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Car Windshield Cleaning Fluid Carries Deadly Bacteria (Legionnnaires)
BI - Popular Science ^ | 5-20-2014 | Douglas Main, Popular Science

Posted on 05/20/2014 11:22:28 AM PDT by blam

Douglas Main, Popular Science
May 20, 2014, 12:40 PM

Washing fluid can carry the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires' disease.

That which cleans your windshield is not exactly clean itself: A new study found that windshield washing fluid can harbor the bacteria that causes

Legionnaires' disease, a severe type of pneumonia that hospitalizes as many as 18,000 Americans every year.

Scientists already knew that there was a link between Legionnaires' and riding in automobiles, but didn't know why--and the fluid may be the reason.

In the study, presented today (May 19) at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, scientists found that 75 percent of washing fluid from school buses in central Arizona carried a variety of the Legionella bacterium that causes the disease.

“Washer fluid has the traits a potentially dangerous source of Legionella exposure needs,” Otto Schwake, a microbiology Ph.D. student at Arizona State University in Tempe and the study’s lead author, told Bloomberg. “It is aerosolized, heated and people are regularly exposed to it. The results from this study support previously demonstrated epidemiological evidence for a link between automobiles and Legionnaires’ disease."

Legionella bacteria can cause the disease when they are dispersed in the air and inhaled, and it got its named from an outbreak at a meeting of the American Legion in 1976. Most people exposed to the pathogen do not get infected, and it most commonly infects the elderly, smokers, and those with compromised immune systems.

(snip)

(Excerpt) Read more at popsci.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bacteria; disease; legionnaires; windshieldfluid
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To: Kirkwood

Yes. One would.

But most people would rather drive with a dirty windshield than without air conditioning.

;-)


21 posted on 05/20/2014 12:04:41 PM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.)
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To: Kirkwood

probably not good to use as an eyewash or a douche, or cook pasta in, either. why they didn’t bring these obvious ones is really beyond me.


22 posted on 05/20/2014 12:08:02 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: trisham; MrB
That's why I use only White Lightnin' brand washer fluid in my vehicles.

It's 190 Proof of pure windshield cleaning power.

I have a reliable supplier in Franklin County - and if he's out of stock I can always import some from nearby West Virginia or Kentucky.

23 posted on 05/20/2014 12:08:09 PM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.)
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To: Kirkwood

It doesn’t make a very good hair tonic either.


24 posted on 05/20/2014 12:08:58 PM PDT by WayneS (Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos.)
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To: dljordan
It’s got alcohol in it so it won’t freeze. How can the bacteria live in alcohol?

Some bacteria is really tough. I have made a lot of fresh plant tinctures using 180 proof (90%) alcohol. The only water is what is present in the plant material yet I have seen stuff growing in jars of tincture that wasn't pressed out soon enough.

25 posted on 05/20/2014 12:08:59 PM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" is more than an Army Ranger credo it's the character of America.)
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To: WayneS

:)


26 posted on 05/20/2014 12:09:03 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: TigersEye

correction - I used 190 proof (95%) alcohol.


27 posted on 05/20/2014 12:19:12 PM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" is more than an Army Ranger credo it's the character of America.)
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To: SMARTY

No

Brake fluid does. (non synthetic)


28 posted on 05/20/2014 12:32:11 PM PDT by mabarker1 (Please, Somebody Impeach the kenyan!!!! Once again dingy hairball, STFU!!! You corrupt POS!!!)
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To: WayneS

When I saw the mention of Franklin County connected with alcohol I knew you were from Virginia without looking at your profile. :)


29 posted on 05/20/2014 12:35:18 PM PDT by Library Lady (When little men cast long shadows, the day is almost ended. – Paul Harvey)
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To: blam

Don’t lick your windshield


30 posted on 05/20/2014 12:37:06 PM PDT by bert ((K.E. N.P. N.C. +12 ..... History is a process, not an event)
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To: trisham
Could it be that only those formulas that don’t contain alcohol are the problem?

It might also have something to do with the large size of the washer reservoirs on today's cars and trucks, as well as the fact that alcohol will tend to evaoprate out in hot weather. If you don't use the washer often and rarely top it off with fresh fluid, there might be very little alcohol present.

31 posted on 05/20/2014 1:13:26 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: Charles Martel

That makes sense.


32 posted on 05/20/2014 1:14:04 PM PDT by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: TigersEye

“The only water is what is present in the plant material yet I have seen stuff growing in jars of tincture that wasn’t pressed out soon enough.”

Good grief! Those bugs must have been pretty tough.


33 posted on 05/20/2014 2:15:44 PM PDT by dljordan (WhoVoltaire: "To find out who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.")
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To: dljordan
That's what I thought. It kind of scares me to think what
kind of bug can live in that. Those tinctures get tossed.
34 posted on 05/20/2014 2:25:14 PM PDT by TigersEye ("No man left behind" is more than an Army Ranger credo it's the character of America.)
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To: MrB

Some bacteria don’t seem to have a problem with alcohol.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/42240430/ns/health-infectious_diseases/t/two-thirds-alcohol-wipes-test-contaminated-bacteria/#.U3vLySgkR8E


35 posted on 05/20/2014 2:42:14 PM PDT by gtk
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To: Mears
( According to “studies” there should be no such thing as an elderly smoker.) :-)

Well, if you weren't already deceased because of your smoking, I'd advise you to never drink windshield washer fluid.

I'm sorry I couldn't warn you off sooner...:-(

36 posted on 05/21/2014 8:56:54 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: Madame Dufarge

Just got home from my annual physical.

I aced it-—and my terrific doctor just shakes her head and chuckles.

.


37 posted on 05/21/2014 10:57:43 AM PDT by Mears
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To: Mears

Great news, Mears!


38 posted on 05/21/2014 11:29:35 AM PDT by Madame Dufarge
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To: blam

I’m calling my congressman and demanding that the govt issue antibiotics immediately for all windshield washer tanks.

Set up roadblocks nationwide and have forcible administration!

No religious exemptions permitted!


39 posted on 05/21/2014 11:35:48 AM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
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To: blam

I’ve been wondering if Legionnaire’s bacteria reside in my car’s air conditioning system. Whenever I turn it on, a very sour dishcloth-like stench flows out.

I Googled the make and model of my car to see if others noticed this, and sure enough, there are.

My car is only 1 year old. According to Google, the smell comes from water that’s trapped in the a/c pipes. Took it to the dealer....they didn’t smell anything (of course not).


40 posted on 05/21/2014 1:24:28 PM PDT by EnquiringMind
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