Cotinine is detectable in blood for at least several days after exposure to tobacco smoke. Depending on how much you smoke, the level of cotinine in your blood will reflect a nonsmoker level in 7 to 10 days. The nicotine test that offers the longest detection window is a hair follicle nicotine test. These are rarely administered due to their expense, but they do exist.
High pH is NOT always BAD! But, high pH is NOT always GOOD, either! The recommendation that swimming pools should be operated at pH levels between 7.2 and 7.6 is almost universal. This recommendation is enshrined in generations of pool books and literature. It's embedded in many state swimming pool codes. Unfortunately, for most swimming pools, it's also far from ideal.
For swimming in both standard competition and the Olympics, FINA mandates a water temperature of between 25 to 28 degrees C, or between 77 and 82 degrees F. For water polo in both standard competition and the Olympics, FINA mandates 26 degrees C, or 79 degrees F, plus or minus one degree. For synchronized swimming in both standard competition and the Olympics, the FINA regulation temperature is 27 degrees C, or 81 degrees F, plus or minus one degree. Finally, for diving in both standard competition and the Olympics, the FINA regulation temperature is not less than 26 degrees C, or 79 degrees F.