[Germ transfer into swimming pool water by head hair]

The transmission of germs from the hair of the head to the swimming pool water was examined. It was found that between 6 x 10(6) and 10 x 10(6) germs are transmitted, depending on hair length. A sex-specific difference has been proved to exist. The 1,500 investigations based on different methods have demonstrated that the proportion of Staph. aureus carriers in the hair of normal persons without hospital contact is only 10 per cent and thus much lower than reported in literature. Even indicators of faecal contamination and pollution (E. coli, coliform germs) were detected in the hair less frequently than is reported in literature. Surprisingly, no correlation was found to exist between the cleanliness of the hair (interval between the last shampooing and swimming) and the transfer of germs. Rinsing of the hair has been found to liberate considerable quantities of germs which otherwise are produced by sebaceous secretions. Thus, in 52 per cent of cases, after shampooing the germ counts were found to be the same as before shampooing or higher. As a result, shampooing appears to be an unsuitable measure of germ reduction and the only possibility of diminishing the germ load in swimming pools is to wear bathing caps. This problem will be investigated by us in greater detail.