Water chemistry
Chloramine
Chloramines are compounds formed when chlorine bonds with nitrogen from sweat and urine, causing the strong pool smell and eye irritation.
That sharp "pool smell" is not too much chlorine. It is chloramines, a sign the chlorine is tied up with waste. They can irritate eyes, skin, and the nose and throat, according to CDC.
Chloramines rise when the pool is busy, when rain washes in debris, or when free chlorine runs low. Adding more of the same chlorine rarely fixes it. The usual fix is to raise chlorine high enough to break them apart, called breakpoint chlorination. Keep the pool open to fresh air during treatment, and follow the product label.
Related terms
Sources
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