Michael Phelps was right – relieving yourself in the pool is fine

[progressoid]

Michael Phelps was right – relieving yourself in the pool is fine


Phelps, the most successful Olympian ever, caused ripples of concern during London 2012 when he admitted that many swimmers “pee in the pool” especially during long training sessions.

...

The revelation may have been slightly distasteful but now scientists have confirmed that at least his facts are right. Sense About Science (SAS), a charity which aims to dispel commonly held myths, especially those promulgated by celebrities, congratulated him on being scientifically correct.

Stuart Jones, biochemist, said: “In fact Michael, urine is essentially sterile so there isn’t actually anything to kill in the first place. “Urine is largely just salts and water with moderate amounts of protein and DNA breakdown products.

“Chlorine just prevents bacteria from growing in the pool.

“So you’re basically right, peeing in a swimming pool, even if all swimmers do it simultaneously, has very little impact on the composition of the pool water itself.

“An Olympic size pool contains over 2 millions litres of water and a single urination is somewhere in the region of 0.2 litres.

“To have any significant effect on the overall composition of the pool water you’d need a serious amount of peeing!”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9767614/Michael-Phelps-was-right-relieving-yourself-in-the-pool-is-fine.html

[Historic NY]

1. Okay, tell us about the yellow snow....

[GodlessBiker]

2. This gives "watersports" an entry as an Olympic event.

[abelenkpe]

3. :(

I'm still gonna get out and use the potty, k?

[progressoid]

5. Ok,

But keep an eye out for Michael Phelps.

[Warpy]

4. Urine is sterile when it comes out

Left concentrated, it's a great medium for growing all sorts of bacteria, urea is very nutritious stuff to them. Diluted in a swimming pool full of water, you'd have to have stable full of racehorses on Lasix peeing into it to make an appreciable difference. And then, the chlorine would prevent any bacterial growth.

I figured all this out by the time I was eight, at the most. I also realized the best way to do it was to start moving and splashing to disguise the yellow cloud in the water.

My mama didn't raise any stupid children.

[undeterred]

6. Peeing in the shower is a different matter entirely.