Shower Heads Hold 100 Times Amount Of Pathogens

Starting your day with an invigorating shower? That water hitting your face feels really nice and refreshing, right? You could have gotten a dose of bacteria, if scientists are right.

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), a group of genetecially related bacteria, are common and can be harmful when inhaled or swallowed. M. avium has been found to deposit and grow in bathroom shower heads.

More than 100 times the amount of M. avium is clinging to the inside of shower heads than normally found in public water. A new University of Colorado at Boulder study has analyzed 50 shower heads in 9 cities.

Research indicates that increases in pulmonary infections in the United States in recent decades from so-called “non-tuberculosis” mycobacteria species like M. avium may be linked to people taking more showers and fewer baths.

Symptoms of pulmonary disease caused by M. avium can include tiredness, a persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, weakness and “generally feeling bad.”

Cleaning with bleach triples the amount of bacteria, which makes it ineffective.

M. avium has been found on shower curtains, and in the water in warm therapy pools. It appears that metal shower heads are the better choice when compared to plastic shower heads.