The Abington Heights High School swimming pool is closed until further notice as officials work to solve the air-quality issue parents say caused swimmers to suffer respiratory problems.
One day after a group of parents voiced their concern to the Abington Heights School Board - citing cases in which their children couldn't stop coughing after swim practice - high school Principal Pamela Murray announced the pool would be closed for at least the rest of the swim season.
There are no more swim meets scheduled at the school this season, but the high school teams and the Abington Gators - children ages 6 to 14 - would have practiced there until mid-March if they qualified for state competition.
"We are taking precautionary measures, and part of those will be to try and find another facility for varsity swimmers," said Ms. Murray, who said the school is close to a decision but needs to hash out details. "We will close it down and bring in some outside resources."
At the school board meeting on Wednesday, a number of parents shared stories of how their children had difficulty breathing after and throughout swim practice - some saying their kids had to stop halfway through to walk into the hallway and catch their breath.
Parents pointed to an excess of chloramine fumes, irritants that can cause skin, eye and respiratory problems, a report handed out by one parent said. The report, "Clearing the Air: Chloramine Control for Indoor Swimming Pools," is by Tom Griffiths, Ed.D., president of the Aquatic Safety Research Group.
Reached by phone Thursday, Dr. Griffiths said chloramines form because chlorine is "attracted" to urine, perspiration, body oils and other organic wastes.
"It turns into gas, and it hangs on the surface of the water, so when swimmers take deep breaths they inhale it," Dr. Griffiths said. "It's the No. 1 problem for indoor pools that have swim teams or are heavily used."
Though Dr. Griffiths said there is no solution to completely eliminate the problem, he offered two ways that would "significantly reduce" the amount of chloramines at the surface level.
Adding an ultraviolet light reduces chloramines by breaking them down into water, carbon dioxide and salts, he said. Another option would be to purchase an "evacuator" - an "add on" to a ventilation system that sits at the water surface level and reduces the gases.
Before any action is taken, Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said the board will review the results of a $500 air-quality test officials commissioned last week.
He said the findings - expected by the end of next week - will be made available to the public.
"Hearing about coughs and all this, it's a very serious issue and one we need to address," Dr. Mahon has said.
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