Health

Shower Head Bacteria: Taking Showers Can Make You Sick

by Annina Bergman | September 14, 2009 at 03:54 pm

1436 views | 4 Recommendations | 4 comments

Showers are a potential source of infection, say scientists at the University of Colorado. This is due to bacteria accumulating in the shower head, then being shot out into the bathroom air. Researchers found that the levels of Mycobacterium avium were a hundred times higher in shower heads than in other household water supplies. About 30% of tested shower heads in seven states posed a potential health risk.

Shower bacteria can be the reason why lung infections have increased in the recent years, as people shower more and bathe less. Standing directly under the shower when turning it on results in a larger amount of bacteria landing on your body, therefore increasing risk of infection.

Healthy, young people are rarely at risk of infection, but it can be a cause for concern for pregnant women, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems.

Water spurting from shower heads can distribute bacteria-filled droplets that suspend themselves in the air and can easily be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lungs, say the scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend Add a comment

JGMitchell

at 16:15 on September 14th, 2009

I really hope that this study won't keep anyone from showering. Seriously, DON'T STOP SHOWERING!!!

Barry Artiste

at 19:18 on September 14th, 2009

Theoretically So could bio aerosols from breathing them in when standing going for a pee, by inhaling bio aerosols escaping into the airstream from your urinal stream from males, and defecation from both male and females sitting on the can,worse is your toothbrush in its little holder in the bathroom is exposed to both, as well as shower moisture residue. If we are to worry about every little germ, we may as well wrap ourselves in saran wrap. The mould would have to be in the thousands and thousands just to elicit a sneeze. I would not worry about it.

Anyways, nothing new here but fear mongering by some Phobia addict who fears Germ,compost heaps, and farts.