The chemical Simazine, which is used in products to clean swimming pools and stop the growth of Algae is recieving calls to be made illegal. Simazine has been banned in the United States since 1994 after it showed it had links to causing cancer, but is still used in Australia. A report from the Australian pesticides and veterinary medicines authority (APAVM) makes claims that the levels of the chemical are far higher than the recommended allowed daily intake (ADI) health limit.
While the report didnt show that children exposed to the chemical have any lasting health problems, supporters of the ban are claiming with the levels over the ADI, the effects in later life for children could be dangerous. William Bliss, whose company Wobelea manufacturers products that contain the chemical Simazine, claim that people are over reacting. ‘For arguments sake, you would have to drink all the water in an Olympic pool, say 500,000 litres, to get anywhere near a toxic dose’.’
The investigation will determine if any new information has come to light reguarding the effects of the chemical, but while this is happening products containing Simazine will still be made available, which has angered campaigners. The chemical is banned in the United states and not used at all in European countries, which asks the question why are questionable swimmming pool chemicals still used in Australia? If the product is banned then the Australian government has said that it will move to ban the chemical and pull products containing the drug from the public domain.
Last month in Tasmania, there was panic in the local area after traces of this chemical and Altrazine were found in the supplies of drinking water. Though the levels of the chemicals found in the water sources has been said to be minute, there should not be any in drinking water sources at all.
Need pool accessories or swimming pool solar heating? Look no further