Increased sensitization to aeroallergens in competitive swimmers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Immunology
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Chlorine is widely used for swimming pool disinfection.
• Pulmonary diseases are occasionally linked to chlorine exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of allergies, immune system alterations, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in competitive swimmers.
• To compare these health parameters between swimmers and a control group.

Main Methods:

• Assessed clinically manifest allergies, subclinical sensitization to aeroallergens, cellular immune system balance, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
• Utilized skin tests and radioallergosorbent tests (RAST) for allergy assessment.
• Administered methacholine challenge tests for bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Main Results:

• Swimmers exhibited significantly higher incidences of conjunctival/respiratory symptoms, aeroallergen sensitization (skin test and RAST), altered cellular immunity, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness compared to controls.
• Specifically, 11 out of 14 swimmers reported symptoms, 9/11 showed skin test sensitization, 11/14 had RAST-confirmed sensitization, 7/14 had immune system imbalances, and 11/14 displayed bronchial hyperresponsiveness.

Conclusions:

• Competitive swimmers demonstrate a higher prevalence of allergic diseases, immune system dysregulation, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
• Repeated exposure to chlorine in swimming pool environments is a potential contributing factor to these observed health effects.