1 in 5 Americans pees in pool

Washington, May 17: One in five Americans has admitted to peeing in a swimming pool, says a new poll.

In fact, almost half of the total quizzed admitted to one or more behaviours that contribute to an unhealthy pool, according to the survey conducted by the Water Quality and Health Council, reports Live Science. "Swimming is a fun and healthy activity for old and young alike. Proper water chlorination helps protect swimmers from germs that can make swimmers sick," said Michele Hlavsa, an epidemiologist in the Division of Parasitic Diseases for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "But swimmers also have role to play in maintaining a clean and healthy pool. Unhygienic behaviour brings germs into the pool and makes it harder for chlorine to do its job,” Hlavsa said. The survey was conducted online between April 30 to May 3, 2009, among a national sample of 1,000 US adults, using the field services of TNS Omnibus. ANI