"Chlorine" Smell in Pool Signals Danger, Experts Warn

The smell of "chlorine" in a swimming pool is not actually chlorine, but rather chloramines, which are produced when chlorine reacts with ammonia from sweat, body oils, and urine. The stronger the smell, the less free chlorine there is in the pool, meaning it's time to add more chlorine to disinfect it. It's advised to stay out of the water when a strong chemical smell is present, as it can lead to various infections. A team of chemists estimated that in a typical commercial-size pool, about 20 gallons of pee is present, while a typical home pool has around 2 gallons of pee.