Ocular and Respiratory Symptoms Among Lifeguards at a Hotel Indoor Waterpark Resort

Objectives: To determine the cause of eye and respiratory irritation symptoms among lifeguards at an indoor waterpark. Methods: Investigators 1) performed environmental sampling for chloramine, endotoxin, and microbials; 2) administered symptom questionnaires; 3) reviewed ventilation system designs;...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of occupational and environmental medicine 2010-02, Vol.52 (2), p.207-213
Main Authors: Dang, Bich, Chen, Lilia, Mueller, Charles, Dunn, Kevin H., Almaguer, Daniel, Roberts, Jennifer L., Otto, Charles S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Air
Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects
Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis
Biological and medical sciences
Chloramines - adverse effects
Chloramines - analysis
Endotoxins - adverse effects
Endotoxins - analysis
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Eye Diseases - epidemiology
Eye Diseases - etiology
Eyes & eyesight
Female
Health Resorts
Hotels & motels
Humans
Humidity
Lifeguards
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases - epidemiology
Occupational Diseases - etiology
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Occupational Exposure - analysis
Occupational hazards
Occupational health
Original Article
Prevalence
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory Tract Diseases - epidemiology
Respiratory Tract Diseases - etiology
Swimming Pools
Temperature
Toxicology
Young Adult
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives: To determine the cause of eye and respiratory irritation symptoms among lifeguards at an indoor waterpark. Methods: Investigators 1) performed environmental sampling for chloramine, endotoxin, and microbials; 2) administered symptom questionnaires; 3) reviewed ventilation system designs; and 4) reviewed water chemistry. Results: Airborne trichloramine concentrations were found at levels reported to cause irritation symptoms in other studies. Some endotoxin concentrations were found at levels associated with cough and fever in previous studies. Exposed lifeguards were significantly more likely to report work-related irritation symptoms than unexposed individuals. The ventilation system may not have provided sufficient air movement and distribution to adequately capture and remove air contaminants at deck level. No water microbes were detected, and water chemistry met state standards. Conclusions: Indoor waterparks need to control water chemistry and ensure adequate air movement and distribution to control air contaminants and reduce health symptoms.
ISSN:1076-2752
1536-5948
DOI:10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181cf00d5