Whatever the root cause, be it youthful indiscretion or just plain laziness, peeing in the pool is a nasty habit. Moreover, it’s a potentially dangerous one. Purdue University researchers have discovered that the combination of uric acid and the chlorine found in most swimming pools reacts to produce cyanogen chloride (a compound used in toxic warfare at higher levels) and trichloramine, chemicals that have been linked to eye irritation, skin rashes and respiratory distress.
According to this video from the American Chemical Society, the average swimmer leaves behind 30 to 80 milliliters, or approximately 2 ounces, of urine during a typical visit to the pool. For everyone’s sake, it’s probably best to try a little harder to hold it.
