Millions of bacteria in the shower hide in the shower head and pipes. But don’t panic: with some precautions you can keep them at bay.
Every morning millions of people get into the shower convinced they are washing away germs, tiredness and thoughts. It’s a shame that, even before lathering up, they are hit by a wave of pathogens.
Yes, the first jet that hits you square in the face is not just hot water and steam, but a small festival of microbes living – undisturbed – inside the shower head.
In the final stretch of the house pipes, less than a meter from our nose, a veritable condominium of bacteria and fungi thrives. When the shower is off for hours, these tiny tenants build biofilms, which are gelatinous communities that stick to the inside walls of the pipe. In the morning, just turn on the water and off you go: a splash of microbes to start the day off right.
A small ecosystem between soap and steam
Inside the shower head, therefore, where it is always warm and humid, colonies composed of millions (sometimes billions) of cells per square centimeter form. Most are harmlessbut some uncomfortable guests pop up. Among these i mycobacteriaresponsible for respiratory infections, and fungi such as Exophiala or Malasseziaalready known frequenters of human skin.
The health risk remains low, but not zero. In fact, scholars underline that people immunosuppressed or with respiratory pathologies they should lend greater Attention: the greatest danger comes from Legionella bacteria, which thrive in little-used showers and spread with micro-droplets of steam.
The material of the shower makes a difference
This microbial community is not static: changes, grows, dies and is reborn.
A Chinese study observed that biofilm inside pipes reaches a maximum after four weeks, then decreases and finally reappears after five months. In other words, even bacteria have their life cycles (and don’t like too long holidays).
Research also confirms that tube material makes a difference. Showers with pipes in PVC-Pfor example, host up to 100 times more bacteria of those in PE-X or steel. The reason? PVC releases more carbon, an organic element particularly appreciated by pathogens.
How to fight the presence of bacteria
The low flow showers they reduce water consumption, but increase the permanence of this water in the ducts. Translated: more stagnation, more bacteria in the shower.
Experts also advise against “miracle” shower heads with silver filters or antibacterial spheres: they are of little use and lose effectiveness as soon as limescale or biofilm forms.
Much more useful instead to adopt some good antibacterial habit:
- Turn on the water and wait 60-90 seconds before entering the shower, especially if you haven’t used the shower for days.
- Keep the boiler water at 60°Ca temperature that keeps Legionella away.
- Clean and descale the shower head regularly.
- If someone in the house is immune-fragile, change the hose every year.
Other possible remedies
The most “risky” momentmicrobiologists explain, are the first two minutes after opening the tap. That’s when the flow releases more aerosols loaded with microscopic particles.
To reduce exposure, it is worth it do not stand immediately under the shower head and keep the extraction fan on. Or open the window. Some studies show that the finest particles remain suspended for up to an hour: the good news is that five minutes of ventilation are enough to drastically reduce the concentration of germs in the air.
Coexistence with bacteria
AND impossible to eliminate completely bacteria in the shower. Every wet surface is a natural microcosm, a tiny jungle of microbes that reforms every time you turn off the water.
More than a danger, she is a curiosity coexistence between modern man and his “domestic ecosystem”. And then, let’s remember, only some bacteria are bad.
However, to avoid the proliferation of these annoying microbes, all it takes is a little heat, cleanliness and common sense.
