Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Do Showers really blast us with germs?

I just read this news report, stating that showers are blasting us with high levels of Mycobacterium avium, a group of bacteria that can cause lung infections.

We have always been told that showers are good now, we are being told about this bacteria that can harm us.

Is there any real cause for concern and is there anything we can do to make sure these germs do not affect us?

Will this make you revert to using the bath tub, or are you keeping your shower?

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/22/20090916/thl-life-us-s...

Update:

I am not worried, I just think it's more propaganda. Anything to take our minds off the economic recession.

5 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    They're always on about something. Apparently everything is harmful now.

    Just last week I read that eating more than two slices of bread per day increases your risk of certain cancers. Hmmm well I'm sure everything can if you eat too much of it but two slices? Geez.

    I take more showers than baths yet have maybe had one lung infection in my life. Meh. You can't do ANYTHING these days. I bet there is an article somewhere that tells you that bathing is harmful too.

  • 1 decade ago

    There is always someone saying this. It's like people say, if you go barefoot in a public shower-room you'll get pimples on your feet. it's not true. I've showered many times, in public shower-rooms. Not all guys, use soap in the public shower-rooms. I've showered at least 2 or 3 dozen times in public shower-rooms, where other guys were showering a couple shower-heads away from me. Rearly I've seen another guy shower with soap. Most of them just rinse off.

    To some extant, yes some germs may survive in the shower. but they will soon be killed, by someone showering with soap. People say you can get sick or get pimples from using public showers. Don't believe it. Public showers are always cleaner than bathtubs, in my honest opinion.

    Source(s): Experience.
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Just what we need, more paranoia caused by a half-assed informed media.

    If your area water were contaminated to a point where it was a danger to your health, you would have been notified not to use it. There are bacteria everywhere. We just need to stay healthy so that our immune systems can fight them off.. when we come in contact with them.

    The city in which you live will also test your water, for a fee. You could try that to put your mind at ease.

  • 1 decade ago

    Yeah, I read the article yesterday, too.

    Like someone else said, let your shower run a bit before you get in (which most people do, anyway), and change the showerhead now and then and anyone who does not have immune problems should be fine.

    I dont plan to change what Im doing now. :o)

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    I see you saw the news! just let your water run for a while and then get in.And change your shower head every year. Also get a metal shower head, less bacteria will build up.

    Source(s): I saw the news too
Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.