A new study's link between chlorinated indoor pools and asthma may carry a warning for spa pool users.
The study by researchers in Europe - published in the American journal Pediatrics - suggested children who swam in indoor chlorinated pools during their early years had higher rates thanothers of asthma and breathing problems later in life.
It was blamed on airway damage from breathing in chemical fumes.
Experts said the same principle could apply to indoor spa pools, if they had the same water condition and were chemically treated like an indoor swimming pool.
Not all pools were treated with chlorine, and alternative methods were increasingly popular.
Despite New Zealand's high rate of the potentially life-threatening condition, the Asthma and Respiratory Foundation yesterday warned parents against stopping children from swimming indoors based on the findings.
In fact, it encourages asthmatics to swim as a form of exercise.
Foundation medical director Professor Robin Taylor said asthmatics were less likely to suffer an attack swimming than running because of the warm and moist air around pools.
"At the moment there are very distinct benefits in having children swimming, particularly if they do have asthma," said Professor Taylor.
"It represents a warning that you have to be careful with any environment and be alert to any downside there may be."
He said the findings of the Belgian group's study were consistent with their two earlier papers on the topic.
There was little in-depth local research on the issue.
Asthma is estimated to affect 20 per cent of NZ children aged 6 to 14 years.
Asthma Attrition
* New Zealand has one of the highest rates of asthma in the world.
* Around 1 in 6 New Zealanders - more than 600,000 people - have the condition.
* Asthma is the most common cause of admission to hospital for children.
