Effects of indoor swimming pools on the nasal cytology of pool workers.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the relationship between swimming pool pollutants and allergic rhinitis in swimming pool workers.


METHODS
Twenty-seven indoor pool workers (group 1) and 49 control subjects (group 2) were enrolled in the study. A skin prick test was performed and a nasal smear was obtained from each subject to evaluate rhinitis.


RESULTS
When the groups were compared in terms of epithelial cells, group 1 had significantly more epithelial cells than group 2. When the groups were compared with regard to eosinophils, group 1 had significantly more eosinophils than group 2. The skin prick test results for both groups were not significantly different.


CONCLUSIONS
Indoor pool workers showed severe symptoms of rhinitis and eosinophilic nasal cytology, likely due to chlorine. Nasal cytology is an easy-to-administer diagnostic test and can be used to follow up rhinitis in indoor pool workers, along with nasal endoscopy, a detailed clinical history and a skin prick test.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,GATA Haydarpaşa Training Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey.
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E
Erkul
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Şehitkamil State Hospital,Gaziantep,Turkey.
A
A
Yaz
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University,Turkey.
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C
Cıngı
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Faculty of Medicine, Near East University,Nicosia,North Cyprus,Turkey.
H M
HM
İnançli
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Istanbul Medeniyet University,Turkey.
T
T
San
Department of Biostatistics,Medical Faculty, Eskişehir Osmangazi University,Turkey.
C
C
Bal
D000328:Adult; D002713:Chlorine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014873:Water Pollutants; D002713:Chlorine; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid