Report: Water as windshield wiper fluid causes 20% of Legionnaires' Disease cases in

Poltergeist

Ghost in the Machine
Aug 1, 2006
29,563
1
36
Ontario, Calif.
www.poltergeist.us
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If you use standard tap water in your windshield washer fluid reservoir instead of a cleaner, you may have effectively turned your vehicle into a biological weapon. Sure, that sounds cool and all, but according to BBC News, the only person you're going to be hurting is yourself. As it turns out, using plain water can cause the washer fluid system to become a breeding ground for Legionella bacterium – the same nastiness that causes Legionaires' Disease and pneumonia. Spray your windshield and the bacteria becomes airborne, allowing it to easily enter your lungs and wreak havoc with your immune system.

Researchers discovered the hive of scum and villainy lurking under the hood by attempting to discern why professional drivers were five times more likely to become ill than their amateur counterparts. After a little scientific sleuthing, the lab coats unearthed the bacteria. So do the world a favor and top off your windshield washer fluid reservoir with some sort of purpose-built cleaner. The stuff will kill the infection-causing bacteria and will keep the fluid from freezing in the winter. Not bad for 99 cents a gallon.

Source: BBC News
 

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SgtKilroy

'Merica!
Sep 30, 2009
859
0
0
SoCal
Absolutely. Since moving to California I've discovered that damn near everything will give me cancer. My cell phone, diesel exhaust, pop tart wrappers etc....
 

MadMaxx61

Devilmaxx
Oct 13, 2008
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39
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The complete list of things that give you cancer (according to epidemiologists)



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duratothemax

<--- slippery roads
Aug 28, 2006
7,139
10
0
Wyoming
doesnt really affect me, Id never use tap-water in a windshield washer fluid reservoir. First of all water sucks at cleaning bugs/etc off the windshiled, and second of all, it freezes.
 

Darius6t9

I'm the Floater. Lurking.
Aug 23, 2008
574
0
0
Rusk, Tx. Again
I have found in my exhausting research (which is NONE) that the leading cause of death is LIFE. Can't die if your not alive at some point.:thumb:
 

CHYKYNLIPS

GA Diesel
Aug 22, 2009
103
0
0
are these people licking their windshield after they run the wiper? I dont put much stock in that because ive done it for years because im too cheap to buy the correct fluid.
 

Dozerboy

Well-known member
Jun 23, 2009
4,934
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Just a few I like makes me wonder why I'm still alive...
sunlight, dairy products, deodorants, well water, winter, wood dust, work