Comments on: BEST OF 2009: Are you sick and clean?

By: russ

russ — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:58:26 +0000

One should consider whether the level of supposed bacterial/microbe intake is any different than that one is exposed to when walking around the home, workplace, or neighborhood park…

Too many studies purport to reveal things about a specific problem that in reality are not all that different than the rest of the environment.

The human body ingests bacteria all the time, through the skin and through our lungs. If one follows Mom’s advice of “everything in moderation”, eats a healthy diet, and exercises, the body will manage itself most of the time.

Maintaining a reasonably clean living environment is part of “everything in moderation”.

Pay attention to the causes of accidents and deaths in the newspaper. A large percentage of things happen when someone has gone to excess.

By: jon

jon — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:33:36 +0000

Peter, the danger here is not getting the bacteria on your skin, the danger is inhaling the bacteria via breathing in tiny water droplets produced by the showerhead.

By: Josh

Josh — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:08:24 +0000

“Everyone turns on the shower and let it run until the water temperature gets adjusted, ample time to clean the shower head. ”

That may be, and disputed by Ryan above, but the article states that the pathogens become airborne after the initial gush of water. Unless you have a super fan above your shower/bath sucking up all the air, you are still breathing it in.

I wonder if cleaning with CLR or LimeAway, adds a coating to prevent, or at least delay, the growth of bacteria.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:28:35 +0000

On second thought, that is too being too critical of a foundation that does fund some great studies with no apparent motive. Thanks for the release about this!

By: Tektrix

Tektrix — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:00:55 +0000

Would be good to know if M. avium and M. gordonae (and other similar pathogens) are eradicated or diminished by anti-microbial metals such as copper and silver. Many bathroom fixtures are made of brass (which contains copper), so perhaps some shower heads naturally reduce the populations of these microbes.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:21:04 +0000

To Peter’s comments
This is not meaningless. Not everyone lets the shower run to adjust the temperature before getting in. I run the bath water to the right temperature and then pull the shower, thus resulting in the initial burst to my body.
The process of showering would was away the bacteria, but the concerns mentioned in the article are regarding inhalation.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 18:31:24 +0000

This observation is completely meaningless. Everyone turns on the shower and let it run until the water temperature gets adjusted, ample time to clean the shower head. Also, even in the unlikely case of getting bacteria on the head, in the process of showering (soap and rinse) they would get washed away.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:40:04 +0000

This is great progress in a problem well stated, but it of course does an awful job of explaining how to reduce M. avium or the effect of it other than abandoning shower heads. Chlorine was the only attempt to rid of it? This may explain the fear mongering here: “supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.” We’ll wait for the next product roll-out!

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:19:44 +0000

I read about this in an article on WebMD last week.
http://www.webmd.com/lung/copd/news/20090914/bacteria-may-lurk-on-your-showerhead

“So does that mean it’s safer if you turn the shower on and let it run for a minute or so before getting in?”

That seems to be the advice from both authors Norman Pace and Laura K. Baumgartner.

“”Run your shower for a minute or so before you get in, otherwise you’ll get a face full of bacteria.”"
from:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17786-shower-heads-make-a-perfect-home-for-bugs.html

and

“For most people, though, the simplest thing is not to stand in front the spray at the start, said Baumgartner.
The first full blast in the face probably means you’re getting showered with a high load of M. avium, she said. “But most people don’t do that anyway because that first blast is cold.”
from:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009866955_shower15.html

“If not bleach, what can I spray on my showerhead? Is it safe to remove the showerhead for cleaning?”

To, again, quote Pace: “”Cleaning the showerhead is a reasonable thing to do.”"
from the WebMD article.

Many I’ve seen/used can be taken apart and cleaned. I’ve normally used a mild ammonia solution in the past, rinsing well afterward.

By: jon

jon — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:03:50 +0000

If not bleach, what can I spray on my showerhead? Is it safe to remove the showerhead for cleaning?