Green Hair Problem After Using Bioguard Smart Shock

[SnoopysGirl]

Hello all! My family has moved to a home with an in-ground, vinyl lined pool. We live in the upper midwest, and our pool is open from mid-May until mid-October.

Since this is our second seasoning owning a pool, I have learned a lot, but still have some questions. One in particular has come up recently:

Our pool has an automatic cover, but due to some pool deck problems, it is out of order until we can get the deck resurfaced and replace the motor, cover, and track. Last year, since we had a cover, our chlorine levels were usually high, so I did not shock the pool often - maybe once a month or once every three weeks.

This year, our pool is exposed to full sun and it has been very hot, so I have been shocking the pool weekly. We use BioGuard products. I use the pucks in our chlorinator, and I have been using the BioGuard algicide, along with Smart Shock.

I have noticed that my daughter and I have a green tinge to our hair this year. It is most noticeable in the two or so days after I shock the pool. I do know that the green color is caused from copper in the pool. I noticed that the BioGuard Smart Shock has copper in it - although a very small amount - but I think it is what is causing our problem.

When I called the BioGuard company, they assured me that the about of copper in the shock isn't enough to turn our hair green and that the likely cause is our pool heater. When speaking with pool dealers around the area, one mentioned that it is the heater, but then others say that a low pH in the pool would cause that problem, and also since it has been so hot here, the heater hasn't run at all, except in the early first week or two in June.

I am very confused and I am not sure if the BioGuard agent is telling me the truth. It seems like everyone has a different answer. Thank you for any and all help you can give me on this issue! Other than this issue, our water so far looks great