Study examines connections between drinking water quality and increased lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis

Medical Xpress / National Institutes of Health / Environmental Epidemiology ^ | Aug. 25, 2023 | Ettie M. Lipner et al

[ConservativeMind]

High levels of some minerals and metals in environmental water supplies may increase the risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infections in people with cystic fibrosis, according to a study.

The study found the presence of the metals molybdenum and vanadium along with sulfate—a collection of mineral salts—in the U.S. municipal water system was associated with an increased incidence of NTM pulmonary infections, the leading cause of drinking-water associated illnesses.

Prior studies have shown that certain environmental conditions, including the presence of trace metals, likely contribute to a higher abundance of NTM in the water. Two of the most common forms of NTM bacteria in the U.S. are Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and M. abscessus.

Both are linked to chronic lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis and other lung diseases. More than 35,000 people in the U.S. have cystic fibrosis, which causes the body to produce thick mucus, causing lung damage and trapping bacteria, increasing the likelihood of lung infection. This study measured whether the concentration of metals and minerals in the water had any influence on the probability of MAC and M. abscessus infection in people with cystic fibrosis.

The case-control, population-based study included Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Patient Registry data from 3,897 people with cystic fibrosis living in states that had trace metal water data available in at least 50% of counties: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Wyoming. The study revealed 484 people had MAC while 222 had M. abscessus.

The presence of sulfate and vanadium was positively associated with MAC, and the presence of molybdenum was positively associated with M. abscessus.

Researchers said the study sheds light on how water-quality elements may increase the risk of bacteria-related pulmonary infections, but more studies are needed to establish a causal relationship.

[ConservativeMind]

The study mentions:

“We identified 484 MAC cases, 222 M. abscessus cases and 2816 NTM-negative cystic fibrosis controls resident in 11 states. In multivariable models, we found that for every 1-standardized unit increase in the log concentration of sulfate and vanadium in surface water at the county level, the odds of infection increased by 39% and 21%, respectively, among persons with cystic fibrosis with MAC compared with cystic fibrosis-NTM-negative controls. When modeling M. abscessus as the dependent variable, every 1-standardized unit increase in the log concentration of molybdenum increased the odds of infection by 36%.”

Reverse osmosis is one way to reduce both the minerals and the bacteria in drinking water; however, there are whole house water filters that don’t cost much that can even eliminate bacteria and viruses (but may not affect the mineral content). If taking showers or baths, this latter option might be sufficient to stop breathing concerns, as well as direct ingestion of the bacteria in the water supply.

This was a decent association found, but it does not prove the minerals definitely encouraged the bacteria enough to cause lung infections.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Veto!]

Environmental Working Group tests water (among other things) in large towns and cities. On a scale of 1 - 9, with 9 the worst, our city is a 9 and they don’t even know we have lead in our pipes.

I buy gallon jugs and fill them with filtered water at just about any store in town. My cat only gets filtered water and I use it to make coffee and drink myself.

Environmental Working Group: EWG.com

[pops88]

Thanks for the info on ewg.org. I was able to find my area. We exceed standards, but no one I know drinks Las Vegas tap water. LOL.

[Georgia Girl 2]

The thought of drinking water from the tap makes me physically ill. We filter all our drinking water through our Verify water filter. Ice cube water also.