TY - JOUR
T1 - Automobile windshield washer fluid
T2 - A potential source of transmission for Legionella
AU - Schwake, David Otto
AU - Alum, Absar
AU - Abbaszadegan, Morteza
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Water and Environmental Technology Center at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona (grant number 1361815 ). Additional funding was provided by the National Science Foundation Bridge to the Doctorate Fellowship Program (grant number 1101728 ).
PY - 2015/9/1
Y1 - 2015/9/1
N2 - Epidemiological evidence suggesting driving cars to be a risk factor for legionellosis has prompted public health studies to investigate vehicle windshield washer fluid as a novel transmission source of this disease. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether or not windshield washer fluid could serve as a potential source of transmission for Legionella. A wide variation in the survival of L. pneumophila was observed when incubated in different washer fluids at 25 and 37°C, however, one brand tested supported Legionella survival similar to or greater than sterilized deionized water. In addition, 1L of tap water contained in a washer fluid reservoir was able to support population growth and survival of Legionella for several months. In a field study examining the windshield washer fluid of 12 elementary school buses, Legionella were detected from 84% of samples at a high concentration of 8.1×104CFU/mL. Culturable cells were also detected in aerosolized washer fluid during washer fluid spray. By demonstrating survival in certain windshield washer fluids, growth within washer fluid reservoirs, and the presence of viable cells in bus washer fluid spray, we have provided evidence suggesting the potential for a novel route of Legionella exposure.
AB - Epidemiological evidence suggesting driving cars to be a risk factor for legionellosis has prompted public health studies to investigate vehicle windshield washer fluid as a novel transmission source of this disease. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether or not windshield washer fluid could serve as a potential source of transmission for Legionella. A wide variation in the survival of L. pneumophila was observed when incubated in different washer fluids at 25 and 37°C, however, one brand tested supported Legionella survival similar to or greater than sterilized deionized water. In addition, 1L of tap water contained in a washer fluid reservoir was able to support population growth and survival of Legionella for several months. In a field study examining the windshield washer fluid of 12 elementary school buses, Legionella were detected from 84% of samples at a high concentration of 8.1×104CFU/mL. Culturable cells were also detected in aerosolized washer fluid during washer fluid spray. By demonstrating survival in certain windshield washer fluids, growth within washer fluid reservoirs, and the presence of viable cells in bus washer fluid spray, we have provided evidence suggesting the potential for a novel route of Legionella exposure.
KW - Automobile
KW - Exposure
KW - Legionella pneumophila
KW - Transmission
KW - Washer fluid
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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.122
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.122
M3 - Article
C2 - 25955695
AN - SCOPUS:84928737926
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 526
SP - 271
EP - 277
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
ER -