leaks, he says. Similarly, open up the package in a well-ventilated area. When pouring chlorine into a pool, follow directions carefully.

You can do a smell test. It's totally normal to, say, walk into an indoor pool area and initially smell the scent of chlorine, Dr. Uren says.

But if that aroma is really strong at the pool surface and your eyes or airways are becoming irritated from it, then that's a sign that the pool's chemicals are not balanced. Healthy pools do not have a strong chemical smell, per the CDC.

The Water Quality & Health Council also suggests using a test strip to check the pH and chlorine level. A healthy pH range is 7.2 to 7.8 (a number that limits chlorine side effects while still adequately killing germs); safe chlorine level in the pool should be at least 1 parts per million (ppm), according to the CDC.

What chlorine level is too high to swim? It depends on who you ask, but the acceptable range is between 1 to 5 ppm, per the Water Quality & Health Council. (So, for example, 10 ppm chlorine is not safe to swim in — that's too high, so it can be dangerous.)

Follow these tips to avoid chlorine's less-desirable side:

First and foremost, don't swim in a pool that is not properly maintained.

Public pools have signs asking you to rinse off in the shower before entering the water. Do it! Just one minute of rinsing is all you need to remove the gunk from your body, according to the CDC.

In addition, get your hair wet. "Saturating the hair with fresh water is helpful, as the hair shaft will absorb less chlorinated water," Dr. Ovits says. Swim caps can also protect hair, and goggles will protect your eyes.

Don't lotion up skin before going into a pool, as it can make your sunscreen less effective, Dr. Ovits says.

After you get out of the pool and are done with outside time, that's a great time to apply a moisturizer "to help your skin rebuild the protective oil barrier that has been stripped," she says. Look for one with ceramides.