The effect of saline on the eye irritation caused by swimming-pool water

Abstract

In laboratory experiments the acute eye irritation produced by exposure to tap water was not significantly increased when chlorine compounds were added to the water at concentrations of 1 mg./l. The greatest irritation was produced by 2 mg. Cl(2)/l. as NH(2)Cl. The addition of NaCl at concentrations above about 0.5% abolished the irritant effect of tap water, and prevented irritation even when 1 mg. Cl(2)/l. was present.In a field experiment involving two swimming baths, one with fresh and the other with saline water (0.5% NaCl), eye irritation in the saline bath was significantly lower than in the freshwater bath only when the swimming time did not exceed 30 min.