Dear Connect Members,
Remember the poll I started about who has the ‘pink slime’ AKA Methylobacterium in their bathrooms? I have been in contact with Joseph Falkinham, a NTM reseacher and professor at Virginia Tech. He is very interested in starting a data base for where this particular bacterium is located throughout the U.S. and Canada. I have noted the locales from those of you who have already responded. Am encouraging any others with the pinkish/orange bacteria to report it back here to me. I don’t know about you, but I am excited to be a part of important research.
Please include your state and county name when submitting. Thank you in advance for helping with this poll. See e-mail below from Dr. Falkinham – Terri M.
“Dear Terri:
The source of mycobacteria in homes and buildings is the municipal water from a utility. It enters the treatment plant from the source water, usually adhering to soil particulates. The mycobacteria are disinfectant-resistant and are the few survivors of disinfection (e.g., chlorine) and have no competitors that have been killed off.
When that water reaches our homes, the mycobacteria grow in the water heaters and then are circulated throughout the house. We are currently finishing up work showing the impact of the water heater on mycobacterial numbers. Thus, the critical control point for mycobacteria might be the water heater.
I would certainly appreaciate knowing where the “Connect” group has found pink slime. You have given me an idea….I can use the NTM Foundation data base to get an idea of pink slime across the US and Canada.
Best,
Joe”
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I’m not sure if I responded to this thread or not. Sorry if it’s a duplicate response. I used to get that pink stuff in my shower when I lived in Brooklyn, NY, (Marine Park area). I now live in Staten Island, NY and I see it as a ring in my toilet bowl when I come home from vacations. I also worked as a teacher for the NYC Dept of Education for 29 years.
Gina
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@windwalker and others…..am wondering if the large number of women with MAC and bronchiectasis who worked in either health care or education and are of a certain age are a result of ,,,,,a woman basically had three choices when of a certain era….up til l think the mid seventies…..become a teacher,,,,nurse …or secretary???tdrell
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I have bronchiectasis and have not contracted MAC as of yet. My occupation is a clinical social worker, but I have been working in a school setting for the past 20 years.
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@chattey2
Me too, I worked as an SLP on the school system for 25 yrs
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