Comments on: Did Your Morning Shower Spray You With Bacteria? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/ 80beats is DISCOVER\'s news aggregator, weaving together the choicest tidbits from the best articles covering the day\'s most compelling topics. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 01:29:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jaclyn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-77252 jaclyn Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:27:36 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-77252 that is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

]]> By: Jockaira http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49648 Jockaira Thu, 17 Sep 2009 05:28:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49648 This is a really easy one to handle... Get an all-metal shower head. On a regular basis, every week or two, take it off, throw it into a pot of water, boil for 20 minutes, and put it back after running fresh water through the unheaded fixture. This will kill all the bacteria in the unit and break up any "slime-film." If this doesn't eliminate all the mycobacteria in the unit, it will certainly get the population down to a level that offers no significant danger of infection. This is a really easy one to handle…

Get an all-metal shower head. On a regular basis, every week or two, take it off, throw it into a pot of water, boil for 20 minutes, and put it back after running fresh water through the unheaded fixture. This will kill all the bacteria in the unit and break up any “slime-film.”

If this doesn’t eliminate all the mycobacteria in the unit, it will certainly get the population down to a level that offers no significant danger of infection.

]]> By: Wallace http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49426 Wallace Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:11:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49426 How scientific is a report that makes conclusions from such a small sample? How scientific is a report that makes conclusions from such a small sample?

]]> By: Jason http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49410 Jason Wed, 16 Sep 2009 10:25:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49410 Mycobaterium sp. have a waxy, "hard" cell wall. The amount of chlorine in our tap water, usually around 4 ppm, will not kill them off. For some mycobacterium it takes up to 10,000 ppm chlorine to eradicate them. The best thing for killing them off is to dry them out. A spritz of rubbing alcohol will desiccate them. Of course, this won't help with the water that is in our tap. Additionally, other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most find our bodies too warm to live in. If we do get an infection, it is in our extremities where the temp is lower. Again, it's important to know that we come into contact with these bacterium virtually all the time. In the air, the soil, and in bodies of water. Mycobaterium sp. have a waxy, “hard” cell wall. The amount of chlorine in our tap water, usually around 4 ppm, will not kill them off. For some mycobacterium it takes up to 10,000 ppm chlorine to eradicate them. The best thing for killing them off is to dry them out. A spritz of rubbing alcohol will desiccate them. Of course, this won’t help with the water that is in our tap. Additionally, other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis, most find our bodies too warm to live in. If we do get an infection, it is in our extremities where the temp is lower. Again, it’s important to know that we come into contact with these bacterium virtually all the time. In the air, the soil, and in bodies of water.

]]> By: Jays http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49396 Jays Wed, 16 Sep 2009 09:03:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49396 Seems to me one should avoid aerating shower heads that make a lot of unnecessary steam. It is what one breaths in, says the study, not the stuff that lands on your skin that causes the trouble. Correct? Also, if there is cotaminated air in the bathroom the aerator would suck it in, thus increasing the problem. Correct? Seems to me one should avoid aerating shower heads that make a lot of unnecessary steam. It is what one breaths in, says the study, not the stuff that lands on your skin that causes the trouble. Correct? Also, if there is cotaminated air in the bathroom the aerator would suck it in, thus increasing the problem. Correct?

]]> By: Frank http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49381 Frank Wed, 16 Sep 2009 07:51:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49381 I grew up with the filthy Dupage river running thru my backyard. It froze just once in the 18 years I lived there. Our well water had a degree of seepage from the river, our shower stunk. We also swam, played, and canoed in the river(despite my poor ma's admonitions). I am 39 now and I've never had an ear infection or stomach flu. I catch a cold every few years, and usually a mild one at that. I think it's the constant exposure to pathogens that amped up my immunities. Maddox, for the low price of 100 dollars, I will sell you a gallon of the tonic that flowed behind my house! Act now and receive an additional gallon, free!.... I grew up with the filthy Dupage river running thru my backyard. It froze just once in the 18 years I lived there. Our well water had a degree of seepage from the river, our shower stunk. We also swam, played, and canoed in the river(despite my poor ma’s admonitions). I am 39 now and I’ve never had an ear infection or stomach flu. I catch a cold every few years, and usually a mild one at that. I think it’s the constant exposure to pathogens that amped up my immunities.

Maddox, for the low price of 100 dollars, I will sell you a gallon of the tonic that flowed behind my house! Act now and receive an additional gallon, free!….

]]> By: nick http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49243 nick Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:43:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49243 Also, I'd like to point out that not many people get in the shower and then turn it on, to get a facefull of shockingly cold water. At least, I never have. I always let the water warm up. Also, uh, you remember our domestic water supply is chlorinated to prevent microbial growth in water towers and the municipal supply, though I guess they would have cultured the water that came out of the showerhead, to see how long that first splash of bacteria will live after the water hits it? Also, I’d like to point out that not many people get in the shower and then turn it on, to get a facefull of shockingly cold water. At least, I never have. I always let the water warm up.

Also, uh, you remember our domestic water supply is chlorinated to prevent microbial growth in water towers and the municipal supply, though I guess they would have cultured the water that came out of the showerhead, to see how long that first splash of bacteria will live after the water hits it?

]]> By: Chrysoprase http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49216 Chrysoprase Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:51:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49216 I can see the concern for immune-compromised people, but when it comes to exposure to common bacteria I follow the George Carlin school of thought: You have an immune system for a reason, and it needs practice! I can see the concern for immune-compromised people, but when it comes to exposure to common bacteria I follow the George Carlin school of thought: You have an immune system for a reason, and it needs practice!

]]> By: maddox22 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49203 maddox22 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 17:05:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49203 Cue profiteers selling antibacterial showerheads and "all-natural" shower protection products in 3...2...1... Cue profiteers selling antibacterial showerheads and “all-natural” shower protection products in 3…2…1…

]]> By: Matt T http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49190 Matt T Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:25:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49190 @ MartyM: WHAT?!? "...other electromagnetic damage.."? Surely you have some factoid to support your claim. @ MartyM: WHAT?!? “…other electromagnetic damage..”? Surely you have some factoid to support your claim.

]]> By: MartyM http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/comment-page-1/#comment-49186 MartyM Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:50:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/15/did-your-morning-shower-spray-you-with-bacteria/#comment-49186 We contain a layer of bacteria on our skin. It protects our skin from sun and other electromagnetic damage and is required to sustain life. We contain a layer of bacteria on our skin. It protects our skin from sun and other electromagnetic damage and is required to sustain life.

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