Dangerous swimming pools

BANGKOK: -- Most swimming pools at schools, hotels, fun parks, condominiums and malls are substandard and put users' health at risk, warned the Department of Health's director general.

A survey found that more than 85 per cent had residual chlorine with a pH value lower than 5.5, compared to the required value of between 6.5 and 7.5, Narongsak Angkhasuwapala said Tuesday.

He urged pool owners to regularly check water quality and update results so that people know pools are well maintained.

The survey was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at 476 swimming pools in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

Narongsak warned that some pools used chlorine with too much acidity, causing dental erosion among swimmers.

He said another report by his office in 2003 found that 31 per cent of 139 swimming pools in 15 provinces had residual chlorine with a pH value lower than 5.5.

-- The Nation 2008-05-13

Related link:

Thaivisa Swimming Pool Forum

They've either not got enough chlorine or way to much chlorine....

Where can pH testing strips be bought in Bangkok?

--

Maestro

los it just goes on and on and on.

See what happened to this guy

Public Health Warning, Severe dental decay from 2 weeks swimming at Tony's

Thaivisa gets the news before The Nation

I'm impressed!

Glad I can't swim!

The US is full of people who don't run because they're afraid of hurting their knees, don't swim because they're afraid of catching diseases, don't walk in the park because they're afraid of gangs, don't hike in the mountains because they're afraid of mountain lions and coyotes, and on and on and on. They just sit in front of the Fox/CNN news eating Oreos seeing how bad the world is. Then they move to the hospital bed with their diabetes and obesity and low and behold, there is a color TV with Fox/CNN news on it!

Get out and exercise and enjoy life! Seize the day, come what may!

Where can pH testing strips be bought in Bangkok?

--

Maestro

Ph strips should be available at any pharmacy.

They've either not got enough chlorine or way to much chlorine....

chlorine increases and acid lowers the pH. keeping the pH low enhances the bactericide efficiency of chlorine. public and hotel pools can save a lot of chemicals this way but cause health risks to those who use the pools

by the way, the journalist who wrote

quote: A survey found that more than 85 per cent had residual chlorine with a pH value lower than 5.5..

has no bloody idea about poolwater treatment.

The survey was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at 476 swimming pools in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

He said another report by his office in 2003 found that 31 per cent of 139 swimming pools in 15 provinces had residual chlorine with a pH value lower than 5.5.

There's nothing like a bit of up to date info and this nothing like a bit of up to date info

The survey was conducted in 2004 and 2005 at 476 swimming pools in Bangkok and nearby provinces.

He said another report by his office in 2003 found that 31 per cent of 139 swimming pools in 15 provinces had residual chlorine with a pH value lower than 5.5.

There's nothing like a bit of up to date info and this nothing like a bit of up to date info

agree completely .... a lot of time as gone by and technology has improved dramatically ... Chlorine is the easy way out of bacteria but what an awful way to spend a day at the (public / hotel) pool ... you itch all the way home until your third shower

Yes, technology has improved since 2005. But you are making the mistake to assume anyone here has cared. If they can operate without being shutdown using a substandard, but cost-saving, practice, they will continue to do so until they are either required to pay a big enough bribe/fee/penalty or people stop visiting them.

The main problem in Thailand is lack of consumer awareness. People are unable to make educated choices since they aren't supplied the basic info regarding their 'purchases'.

Hence we gladly eat hormone-stuffed chicken, chemical-rich seafood and sugar-drenched dishes and then ask ourselfs why diabetes and cancer is increasing at an alarming rate...

What fantastic information for the Public, even if it was released 3 or 4 years too late..

The main problem in Thailand is lack of consumer awareness. People are unable to make educated choices since they aren't supplied the basic info regarding their 'purchases'.

I don't agree.

In the west people get the information, but how many do actually care?

How many read the labels on the products they purchase?

The main problem is that humanity is always looking to make profit of their fellow human beings no matter what the implications, and if there weren't so many regulations in place in the west, it would be exactly the same as here, if not worse, political correctness notwithstanding.

Cheers

onzestan

The main problem in Thailand is lack of consumer awareness. People are unable to make educated choices since they aren't supplied the basic info regarding their 'purchases'.

I don't agree.

In the west people get the information, but how many do actually care?

How many read the labels on the products they purchase?

The main problem is that humanity is always looking to make profit of their fellow human beings no matter what the implications, and if there weren't so many regulations in place in the west, it would be exactly the same as here, if not worse, political correctness notwithstanding.

Cheers

onzestan

You might not agree, but the fact of the matter is that if 5% are able to make aware choices based on the (proper) supplied info, that it is better than 0%. You cannot say that there is no point in requiring accurate information because some might not care. That is borderline argument of saying that we should remove penalties for crimes since some brake the law anyway.

Regulations are all well and good, if done right. But it also removes the persons ability to judge if something is good for them or not, to having to trust the government to have made a proper choice. And how many times haven't we already seen them be wrong? Or when the government is in the pocket of the biz the are trying to 'regulate', it's not even a case of them trying to do it correctly.

Educated consumers are the goal.

What fantastic information for the Public, even if it was released 3 or 4 years too late..

And lacking names of the places...

You might not agree, but the fact of the matter is that if 5% are able to make aware choices based on the (proper) supplied info, that it is better than 0%. You cannot say that there is no point in requiring accurate information because some might not care. That is borderline argument of saying that we should remove penalties for crimes since some brake the law anyway.

Regulations are all well and good, if done right. But it also removes the persons ability to judge if something is good for them or not, to having to trust the government to have made a proper choice. And how many times haven't we already seen them be wrong? Or when the government is in the pocket of the biz the are trying to 'regulate', it's not even a case of them trying to do it correctly.

Educated consumers are the goal.

What I didn't agree with is that you implied that the main problem is Thailand.

I agree that one should be able to make an educated guess however small percentage would benefit from it.

cheers

onzestan

I didn't write that the main problem is Thailand. This issue exists in most places throughout the world, to more or lesser extent.

And lacking names of the places...

Name and shame would give the report more bite,

but then the information is already way out of date.