Abstract:
Objective To investigate the children swimmers in an indoor swimming pool in Beijing, and to obtain the exposure parameters of swimming-related behavior patterns of the children.
Methods A randomized investigation was performed in the children swimmers (aged 6 to 17 years) in the swimming pool using a questionnaire. The exposure parameters of the children swimmers were statistically analyzed according to age groups (6 to < 9 years, 9 to < 12 years, 12 to < 15 years, and 15 to < 18 years) and gender.
Results A total of 402 children swimmers (248 males and 154 females) were investigated. The mean body weight, height, years of swimming, swimming frequency, swimming time, shower time, clothes changing time, warming-up exercise and rest time, and water ingestion during swimming were 40.46 kg, 148.66 cm, 2 a, 4 sessions/month, 59 min/session, 15 min/session, 11 min/session, 10 min/session, and 40.5 mL/session, respectively. Compared with male swimmers, female swimmers had a significantly reduced swimming frequency but significantly longer clothes changing and showering times (P < 0.05). There were significant differences between different age groups in years of swimming, swimming frequency, and swimming time (P < 0.05).
Conclusion The exposure parameters of children swimmers vary with age and gender. The risks of exposure to different behavior patterns should be comprehensively considered in health risk assessment.