Excessive levels of urine found in three Beijing public swimming pools

Three swimming pools in Beijing have been found to have excessive levels of urea according to health authorities, according to a local newspaper.

The Chinese capital city’s health authority found excessive levels of urea, chlorine and bacteria during inspections of six swimming pools, The Beijing News reported.

According to national standards, swimming pool water must contain no more than 3.5 milligrams per litre of urea. One of the pools measured 20mg/l of urea.

The deputy head of the health authority said that swimmers urinating in in the water was one of the direct causes. He added that it also may be because the water in the pool water was not changed frequently enough.

Excessive levels of urea are not harmful to the human body, but authorities say that it may irritate the skin and eyes.

According to the Healthy Swimming Programme, a collaboration between the US Centres for Disease Control, the Water Quality and Health Council, and the National Swimming Pool Foundation, a chemical compound formed when urine mixes with chlorine causes bloodshot eyes, or “red eye”, in swimmers.