Pathogenic bacteria found abundant in shower heads

Taking a shower does not always mean to clean your body. It can increase the risk of certain lung disease, according to a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.

The study of 50 shower-heads from nine US cities showed 30 percent harbored high levels of pathogenic bacteria known as Mycobacterium avium, which can cause lung infections when inhaled or swallowed.

Norman Pace and colleagues from the University of Colorado at Boulder found the levels of the bacteria were 100 times higher than those in ordinary household tap water.

Mycobacterium avium causes pulmonary disease and people with the disease may experience symptoms such as a persistent drug cough, breathlessness and fatigue.

At risk are people with their immune system compromised. Healthy people are less likely to get infected.

A few things can be done to reduce the risk of Mycobacterium avium infection. The most important thing to do is let the water run for a short period time prior to a shower. People who have compromised immunity, better use metal shower-heads and change them often.

Early studies showed inhaling water contaminated with high levels of manganese during a shower could result in damage to the nervous system.

By David Liu davidl at foodconsumer dot org