Many sports-medicine experts encourage athletes to soak in a hot tub after working out to soothe aching muscles. Other people simply enjoy the relaxation of the warm water and water jets. But beneath the surface can lurk some unsavory microorganisms. One expert, Jonathan Yoder, an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and team lead for the agency’s waterborne-disease-prevention branch, describes the telltale signs when not to climb into a hot tub.
Heat Seekers
Hot-tub temperatures are typically 104 degrees or less—not high enough to kill the many bacteria that thrive in warm water, says Mr. Yoder. These can include the common Pseudomonas, which can cause an itchy and painful rash known as Hot Tub Rash. More dangerous is Legionella, which gets aerosolized in the hot, humid environment and can cause Legionnaires’ disease, an extreme form of pneumonia, or Pontiac fever, which is like a bad case of the flu, he says.
“Most of these organisms will be inactivated if you maintain the proper level of disinfection,” says Mr. Yoder. And despite rumors one might hear, “to my knowledge, there has never been a reported case of herpes confirmed to be contracted through hot tub use,” he says.
Know the Numbers
Public hot tubs are supposed to be monitored regularly by maintenance professionals for proper recirculation, filter cleanliness and scrubbed surfaces. “Hopefully at your gym, they are checking the water at least twice per day, and maybe even hourly when there are a lot of people using it,” says Mr. Yoder.
Tub information is often posted in plain view at gyms. “If they use chlorine, you should look for a value of between 2 and 4 parts per million, and if they are using bromine, which is a similar disinfectant but lasts longer in hot temperatures, you’d look for a value between 4 and 6 parts per million,” he says. Higher numbers can indicate too many residual chemicals, which can irritate the skin and throat. Private hot tubs often don’t get the maintenance they require, and he advises homeowners to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines or hire a maintenance company.
Seeing Signs
When the jets are off, hot-tub water should be clear, not murky. “If you can’t see the bottom, that is not a good sign,” says Mr. Yoder. Slimy edges indicate not enough disinfectant, while a strong odor might suggest the chemical is reacting with other substances. “Don’t rely on a strong chemical smell to indicate that a hot tub is well-maintained,” he says.
Disinfectants in many public hot tubs aren’t kept at a steady level, Mr. Yoder says. When chlorine gets too low, a lot of the chemical is often dumped in. Those sharp swings cause bacteria to band together into what is called biofilm, which shields them from the chemical. “The longer that the levels are not properly maintained, the stronger the biofilm becomes,” he says. Manually scrubbing the sides, edges and tiles of the tub is the best way to remove the biofilm, which can harbor any manner of waterborne pathogen.
Otherwise, if the water is clear and the tub has been properly maintained, the risk of contracting an illness from a hot tub is low, says Mr. Yoder.
Proper Usage
Some people should be extra careful about using hot tubs. Pregnant women should first speak to their doctors, since excess heat can damage the developing fetus, says Mr. Yoder. The CDC recommends children under 5 years old not partake in hot-tub lounging. “Their bodies are so much smaller, they heat up faster and they don’t have the same cues that adults have when they are overheating,” he says. And think twice after having a few drinks. “The increasing temperature plus alcohol have a cumulative effect,” says Mr. Yoder. “It’s important not to impair your judgment to the point that you put yourself in danger.”
Source: http://online.wsj.com/articles/how-safe-are-hot-tubs-1413830076
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