AusLeisure

Baby swim pants are no better than regular nappies at keeping faecal matter out of swimming pool water according to Biochemistry Professor Una Ryan of Perth’s Murdoch University.

Professor Ryan recently told Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph that although swim nappies may keep some solids in, at a microscopic level they acted “like a poo tea bag in water”.

She added “they don’t work, they don’t work at all - they may be a bit better than a regular nappy, but they release faecal matter into the pool.”

With faecal incidents a regular occurrence in public swimming pools, NSW in particular saw a rise in cryptosporidiosis cases and an increase in giardiasis during the hot months of the past summer.

Professor Ryan went on to say, “the way many of these germs are spread from person to person in swimming pool water is via faecal transmission  in other words by people swallowing water that’s had poo in it.”

While baby swim pants may give parents a false sense of security, she stated “you could fit millions and millions of the parasite on the head of a pin so, no, they won’t stop cryptosporidium otocysts entering the pool.”

Cryptosporidium is present in the faecal matter of infected humans and animals. Infection occurs when the parasite is ingested. Transmission most often occurs through:

• Person-to-person contact, particularly in families and among small children (for example, in child care centres)
• Drinking contaminated water
• Ingesting water while swimming in contaminated pools
• Handling infected animals or their manure
• Food (in rare cases).

2nd March 2017 - CANADIAN RESEARCHERS FIND SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF URINE IN PUBLIC POOLS

25th January 2017 - NSW HEALTH RELEASES NEW RESOURCES IN ‘CLEAN POOLS FOR HEALTHY SWIMMING’ CAMPAIGN

19th January 2016 - RECREATION SA URGES SWIMMERS TO PRACTICE GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE AMID RECORD CRYPTOSPORIDIUM LEVELS

23rd December 2015 - POOL MANAGERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF WATERBORNE BUGS THROUGH SUMMER 

20th November 2015 - SOUTH HEDLAND AQUATIC CENTRE REOPENS AFTER HYGIENE INCIDENT FORCES CLOSURE

11th June 2015 - NAPPY SUPPLIER TARGETS ‘CODE BROWN’ AQUATIC CENTRE INCIDENTS

26th March 2015 - SERIAL DEFECATOR CAUSES WEEKLY CLOSURES OF SOUTHLAND AQUATIC CENTRE

8th November 2010 - WA COCKATOOS BENEFIT FROM NEW PURPOSE-BUILT FACILITY

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.