Health Warning for Owners of Pools and Spas - Questions and Answers

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is warning owners of pools and spas to make sure, for health reasons, that when using water sanitising devices based on silver or silver and copper, they should also use registered pool chemicals containing chlorine or bromine.

What is pool sanitation/disinfection and why is it important?

Pools and spas are an ideal environment for the transmission and growth of a number of micro-organisms some of which can cause infections in humans.

It is important that pools and spas are adequately disinfected on a regular basis to reduce the risk of harmful organisms becoming established and therefore being able to be transmitted to humans.

There are a number of products that are sold to sanitise or disinfect pool or spa water. These include the addition of pool chemicals to the water that are based on chlorine or bromine. There are also pool-sanitising devices or systems that are based on silver or silver and copper that are usually connected into the pool or spa circulation and filter system.

What products are NOT considered completely safe and effective to use for sanitisation in pools and spas?

The APVMA is not confident that pool and spa sanitising devices or systems that are based solely on silver or silver and copper are adequate in controlling harmful micro-organisms that can readily grow in pools and spas. These devices do kill some harmful micro-organisms but are slow working and are not completely effective. The micro-organisms that are not controlled by such devices can potentially cause serious health problems. Such products are safe and effective if they are used in conjunction with other, APVMA registered, pool chemicals to ensure a safe pool or spa environment.

How do I know if I have a silver-based pool or spa-sanitising product?

All APVMA approved pool chemicals have details of the ingredients on the product label immediately below the product (brand) name. When a product is not necessarily approved the product packaging may mention the use of silver or copper ions. Sanitising devices or systems that are not approved or registered may not have this detail anywhere on the label. Check any product operating instructions supplied with the device or contact the supplier before use.

What should I do if my spa or pool is treated with these products?

If you have a water sanitising device or system installed in your pool or spa it must be being used in conjunction with a chlorine or bromine based pool chemical. The package containing the device you have installed should contain instructions for use of chlorine or bromine chemicals. If the product does not have instructions for use in conjunction with other pool chemicals, you should contact the manufacturer .

Alternatively, you can use only the APVMA registered chlorine or bromine based pool chemical according to the instructions on its label in place of the device.

Why has the APVMA issued this public health warning?

The APVMA has issued the above health warning following the completion of an evaluation of the available scientific evidence on the effectiveness of pool and spa sanitising devices. This evidence shows that such devices are not adequate in controlling harmful micro-organisms that can exist in pools and spas.

How great is the health risk?

Evidence has highlighted that pool and spa sanitisers that rely solely on silver ions do not achieve effective water disinfection. This is of concern for people who use pools or spas treated only with these products as they may not be adequately protected against harmful micro-organisms. There are a number of micro-organisms not controlled by water sanitising devices based on silver that can cause serious diseases in humans. These include Naegleria fowleri that can produce a meningoencephalitis and Legionella pneumophila that can produce legionnaire's disease. These infections can be fatal in humans.

What is the APVMA doing about these products?

The APVMA is in the process of taking regulatory action to ensure that products that are not effective in controlling harmful micro-organisms in pools and spas are not available for purchase by the public. Instructions about how to safely disinfect spa and swimming pools already treated with these products are also being widely disseminated.

What alternatives to silver based sanitisers are there?

There are a number of alternatives to water sanitising systems or devices that do not contain silver. These products, that usually contain chlorine or bromine, do not need to be used in conjunction with other chemicals. If you prefer not to use chlorine or bromine, there are seven registered alternative products that contain hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient. Note that hydrogen peroxide products cannot be used with chlorine, bromine or with certain other non-chlorine oxidisers that are often sold with silver and copper ioniser systems. Be sure to read the special instructions with the lists of hydrogen peroxide products on the lists of APVMA registered complete pool and spa sanitisers. Alternatively, you may use a salt water chlorination system.

What do I need to do if I use chlorine or bromine pool chemicals?

If you use APVMA registered chlorine or bromine based pool chemicals to sanitise or disinfect your pool or spa you do not need to worry. There are no current health warnings associated with the use of these products.

What is the safest and most effective way of sanitising my pool?

The safest and most effective way to sanitise a pool or spa is to use an APVMA registered pool or spa chemical. There are a number of APVMA registered pool sanitisers available. These products usually contain chlorine or bromine. A list of APVMA registered complete pool and spa sanitisers can be found on the APVMA website.

Products that are not registered by the APVMA are not certain to provide adequate water sanitation.

You may also use a salt water chlorination system. These systems are not required to be regulated by the APVMA but if properly maintained and operated can be expected to provide effective disinfection.

Are chlorine based pool products safe?

When used as directed in accordance with the product label, APVMA registered chlorine based pool chemicals are safe and effective for use as pool and spa disinfectants.

Does this warning apply to salt water pools?

Salt water pools use a system that produces chlorine by passing an electric current from electrodes through water containing salt. If properly maintained and operated they provide effective disinfections (although extra chlorine may need to be added during periods of heavy use). These products are therefore not covered in this warning.

What is the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority?

The APVMA is the Australian Government statutory authority responsible for the regulation of pesticides and veterinary medicines up to the point of retail sale.

All pesticides and veterinary medicines must be registered and their labels approved by the APVMA prior to being supplied, sold or used throughout Australia.

Pesticides include products marketed to control micro-organisms in pools and spas.

The APVMA used to be called the National Registration Authority (NRA).

What is product registration?

Registration means that the pesticide or veterinary medicine has been rigorously assessed to ensure that it works, is safe for people, animals and the environment, has been manufactured to appropriate standards and does not pose an unacceptable risk to Australia's trade with other countries.

All registered products have an approved label that includes instructions for correct use and relevant safety information. Any use of a product other than according to the approved label may not have been scientifically assessed and therefore cannot be considered safe.

How do I know if a product is registered?

All registered products have a distinguishing number on the label APVMA Approval no. xxxxx/ or NRA Approval No. xxxxx/. Make sure you use only APVMA registered products.