Re: A thought on swimmers

Alas, Iodine won't stop algae from growing in swimming pools and algaecides look like nasty stuff, I wouldn't want to swim in it.


http://iodine4health.com/special/disinfectant/swim/swim.htm


Iodine and Swimming Pools

Iodine is sometimes used as a disinfectant in swimming pools.

According to Gottardi, the use of Iodine as a swimming-pool disinfectant has several advantages:

•good disinfecting of swimming-pool waters,
•approximately one third saving on chemical cost,
•no disagreeable odor or taste,
•no compounds that are likely to contribute to eye irritation,
•no irritation of the mucous membranes,
•no danger in storage or use because the material is in crystalline form,
•residual is stable and does not fluctuate quickly,
•pH is stable after balance is reached.
There are also difficulties with using Iodine as a swimming-pool disinfectant. For example, iodine is a notoriously poor algaecide, and the control of algae growth requires additional measures.

Another difficulty is that Iodide can result in the development of yellowish-brown I3- ions, thus creating problems controlling the color of the pool water.

Finally, although most people can deal with fairly large amounts of iodine, some people are sensitive and may have thyroid complications with excess iodine.

These complications need to be balanced with the complications of alternative disinfectants.