Chemical Exposure at Ohio Indoor Water Park led to CDC Investigation

Trichloramine accumulation due to insufficient air movement caused breathing and eye symptoms. Symptoms included itchy or runny nose, cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, sore throat, and red, burning, or itchy eyes.

Graph showing the number of people reporting breathing and eye symptoms at an indoor water park in the Warren County Combined Health District, from December 2006 to April, 2007.

The CDC's February 6, 2009 MMWR detailed the exposure and its remedy in an article titled, Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees of a Hotel Indoor Waterpark Resort --- Ohio, 2007.  The following is an excerpt:

"During January--March 2007, the Warren County Combined Health District (WCCHD) received 665 reports of respiratory and eye irritation from patrons and lifeguards at a hotel indoor waterpark resort in Ohio. Tests revealed normal water chemistry and air chlorine concentrations, and exposure to airborne trichloramine in the waterpark was suspected as the cause of the symptoms.

Because of the number of symptom reports and WCCHD's limited ability to measure trichloramine, the district requested an investigation by CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

This report describes the results of that investigation... Insufficient air movement and distribution likely led to accumulation of trichloramine and exacerbation of symptoms. Based on recommendations to increase air movement and distribution at pool deck level, hotel management modified the ventilation system extensively, and subsequently no new cases were reported to WCCHD. The results of this investigation emphasize the importance of appropriate design and monitoring of ventilation and water systems in preventing illness in indoor waterparks."

View the entire MMWR article: 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5804a3.htm?s_cid=mm5804a3_x