The Belgian Superior Health Council has concluded that a series of studies published by a team of Belgian researchers does not provide clear evidence that swimming in chlorinated pools poses an asthma risk.
Research has drawn international attention since 2002 and was examined at the behest of the Belgian minister of public health. Council experts identified flaws in the performed study descriptions and noted that the obtained results were not confirmed by other researchers.
Researchers, including Dr. Alfred Bernard, a professor of toxicology at Catholic University of Louvain, stated that though this relationship between swimming pool attendance and childhood asthma had not been confirmed, it could not yet be excluded.
According to reports, the World Chlorine Council and other organizations will continue to monitor health effects of chlorinated swimming pools.
