Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate skin and eye symptoms according to swimming pool user characteristics and chlorine concentration at indoor swimming pools in the Daegu region. Methods: A total of 296 swimming pool users were enrolled from the eight swimming pools randomly chosen in Daegu. Each user completed a self-administered questionnaire with general, swimming related, and symptoms suffered throughout December 2008 to August 2009. The water analysis of swimming pools was substituted with the swimming pool water analysis practiced by district offices to 2008. Results: There were significant differences in experience rate of self-reported skin and eye symptoms between coaches and students except dander. The users of swimming pools having higher chlorine concentrations suffered from more frequent skin and eye symptoms. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis for experience of skin symptoms showed that coaches (OR = 6.81, 95% CI: 2.46~18.81) and pools with chlorine concentrations over 0.4 mg/l (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.01~3.03) were the significant variables. For experience of eye symptoms, coaches (OR = 4.13, 95% CI: 1.25~13.69) at a swimming pool was the significant variable. Conclusions: Increased exposure to swimming pool water and exposure to swimming pool showed that higher chlorine concentration may cause more frequent skin and eye symptoms.
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