So, You Think Your Shower is Safe

So, You Think Your Shower is Safe

I’m sure you spent some time recently in your shower, but according to a report by the released by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences you may share your shower with some uninvited guests.

According to their research billions of disease-causing bacteria and pathogens are located in your showerhead and come in direct contact with your face and body every time you take a shower. Researchers swabbed more than 45 showerheads in homes, apartments and gyms in several states.

“About 20 percent of the showerhead swabs harbored significant levels of Mycobacterium avium, bacteria linked to pulmonary disease that most often infects people with compromised immune systems,” said lead researcher Norman Pace of the University of Colorado, to MSNBC.com.

Pace also said the bacteria from the showerheads not only touches the body but also impacts the lungs as people breathe in the shower.

While researchers admit that the chances of dying from showering are slim, Johannah Cornblatt of Newsweek believes the study is much ado about nothing.

“Don’t let yourself get too sucked in by the visual that suggests, though. If you’re otherwise healthy, chances are that a grody showerhead won’t be your downfall. In fact, very few people have probably ever died of—or gotten sick from—showerhead microbes. As the report notes, we move through a ’sea of microbial life’ in our daily lives, so most of us don’t need to give up showering just yet.” said Cornblatt