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| Beware The
Whirlpool |
©Legion Magazine, July/August 2006 |
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by Natalie Salat |
Health File |
 Whirlpool
baths, with their jets of warm water, may seem like a heavenly place to park
one’s body for a while - but not without a warning. That soothing water could
be a convention for nasty bacteria.
Texas A&M University microbiologist Dr. Rita B. Moyes
recently tested 43 water samples from both household and public whirlpools, and
came up with some disturbing data. All 43 had bacterial growth that ranged from
mild to dangerous. Ninety-five per cent contained staphylococcus bacteria,
which can cause deadly infections.
“Whirlpool baths are almost always a prime area for
potentially harmful microbes,” stated Moyes, explaining that the main reason is
the lining of the pipes. “They are full of inaccessible air, and water in these
pipes tends to get trapped, often for long periods of time. When the jets are
switched on, this water with harmful bacteria gets blown into the tub.”
She puts in perspective the bacteria counts. A teaspoon of
tap water contains on average 138 bacteria; a teaspoon of water from a
whirlpool tub has about 2.17 million bacteria. “The stagnant water in a
whirlpool bathtub pipe is a great place for bacteria to grow and grow. The
pipes need to be scraped and cleaned just like you need to brush your teeth.”
The health risks of steeping into a whirlpool tub whose
pipes haven’t been cleaned include urinary tract infections, septicaemia,
pneumonia and several types of skin infection.
Besides educating the public about the risks, Moyes adds,
“We also need to explore effective ways to prevent the growth of bacteria
through new cleaning methods and new technology in tub design.”
© Legion Magazine, July/August
2006
Web site: www.legionmagazine.com
See also:
Whirlpool Baths: The Ugly Side
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