Risk Exposure to Legionella pneumophila during Showering: The Difference between a Classical and a Water Saving Shower System.

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Version: Final published version
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Serval ID
serval:BIB_034CDDD84CF5
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Risk Exposure to Legionella pneumophila during Showering: The Difference between a Classical and a Water Saving Shower System.
Journal
International journal of environmental research and public health
Author(s)
Niculita-Hirzel H., Vanhove A.S., Leclerc L., Girardot F., Pourchez J., Allegra S.
ISSN
1660-4601 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1660-4601
Publication state
Published
Issued date
10/03/2022
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
19
Number
6
Pages
3285
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
The increase in legionellosis incidence in the general population in recent years calls for a better characterization of the sources of infection, such as showering. Water-efficient shower systems that use water-atomizing technology have been shown to emit slightly more inhalable particles in the range of bacterial sizes than the traditional systems; however, the actual rate of bacterial emission remains poorly documented. The aim of this study was to assess the aerosolisation rate of the opportunistic water pathogen Legionella pneumophila during showering with one shower system representative of each technology. To achieve this objective, we performed controlled experiments inside a glove box and determined the emitted dose and viability of airborne Legionella. The bioaerosols were sampled with a Coriolis <sup>®</sup> Delta air sampler and the total number of viable (cultivable and noncultivable) Legionella was determined by flow cytometry and culture. We found that the rate of viable and cultivable Legionella aerosolized from the water jet was similar between the two showerheads: the viable fraction represents 0.02% of the overall bacteria present in water, while the cultivable fraction corresponds to only 0.0005%. The two showerhead models emitted a similar ratio of airborne Legionella viable and cultivable per volume of water used. Therefore, the risk of exposure to Legionella is not expected to increase significantly with the new generation of water-efficient showerheads.
Keywords
Legionella, bioaerosols, shower systems, atomization technology, risk assessement
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
APC
2154 CHF
Funding(s)
Other / 26789.1 PFLS-LS
Create date
11/03/2022 10:07
Last modification date
21/11/2022 9:25
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