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Environmental Risks Explained by an expert -showers, swimming, hiking
This was posted today by a noted expert in NTM regarding risks and aerosols on another NTM & Bronchiectasis site. (ntminfo.org)
For those of you asking about enjoying the outdoors, rest assured that your risk of infection from your surroundings is low because of SPACE - in open air any germs are well-diluted by huge volumes of air.
His post:
"Yes, with the fact that MAC and NTM are everywhere, the concern is that there is no safe place.
Well, the important fact to remember is space. Showering in a bathroom exposes someone to a high density of NTM aerosolized from water to air by the showerhead. Further, staying in the misty bathroom means the exposure duration is longer.
Outside, NTM mists from waterfalls and rapids are diluted by the large volume of outside air. The same holds true for a hot tub. Outside hot tubs of spas are okay because the mist from the tub or spa is diluted by the outdoor air. An indoor spa or hot tub exposes one to an NTM mist in a closed space for a long period of time.
Swimming in lakes and streams is okay as long as you don't swallow lots of water and have gastric reflux (GERD), again as the aerosols from the water are diluted by the vast volume of air.
Outside rambles are fine, as long as one doesn't find themselves in an enclosed space, like a cave or grotto by waterfalls."
Joseph Falkinham
Professor of Microbiology
Virginia Tech
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Swimming indoor is not recommended, and airway clearance after swimming is recommended.
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3 Reactions@sueinmn Thank you for posting this, Sue!
Always a relief and good reminder to get a sanity check from the scientists when the imagined threat begins to feel unmanageable. Would really just love to get an outdoor shower and be done with it. If only it was summer year round!
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1 ReactionOoh, I love that idea. Our camper is equipped with an outdoor shower with provision for a curtain.
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1 ReactionI contracted this in my late 20’s after a trip to NYC for a small student conference. The water supply in our restaurant that might was stored in a rooftop tank - not uncommon in New York. We left town the next day. Long story short, about 25% us developed pneumonia - really bad pneumonia. I was told for 3 days in the ER That my fever wasn't rising to 103 at might - I must be reading the thermometer wrong. They took an x-ray and said it was normal. Bronchitis they said. I told them i was sleeping in their waiting room. And predictably by 2- 3 am i was coughing so hard i couldn't breathe and my fever was 103. They admitted me for overnight into a ward. (I was broke college student with no insurance). The next say they came running into the ward and hustled me into a private room. Turns out the overexposed x-ray was a white-out and I had ARDS. After cultures and more films i was diagnosed with macoplasmic (?) pneumonia and was a long time recovering. I am positive if i got it today i would die.
Long story to say this is a bad bad bug .
@sueinmn Sue, I have a question. I was wondering how much lung infection risk would be associated with using a leaf blower or being in the area when a lawn crew is using one? I would expect this to be a potential source of spreading dust, bacteria and fungal spores that you wouldn’t want to inhale.
Is it better to take a bath than a shower? Does bath steam pose a risk?
Is it better to take a bath than a shower? Does bath steam pose a risk? Also, when sick with a cold, is it okay to use a vaporizer with distilled water? Any information on using a cool mist humidifier with distilled water for dryness in the wintertime?
There is some risk - we mask when using (or someone nearby is using) the blower or raking leaves. Also, when we bag chopped leaves to move them to protect plants, I mask up. The same when mulch is being laid down or moved - it is full of every spore imaginable. And around dry potting soils - I pre-moisten.
I get to avoid all of that this year - can't do any of it with my arm in a sling!
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3 ReactionsAccording to Dr Falkinham, cool mist vaporizers should never be used - even with distilled water. The only same kind is a steam vaporizer. Even then, the tank should be according to manufacturer instructions at least weekly.
As for bath vs shower, there is probably less steam associated with a bath, if it is warm water and not hot water producing clouds of steam - again it is about exposure - the less steam, you are exposed to, the fewer number of organisms you will breathe in.
For myself, I prefer a quick, hot shower with the bath fan running (and in summer the window wide open) to a tepid bath.
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2 ReactionsI hold my breath anytime there is dust or smoke, and then put on a mask or respirator. We decided not to get a leaf blower because it will just blow everything into the air. I also have trouble in hotels because of carpet powder used in cleaning and I take a respirator with me just in case. I’ve also hauled an air filter with me into hotels and that is a lot of extra effort.