Something for the germaphobes

[GordonThree]

found this on a tech news site earlier:

The Naegleria fowleri amoeba typically feeds on bacteria in water and soil. Human digestive systems have no problem killing it, but inhaling water that carries the amoeba gives it the opportunity to work its way into the brain after it sneaks through the nasal mucus. It happens rarely, but 97% of people whose brains start swelling because of this amoeba end up dying. Like most microorganisms, N. fowleri can be neutralized with concentrated chlorine. However, the systems we use to deliver tap water aren't so clean. Researchers found that N. fowleri can easily survive for 24 hours when it's mixed with the types of biofilm that tend to reside in water pipes. Increasing chlorine levels isn't a good option, since its reaction with these biofilms can generate carcinogens.

More here: clicky

[ernie1]

Assuming that the water one is drinking has been treated with chlorine for disinfecting biofilms or other organic materials, there will most likely be a bit of material like trihalomethane which has a very low potential of being carcinogenic. The point is most of the water we're drinking has this potential already, although it's a very low potential, and it has less to do with biofilms but more to do with the disinfecting process of drinking water. Take your choice, drinking disinfected water or not. It's up to you.

[3_tons]

Well the last time I checked, the death rate was still running right about 1 per person - ain't nobody getting out of here alive...Just another reason to love camping and some good times with good friends ;););)

3 tons

[pkunk]

Jeeeze! I've lived this long only to realize I shouldn't snort water. If I could count the number of times I got a nose full of warm lake water, I should be dead by at least half that number. But then, the lead, mercury, asbestos, & agent orange should have killed me too, never mind the thousands of bullets that were near misses in SE Asia.
I'm so worried.....

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Easiest to filter hardest to kill. Many of Yellowstone's bubbling wonders are tinted with living organisms. It's when it grows and tries to take out your back window is when you have to worry.

[GMandJM]

Ya know....thinking on it:

Those brain-eating amoebae might well explain those "People of Walmart" photos. :B

[GMandJM]

I thought one was supposed to use only distilled water in those "irrigation devices", but apparently the FDA says tap water is okay if you boil it or filter it down to 1micron. Who knew.

[Naio]

It's become an issue since so many docs are recommending neti pots for allergies and colds.

Used to be only people who swam in lakes and rivers got this disease, so nobody cared. But now yuppies are getting it from inhaling their city water.

[GMandJM]

Goodness! Who knew brain-eating amoebae could scoff.

Learn something new every day around here.

[K_Charles]

150,000 people die every day, you can't do anything about it so don't worry about.

[TechWriter]

GordonThree wrote:

More here: clicky

Nasty little bugger -- survives in hot and very hot temps.

[gbopp]

I'm not concerned. I have a natural defense system.
If they try to eat my brain, they'll starve to death. 😉

[GENECOP]

I don't have the room for a larger brain...I'm maxed out!!

[TucsonJim]

GordonThree wrote:
found this on a tech news site earlier:

The Naegleria fowleri amoeba typically feeds on bacteria in water and soil. Human digestive systems have no problem killing it, but inhaling water that carries the amoeba gives it the opportunity to work its way into the brain after it sneaks through the nasal mucus. It happens rarely, but 97% of people whose brains start swelling because of this amoeba end up dying. Like most microorganisms, N. fowleri can be neutralized with concentrated chlorine. However, the systems we use to deliver tap water aren't so clean. Researchers found that N. fowleri can easily survive for 24 hours when it's mixed with the types of biofilm that tend to reside in water pipes. Increasing chlorine levels isn't a good option, since its reaction with these biofilms can generate carcinogens.

More here: clicky

That is the reason you should only swim in a vat of beer.