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The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) conducts surveillance of occupational pesticide poisoning and work-related asthma as part of a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) supported program. The majority of the cases are identified through mandated reporting for illnesses suspected to be work-related. CDPH has found that the use of disinfectants in pools is an important source of exposure and illness for workers. CDPH investigated an incident where employees at an indoor pool became ill following a malfunction of the pool’s chlorination system. We also conducted a site visit to a saltwater pool to better understand safer alternatives for pool disinfection. We have developed a pool chemical hazard alert and fact sheet that will be disseminated to pools and pool associations.
METHODS:
CDPH evaluated reports of occupational pesticide illnesses and asthma to assess the frequency and nature of health effects due to exposure to pool chemicals. CDPH conducted a site visit and interviewed pool employees and management as well as parties responding to the chlorination system malfunction. Medical records were obtained for workers who received medical care following the incident. Interviews were attempted for all workers captured by the asthma program, and medical records were requested for all workers captured by our pesticide illness and injury program. Interviews and medical records were then abstracted for demographic, chemical, and health effect data.
RESULTS:
Since 2008, our occupational pesticide illness and injury program has ascertained 61 cases due to exposure to pool chemicals. Since 1993, our work-related asthma program has ascertained 24 confirmed cases of work-related asthma involving pool chemicals. The most common adverse health effects reported were eye irritation (51%), shortness of breath (32%), and cough (30%). All cases ascertained by the asthma program involve new onset asthma or exacerbation of asthma. Additional information including illness severity, activity at time of exposure, industry, and occupation of cases will be presented. Our interviews and investigations identified factors that contributed to employee illness. Some of the major causes included inadequate training, equipment failure, and mixing of incompatible chemicals.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data show that occupational illness and injury due to pool chemical exposure results in a variety of adverse health effects. The hazard posed by chemicals used to disinfect pools warrants the development and widespread dissemination of a hazard alert and fact sheet to educate workers on the dangers of pool chemicals and reduce injuries and illness due to exposure to pool chemicals.