2023-06-16 08:47:36
The wild swimming has grown considerably in recent years. Not only the outdoor swimming is a pleasant way to enjoy the sun, fresh air and green surroundings as the heat returns, but it can also help to relieve stress et increase our endorphinshormones related to the feeling of pleasure.
This helps to create a feeling of well-being, while burning a few calories by working our muscles.
But the joys of outdoor swimming come with certain dangers… Not only are “wild” swimmers more exposed to tides, currents and swells, but there can also be insects and other microbes pests in the water. And with the untreated wastewater which regularly pour into the country’s seas, rivers and lakes, it can be difficult to find a safe place to splash around.
Of course, swimming in a pool involves its own set of risks – generally well identified: urinary tract infections, ear infections and other stomach ailments (gastro, etc.) are the most common diseases that can be caught there. THE poorly maintained swimming pools can also cause irritation, stinging in the eyes and harbor all kinds of bacteria and mushroom germs – as well as urine, feces or even sweat (all of human origin)…
In many ways, swimming pools are therefore reminiscent of a large bath filled withunsavory intruders.
But while it is clear that swimming in outdoor waters carries different risks than swimming in pool, the question of knowing where it is safest to swim does not necessarily seem obvious… So, what should be preferred: swimming pools, or rivers, lakes, canals and seas? These are the facts.
Wild but toxic waters…
Unlike pools whose waters are carefully controlled, outdoor waters constantly change composition. This means that chemicals can seep into it from neighboring farms or industrial areas… But wild waters can also “host” animal droppings as well as waste human beings – which can be dumped there legally or not (if you see pipes nearby, trust your common sense: do not go there).
Vigilance is therefore required, because there are not always signs indicating local dangers… and the presence of toxic agents is not necessarily obvious. If in doubt about the outdoor water chemical safety, it is better not to enter it. If the water doesn’t look clear or smell good, for example, again trust your instincts.
Outdoor waters also present natural risks compared to swimming pools, especially in summer. Blue algae (or cyanobacteria) are a type of bacteria found naturally in lake ecosystems. During hot summers, they tend to multiply and form a greenish scum on the surface of lakes. This proliferation of blue algae can release toxins that are harmful to humans and sometimes deadly to pets : do not let your dog bathe or drink in it.
Swimming or swallowing water where such algae have grown and released toxin molecules can lead to skin rashes, eye irritations, gastrointestinal disorders fever, muscle and joint pain.
Bacteria and viruses
Diarrhea is the most common illness linked to swimming in open water, often due to its contamination by sewage. You get sick if you swallow contaminated water containing bacteria and viruses such as, respectively, E. Coli et Norovirus.
Rats living in sewers adjacent to freshwater rivers or canals may also carry the pathogenic bacteria Leptospira in their urine, which is responsible for Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease). Infection occurs when soil or water from a lake, river or canal containing urine of infected animals is swallowed, comes into contact with the eyes of a swimmer or with a cut.
Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney damage, and can be fatal if left untreated. If you have symptoms of flu or jaundice for up to two weeks after swimming in a river or canal, it may be a good idea to ask your doctor to test you for leptospirosis.
As for the sea, a 2018 study found that bathers were more likely to suffer from ear, nose, throat and gastrointestinal infections than people who stayed on the beach. It is therefore advisable to wash after swimming in outdoor waters, especially before eating…
What verdict?
If we take into account, even if it is possible that people relieve themselves in a swimming pool, in particular public ones, these pools, which are very popular, will almost always be a safer environment for swimming… Especially if we take into account in addition to things like jellyfish stings and the added risks of swimming in cold water.
Wild swimmers are more likely to feel bad when swimming in outside water (temperature difference…) and there will always be pathogenic microbes potentially present.
Swimming pool water, with adequate levels of chlorine disinfection and pH, is much less likely to contain microorganisms infectious: it therefore represents a safer environment for recreational swimming. The injuries and drownings are also much less common in swimming pools where lifeguards trained and safety equipment is present.
Considering these different parameters, it is possible that an outdoor pool actually offers the best of both worlds: swimming with the soleil on your back in a controlled and safe sanitary environment…
This article is produced by The Conversation and hosted by 20 Minutes.
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