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Chlorine Wash is Safe Treatment for Food Products
To help keep produce fresh and increase shelf life, scientists are seeking new, more advanced techniques that provide healthy, safe alternatives to conventional packing methods. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service have developed and tested an effective new technique that combines hot water treatment, stem removal, and modified atmosphere packaging to extend the shelf life of grapes. The results from the study were published online by the American Society for Horticulture.
The grapes were prepared by cutting off the stems 1 to 2 mm from the fruit or by keeping the clusters intact. After initial preparation, the grapes were subjected to a chlorinated wash and/or hot water treatment and packaged in plastic trays sealed with a gas-permeable film. Grapes that were cut from the stems and treated with hot water and chlorine maintained the highest quality for four weeks, with the least decay among all treatments.… READ MORE >>
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Chlorine in Tap Water is Safe to Drink
There has been a lot of press recently touting new water filters for faucets, showers, and entire home systems. As a marketing tactic to increase sales of these products, advertisers have been overplaying an unsubstantiated risk associated with drinking water chlorination. They overlook the benefits of chlorine as an inexpensive and highly effective disinfectant and do not recognize that the regulatory limits for chlorine and disinfection byproducts were set following a thorough review of credible health data.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says most people don’t need to treat their drinking water at home to make it safe. If taste is the primary concern, an inexpensive pitcher, refrigerator or faucet attachment with a carbon filter will likely help. A shower filter may offer extra security for people “more vulnerable to the effects of waterborne illness” such as infants, the elderly or those with compromised immune systems.
However, many consumers don’t want… READ MORE >>
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Salmonella in Drinking Water Results in Alamosa Lawsuit
A group of 29 plaintiffs filed a lawsuit March 1 against the city of Alamosa, Colorado claimingsalmonella bacteria in the water supply had sickened and even killed some members of their families. An investigation by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment concluded that salmonella from animal feces contaminated the drinking water supply in March 2008 for an entire week before being detected.
This contamination caused the worst waterborne-disease outbreak in the U.S. since 2004. In a city of 8,900 people, an estimated 1,300 Alamosa residents, almost 15% of the population, became ill. Department officials identified 442 cases of “probable salmonella infections” and acknowledged a cracked water reservoir as the likely point of origin. The lawsuit claims the water reservoir had cracks, noticeable holes, over 12 inches of sediment at the bottom, and had not been drained or cleaned since 1984.
The city of Alamosa had been exempted since 1974 from a state requirement to treat drinking water with chlorine, which kills salmonella bacteria… READ MORE >>
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Chlorine Myths and Realities
A recent Scientific American column grossly overplays an unsubstantiated risk associated with drinking water chlorination. It overlooks the benefits of chlorine as an inexpensive and highly effective disinfectant and does not recognize that the regulatory limits for chlorine and disinfection byproducts were set following a thorough review of credible health data. The article blatantly promotes a particular water filter product, reading much like an advertisement yet raising serious questions about whether its “facts” received adequate editorial scrutiny. All in all, this is a curious piece to find in a journal with the credibility of Scientific American.
First, the article references the damaging effects of chlorine gas used in World War I and suggests its use in drinking water is equally as harmful. In fact, there is no link between the use of chlorine gas in World War I and the potential for “disinfection byproducts,” or “DBPs” to cause cancer.
The… READ MORE >>
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Lull in H1N1 Creates Vaccination Opportunity
H1N1 outbreaks seem to be declining around the country; however, officials warn that a “third wave” could strike as the nation enters peak flu season, particularly if people ignore health officials’ advice to get vaccinated.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released statistics that show no states with widespread flu activity. The CDC describes “widespread flu activity” as “outbreaks of influenza or increases in influenza-like illnesses and recent laboratory-confirmed influenza in at least half the regions of the state with recent laboratory evidence of influenza in the state.” Only seven states – Alabama, Georgia, Maine, Nevada, New Jersey, South Carolina, and Virginia –reported regional flu activity. But this lull does not mean the flu is over. The CDC warned that, based on previous pandemics, cases of H1N1 could surge again. It is critical that people get vaccinated against H1N1.The government estimates only one in five Americans has… READ MORE >>
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Legionella Control in Institutional Water Systems
Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified Miami-Dade health officials that three tourists, all of whom stayed at the luxury EPIC Hotel, had contracted Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia. Investigators initially attributed the outbreak to low levels of chlorine in the hotel’s drinking water, which presumably allowed Legionella to contaminate the water supply; however, the chlorine levels are not likely to have been the primary factor in the infection of the Miami tourists because Legionella are resistant to conventional chlorine practices.
Legionella are bacteria that are found universally in natural, uncontaminated waters and soils. They flourish in temperatures between 40 and 50oC and can multiply if suitable nutrients are present. There are 35 recognized species of Legionella.
Initially, air conditioning systems contaminated with Legionella were thought to be the main cause of Legionnaires’ disease. Epidemiological studies indicate, however, that Legionellacontamination of water piping systems, particularly hot water systems in hotels, hospitals, and other institutions housed in large buildings, are more… READ MORE >>
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Russia Bans U.S. Poultry Imports
As of January 1, Russia is blocking imports of U.S. poultry because of concerns about chlorine rinses, which are routinely used by poultry processors in the United States to kill pathogens that can cause food poisoning among consumers.
Despite what Reuters calls “overwhelming scientific evidence” showing chlorine is a safe and effective disinfectant for use in the poultry industry, Russia has reduced the allowable limit on imported poultry from 200 to 50 milligrams per kilogram, essentially banning imports of chicken meat from the U.S., where chlorine is the primary disinfectant.
Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), said the U.S. industry will be unable to comply with Russia’s restrictions and that it will not consider abandoning the use of chlorine.
Chlorine has been used safely and effectively in the poultry industry for more than 25 years to quickly kill microorganisms on food surfaces and prevent… READ MORE >>
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Miami Hotel Evacuated Due to Legionnaires’ Disease
Health officials have determined that a water filter removed too much chlorine, possibly allowing the spread of Legionnaires’ disease, which is suspected of sickening at least two guests since October at the luxury EPIC Hotel in Miami.
Based on an initial investigation, it appears that the hotel installed a special filtration system to enhance the quality of drinking water. According to an article in the New York Times, Samir Elmir, director of the county’s environmental health and engineering division, said this system used a common “activated carbon” mechanism that according to tests was powerful enough to remove chlorine from city-supplied water – a move that encouraged bacterial growth. Health officials are now working with hotel staff to figure out what went wrong.
“We’re looking at hot and cold showers, the cooling tower, the plumbing system. Their levels [of chlorine] were significantly below what is provided by county water,” Elmir said in… READ MORE >>
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National Influenza Vaccination Week – December 6-12
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated this week (Dec. 6-12) asNational Influenza Vaccination Week to highlight the importance of ongoing efforts to vaccinate against influenza (flu) and to foster even greater efforts going forward. This year, National Influenza Vaccination Week serves as an important reminder to seek out the H1N1 vaccine. Although H1N1 activity has dropped steadily over the last few weeks, experts warn that people shouldcontinue to pursue the vaccine. Failure to do so could be “disastrous” if the number of cases surge again when students return to school after the holiday break, said Michael T. Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, in a recent Washington Post article.
According to the CDC, about 70 million doses of vaccine are now available, and supply will be increasing in coming weeks, CDC Director Thomas Frieden, said in a conference call with reporters. Fewer… READ MORE >>
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Public Health and Drinking Water News Briefs – Feb 9, 2007
In the News…
Public Health and Drinking Water News Briefs
February 9, 2007New Federal Guidelines for Pandemic Outbreak Released
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued new guidelines aimed at reducing the impact of a potential pandemic influenza outbreak by improving state, local and community preparedness measures. Released February 2, the guidelines focus on actions to reduce contact between people and slow the spread of illness until vaccines are made available.
The Guidelines include protocols for:
* Voluntary self quarantine. Asking ill persons and their household members to remain at home or not go to work for 7 to 10 days.
* Close schools and child care programs. Reducing contact among kids and teens within the community for up to three months depending on the severity of the outbreak
* Postpone large… READ MORE >>
