Posted on 01/20/2005 5:42:41 AM PST by Millicent_Hornswaggle
DALLAS - (KRT) - Bacteria are still showing up in the running water aboard the nation's airliners, even though carriers promised to flush and disinfect their water systems every few months.
In fact, the results are looking worse.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that coliform showed up in 17.2 percent of 169 randomly tested passenger aircraft, up from 12.7 percent of 158 planes in August and September.
The EPA cautioned passengers with compromised immune systems to drink only canned or bottled beverages when they fly. Travelers also might stay away from tea or coffee, unless they're made with bottled water.
"There have been no results of mass illnesses or any kind of an outbreak," said Cynthia Bergman, an EPA spokeswoman.
But, she said, the "results confirm the presence of bacteria at levels warranting continued EPA scrutiny."
The tests were done on water from galley water taps and lavatory faucets on planes at 12 U.S. airports.
"Total coliform indicates that other disease causing pathogens may be present in the water," Bergman said.
Healthy people probably won't get sick from coliform bacteria, but they shouldn't ingest it.
"It means there is poop contamination of the water," said Jeffrey Griffiths, a specialist in infectious diseases at Tufts University School of Medicine.
"It does come from the intestines of people and animals," he said. "The fact that it is showing up in airline water means it isn't exactly clean."
Griffiths said that if a municipal water utility finds coliform bacteria, it would be required to retest the water quickly and perform additional tests for more specific kinds of bacteria.
"This isn't a good thing," he said. "It's a wake-up call that you've got contamination of the water of a type that's a serious one."
© 2005, The Dallas Morning News.
(Excerpt) Read more at centredaily.com ...
"It means there is poop contamination of the water," said Jeffrey Griffiths, a specialist in infectious diseases at Tufts University School of Medicine. "
I hate it when they get technical.
HeHeHe :')
SDIX
Like I would drink the water from a tap in an airplane. I'd only let my dog or a liberal drink that water!
See, there is a use for regulatory agencies after all.
"It means there is poop contamination of the water," said Jeffrey Griffiths, a specialist in infectious diseases at Tufts University School of Medicine."
I hate it when so-called experts spout off falsely.
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