Community | March 30, 2009 | 26 comments

Shampoos and detergents in water supply trigger growth of deadly drug-resistant bugs

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/mar/29/detergents-drug-resistant-bacteria

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JanforGore
Fabric softeners, disinfectants, shampoos and other household products are spreading drug-resistant bacteria around Britain, scientists have warned. Detergents used in factories and mills are also increasing the odds that some medicines will no longer be able to combat dangerous diseases.

The warning has been made by Birmingham and Warwick university scientists, who say disinfectants and other products washed into sewers and rivers are triggering the growth of drug-resistant microbes. Soil samples from many areas have been found to contain high levels of bacteria with antibiotic-resistant genes, the scientists have discovered - raising fears that these may have already been picked up by humans.

"Every year, the nation produces 1.5m tonnes of sewage sludge and most of that is spread on farmland," said Dr William Gaze of Warwick University. That sludge contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria whose growth is triggered by chemicals in detergents, he explained. "In addition, we pump 11bn litres of water from houses and factories into our rivers and estuaries every day, and these are also spreading resistance."

The study is important because it suggests that the problem of drug resistance is not merely the result of the over-prescription of antibiotics or poor hygiene standards in hospitals. However, the team stressed the emergence of the most deadly superbugs - such as MRSA that has caused thousands of deaths in hospitals - is not linked to the use of disinfectants.

"Our research shows drug resistance is not confined to hospitals, but is out in the community. It is spreading and all the time it is eroding our ability to control infections. It is extremely worrying," said Professor Liz Wellington, also of Warwick University.

In their study, the scientists looked at quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) that are used in many household cleaning goods. Every day, huge volumes of these chemicals are flushed from homes and factories into sewers and rivers. In high concentrations, QACs kill bacteria. However, in sewage, these chemicals become diluted and bacteria have evolved resistance to them.

"That is a natural evolutionary process," said Gaze. "If other bacteria are killed, those that are resistant to QACs will survive and, without competition, will multiply in vast numbers. However, it turns out that the piece of DNA that confers that resistance also contains genes that confer resistance to antibiotics. In this way, we have created an ideal environment for the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in our drains and sewers. These microbes are now being spread round the country in river water and in sewage sludge used on farms."

As part of its study, the team - which also includes Professor Peter Hawkey of Birmingham University - looked at soil contaminated with QACs and sewage sludge in the Midlands, the Cotswolds, Hertfordshire and other areas. Using techniques similar to those involved in DNA fingerprinting, they then looked for the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes - and found these in high concentrations.

"The inference is clear," added Gaze. "We are producing sewage and river water that have more and more drug-resistant bacteria in them and that these are now poised to enter the food chain."
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26 comments // Shampoos and detergents in water supply trigger growth of deadly drug-resistant bugs

  • Jared_Mitasky
  • rosyjane
    • 0
      rosyjane  

    • "Bacteria and the other types and kinds of it sometimes survived and at other times died in some chemical content and some of them are mutated due to the new environment.

      I still remember how a Coal-fired Power Plant affects even the purity of a sea water after the chemicals are being thrown in the sea... Being defected or infected with the fungi from base and acids sometimes can not controlled them.

      With the outcomes that flows out form the community, hazards came from human being and not from the environment itself."-jb

    • 3 years ago
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • The chemical in the anti-bacterial soaps is in every waterway in the US.
      It doesn't die out. It even shows up in trace amounts in drinking water.
      Anti-bacterial soaps are part of the problem of excess allergies showing up in children and adults, along with other common maladies.
      Don't use anti-bacterial soaps It actually makes people unhealthier...(is that a word?)

    • 3 years ago
  • The_Netizen
    • 0
      The_Netizen  

    • The dumping of chemical waste leading to Super Bugs--sounds like something from a comic book : )
      Thanks for the post, people really need to start cleaning up their act!

    • 3 years ago
  • islek
    • 0
      islek  

    • I've pondered this for a while... and why does it seem like diseases are on the rise despite advanced medical technology? I am proud of medical advances and find them useful, but this whole Lysol generation where people think ALL germs are bad is doing more harm than good.

      Shampoo, though? Must be all the fragrances and dyes. They aren't necessary. No one's hair ever smells like strawberries after more than five minutes out of the shower anyway.

    • 3 years ago
  • anglcazn
    • 0
      anglcazn  

    • The same thing happens when you use those antibacterial soaps and cleaning products that supposedly kill 99.9% of viruses and bacterias. When you use them you allow that strong .1% to grow and multiply.

    • 3 years ago
  • fun_size
  • cerealforeal
  • ayashe
    • 0
      ayashe  

    • ... oh, bacteria. That's bad too, but I thought we were going to have some giant, radioactive superbugs terrorizing us now.

    • 3 years ago
  • galwayman
    • 0
      galwayman  

    • I'd not be surprised if this crap is already in the food chain! I believe that this chemical pollution of the earth is to blame for the rise in Cancer rates,Asthma,and many other diseases! I don't use any of these products and the slightly higher cost of earth friendly products is worth it!

    • 3 years ago
  • holyshiite
    • 0
      holyshiite  

    • OMG JanforGore, have I got a snarky one-liner for YOU. But, in the spirit of you wanting to help us all I'll hold off.

      By the way, that Pollution Video is terrible! I've seen detergents leave a better film than that!

    • 3 years ago
  • vistapoint
    • 0
      vistapoint  

    • Natural beauty products are the best. The natural ones feel better and definitely smell better than chemical detergents any day.

      Household chemicals and detergents are marketed as making things super clean, yet they are so dirty! Not to mention how medicines and antibiotics are going around and around in our water system too.

    • 3 years ago
  • Mikeysfake1
  • Bren589
    • 0
      Bren589  
    • Mikeysfake1:

      Mike all i heard was that they were detained , have heard nothing since. write to current and ask them why they are removing articals. Let me know if you hear anything and I will return the favor if I do also

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  

    • The juice of half a lemon or a tablespoon of vinegar in a pint of water, used as a final rinse when washing one's hair, gives one's hair a wonderful shine. :)

    • 3 years ago
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  

    • For years I have bought "no perfumes, no dyes, no phosphorus, etc."
      I am even changing my mind about that!
      The price of everything is so high, that a few more pennies to buy organic or natural, makes it much more palatable.
      Great links, BTW, from all. I plan to give a go at a few of them.

    • 3 years ago
  • sgwhites
    • 0
      sgwhites  

    • In addition to being good for the environment, I've found natural shampoo and conditioner to be better for my hair as well! And it's not necessary to use shampoo every day either, despite what fashion magazines and commercials might have you believe.

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
  • Bren589
  • JanforGore
  • Bren589
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • And just to add, this only shows how cognizant we have to be of all we do and its effects down the line. Who would think to connect the dots to know that the detergent or shampoo they use could come back in their food as a deadly bacteria? And we did this. How could anyone say we have no effect on this planet?

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • queenofit
    • 0
      queenofit  
    • Image

    • JanforGore, I think Vinegar is considered safe for the environment and is cheap and covers lots territory when looking for alternative to so many household products.......

      (from the article that I linked)

      Is Vinegar Safe for the Environment and My Family?

      Vinegar is a natural organic bi-product of fruits, vegetables and grains. It is therefore edible and biodegradable. It is 'The Perfect Household Cleaner'™ for your family because it is very safe for the environment, for family members, especially those with asthma, and around young children. It is also a very effective and amazingly versatile household cleaner that is inexpensive to use.
      Vinegar is a safe, all-natural cleaning product. It doesn't contain harmful toxic chemicals, so if in the course of normal household cleaning you 'pour it down the drain' its impact on municipal sewer and water treatment systems is just like any food product.
      Regular store bought white vinegar has no real affect on the environment.

      ------------------------------------

      Also, did you know that the chemical isle in the grocery store is the most profitable segment of the grocery store, and the MOST toxic, I can hardly walk that part of the store.

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
  • csmonut
    • 0
      csmonut  
    • queenofit:

      The isle becomes more scary when you read ingredients on the labels, if they're even on it.
      And those cute little plug-ins that keep your house smelling fresh and clean....toxic as everything else and do not breathe the fumes directly!

    • 3 years ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  
    • Image

    • Time to switch to natural shampoos and cleaners. Some may cost a bit more, but what is a sustainable planet worth to you?

      Also, this relates to the poisons we pump into our waterways through poisonous herbicides and pesticides like Monsanto's RoundUp.

    • 3 years ago
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