Swimming Pool Chemicals
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Home Workshop Tools & Equipment · CPSC Code 938
Down 12% over 5 years
The verdict
Swimming Pool Chemicals carry a danger score of 36/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 4,214 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 12% over the last five years.
- 36/100
- danger score (low risk)
- 4,214
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 5.4%
- end in hospital admission
- 5-14
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 938 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 36/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for swimming pool chemicals - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume4,214 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)5.4%
- Fatality rate0.00%
- 5-year trend-12%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Swimming Pool Chemicals (CPSC product code 938, in the Home Workshop Tools & Equipment category) generate an estimated 4,214 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 84,282 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 36/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 12% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2015 (5,215 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2009 (3,151 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for swimming pool chemicals is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 31,531 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by derma/conjunct to the eyeball (12,212 cases). The 5-14 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 21,587 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 5.4% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 4 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how swimming pool chemicals fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 6,400 | 4,124 | |
| 5-14 | 12,743 | 8,844 | |
| 15-24 | 5,511 | 4,601 | |
| 25-34 | 5,431 | 3,127 | |
| 35-44 | 5,178 | 4,784 | |
| 45-54 | 6,435 | 4,504 | |
| 55-64 | 4,620 | 2,846 | |
| 65-74 | 2,645 | 965 | |
| 75+ | 1,255 | 262 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| All Parts Body | Poisoning | |
| Eyeball | Derma/conjunct | |
| Eyeball | Burn, Chemical | |
| All Parts Body | Derma/conjunct | |
| Eyeball | Other | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Upper Trunk | Derma/conjunct | |
| Face | Derma/conjunct | |
| Face | Burn, Chemical | |
| Hand | Burn, Chemical | |
| All Parts Body | Anoxia | |
| All Parts Body | Submersion | |
| Not Stated/unk | Derma/conjunct | |
| Lower Arm | Derma/conjunct | |
| All Parts Body | Other |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
73YOM C/O SOB, MIXED CHEMICALS FOR ABOVE GROUND POOL 12 DAYS AGO AND INHALED THE CHEMICALS. DX: CHLORINE INHALATION LUNG INJURY
7YOF MOM STATES GOT HEAD LICE FROM SCHOOL OR CHEMICALS IN POOL, C/O HEAD ITCHING. DX: HEAD LICE INFESTATION
22YOM PRESENTS WITH CONCERNS ABOUT CHEMICAL EXPOSURE TO HIS EYES. HAD SOME CONCENTRATED CHLORINE SOLUTION SPLASHED INTO HIS FACE YESTERDAY. WHILE SHOWERING TODAY HE STARTED TO HAVE SEVERE DISCOMFORT/BURNING SENSATION IN HIS BILATERAL EYES. DX: CONJUNCTIVITIS CHEMICAL ACUE BILATERAL
3YOM WITH COUGH AND NEAR SYNCOPE AFTER CHLORINE INHALATION. PATIENT BENT DOWN TO SMELL THE CHLORINE PILL THAT WAS PUT IN THE CHLORINATOR OF THE POOL AT HOME. STARTED COUGHING AND HIS EYES ROLLED BACK.DX: ACUTE CHEMICAL CONJUNCTIVITIS OF THE RIGHT EYE; INHALATION INJURY.
54 YOF C/O ITCHY SKIN RASH AFTER SWIMMING IN POOL AT HOTEL DX ALLERGIC RX TO CHLORINE
11 YOM WITH RASH TO CHEST, LEFT HIP, AND FACE THAT DEVELOPED AFTER SWIMMING IN A POOL ON SATURDAY. DX IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS DUE TO OTHER CHEMICALS, CELLULITIS FACE
69YOM REPORTS ACCIDENTALLY SPLASHING POOL BLEACH IN HIS EYE. DX CHEMICAL CONJUNCTIVITIS
56YOM STATES THAT HE WAS SCRUBBING THE POOL WITH CHLORINE TABLETS WHEN ONE OF THEM ACCIDENTALLY TOUCHED HIS LIPS AND HE DEVELOPED A COUGH AND BURNING TO LIPS AND TIGHTNESS IN THROAT DX: CHEMICAL EXPOSURE
33YOF STATES THAT SHE ACCIDENTALLY SPLASHED CHLORINE INTO HER LEFT EYE WHILE POURING IT INTO HER SWIMMING POOL DX: CHEMICAL CONJUNCTIVITIS OF LEFT EYE
5YOF CHILD WAS AT A HOTEL POOL AND DEVELOPED REDNESS OF THE SKIN, CHLORINE HAD A STRONG SMELL DX: RASH
8YOF CHILD WAS AT A HOTEL POOL WHEN SHE DEVELOPED A RED RASH AND ITCHY AND BURNING TO HER SKIN DX: IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATITIS DUE TO OTHER CHEMICAL PRODUCTS
7YOM WAS IN A POOL THAT WAS BEING MAINTAINED WITH CHLORINE AS IT WAS BEING DUMPED INTO THE POOL SOME GOT INTO FACE AND DEVELOPED DIFFICULTY BREATHING WITH THROAT TIGHTNESS DX: INHALATION INJURY DUE TO CHEMICAL
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
I have been using muriatic acid to adjust the Ph in my swimming pool for over 10 years.The 1 gallon jug of Sunnyside product #710G1, UPC 076542000563, lot ID 19190, appears to be significantly different from any product i have previously purchased. When I opened the container, there was visible "smoke" coming out of the jug which I have never seem before.. When I poured 8 ounces into a half gallon plastic measuring cup and held the cup at waist level, there was an atypical powerful smell and a burning sensation in my nose. I contacted Sunnyside and explained my concern that the contents of the jug might be the incorrect concentration or the incorrect chemical. They asserted it was impossible for their product to be defective.
From 2009-2011 I've used Diatomaceous Earth Swimming Pool Filter Aid which contains crystalline & amorphous silica(quartz case # 14806-60-7 & cristobalite case # 14464-46-1) which I'm told is carcinogenic & can cause silicosis/lung cancer. I'm concerned about having breathed this Air Borne Dust in as I've had shortness of breath, tightness in the chest & breathing difficulty after working on my pool filter. I believe the warning on the product's box is inadequate by not stating it's carcinogenic & advising a respirator be worn when working with it. I believe improper disposal is common and endangers the public when spent Diatomaceous Earth dries out & becomes Airborne.
(08/29/2015) When the consumer opened the lid, particles from the tablets became airborne and came into his face. It caused his breathing to became very labored. The consumer felt a burning sensation in his chest. The consumer called the Poison Control Center and was advised to take a hot shower. The heat from the steam relieved the problem.
Swimming pool acid (muriatic acid) comes in gallon jugs. The jugs have a safety seal. This seal consists of two layers - paper or thin foam on top, and a thin layer of cellophane plastic onderneath. The seal has no tab, meaning that the consumer must use a fingernail to remove the seal, Often the foam layer separates from the cellophane, the underside of which usually has acid on it. Removing the safety seal without a tool, unless managed very carefully, will result in the consumer getting concentrated muriatic acid on their fingertips. This problem was noted on Brenntag Mid-South Muriatic Acid, but I believe this problem is consistent across the industry.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to swimming pool chemicals on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are swimming pool chemicals?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, swimming pool chemicals have a danger score of 36/100 (low risk). An estimated 4,214 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from swimming pool chemicals?
The most common injury is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 31,531 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from swimming pool chemicals increasing or decreasing?
Down 12% over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for swimming pool chemicals injuries?
The 5-14 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 21,587 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by swimming pool chemicals?
Of all ER visits involving swimming pool chemicals, approximately 5.4% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (94.6%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with swimming pool chemicals?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Home Workshop Tools & Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 36/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 5-14 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.
