He has, as you disinfect countertops,'' she said.

Description: bacteria, viruses hidden in the washing machine

Arthur H. Rothstein

Tucson, Arizona (AP) _ More news from the guy who warned about the dangerous germs that lurk in your kitchen sponges and dishrags and dirt in your office coffee cup: Your washing machine may not be as safe as you think, too. Environmental microbiologist Charles Emblem spends most of his time to study water quality. But he also likes to hang around in the homes of others, mostly in their bathrooms and kitchens, professional, of course, the search environment. And boy, has he found them in abundance. For example, Emblem, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona soil, hydrological and environmental sciences department, warned that such bacteria as E-coli and salmonella can be spread in kitchen sinks, on counters and cutting boards, sponges and often subject to contamination dishrags m ' meat or poultry. Or, as he put it, `` There are a hundred times more bacteria on a cutting board than a toilet seat to lick the toilet rather than cutting board. ''

Now he has found similar hazards in the home laundry. `` These were not studied in the house very much,'' said Emblem. Most laundry studies for the presence of pathogens, pathogens have been conducted in hospitals, he said. His recent research, 50 homes in Tucson and 50 people in Tampa Bay, Florida, area, found that intestinal bacteria, the rate of unsanitary conditions, including availability

cause diarrhea E-coli and prosperity in many washing machines. Some linger even load after the laundry, he says. `` They are formed in the stool, and we found that 60 percent of washing machines are a group of bacteria E. coli. We just went and wiped the washing machine,'' said Emblem. `` And about 10 percent were E-coli in it. ''

Next, Emblem and his researchers found that 40 percent of sterile tissue washed without bleach laundry contained fecal bacteria. `` We found that when you do wear underwear in it

all contaminated clothes. In fact, it was enough left to infect the next load of washing,'' he said. Bacteria such as salmonella that causes food poisoning, including hepatitis A virus and those most often causes diarrhea in children, rotavirus and adenovirus, were also sent. While E-bowel was killed in permanent press drying, some Salmonella survive on clothes that registered 131 degrees Fahrenheit. Similarly, hepatitis A, adenovirus and some rotavirus. Is Emblem of painting too foul a picture? `` We do not think that is the problem Mr. Emblem does,'' said Linda

Eggerss, spokeswoman Maytag Corporation Newton, Iowa, which makes washers and dryers. `` At this point, we could consider it a bit alarmist, because there are so many things much more dangerous bacteria around us. We believe that the washers and dryers is very, very safe and very, very clean, and if you use bleach, you can not get much clearer than that. ''

In February, Procter Gamble announced a revised text of the Tide, its best selling soaps as disinfectants detergents with bleach. `` We worked to meet the criteria for EPA to say that it can disinfect clothes,'' spokeswoman Molly Humbert said in Cincinnati. `` We have heard that consumers are concerned about bacteria in the laundry. We have data that show that bacteria can survive

current washing process. ''

The main problem is how people wash clothes today. Most of them use cold water, or in extreme cases, warm. In fact, experts estimate that only 5 percent of Americans still use more hot water for laundry. And the use of bleach is much less than usual today a generation ago. National survey conducted in Oakland, California-based Clorox Co, which makes bleach and financed laundry Emblem research shows that only 15 percent of all washloads - although half of them white, use bleach, spokeswoman Sandy Sullivan said. Moreover, now washing average about 12 minutes and drying cycles on average only 28 minutes, says Emblem. This means that some harmful bacteria and especially viruses, can survive in harsh normal washing and drying. And under certain conditions, they are restored. Ingestion of 100 to 1000 of pathogenic bacteria can infect anyone, it takes only one 10 viruses for the same work, Emblem said. Most of the pollution, and the greatest risk occurs when a person gets bacteria on hands in transfer wet clothes, hair, he said. If the laundry room next to the kitchen is a good chance that after putting washed clothes in the dryer, the person will cook or bring his finger to the nose or mouth. `` You contaminate yourself and get the illness from those organisms,'' he said. for Microbiology annual meeting in Chicago. dependence on such companies to provide grants. In fact, he

added the federal government cheap strattera can not expect to fund such work

. The results published in scientific journals review - he'swritten more than 400 works - and he is highly regarded in the scientific community, and said Emblem it is important to study other repeating. Sullivan said, Clorox is a simple solution for laundries question. `` At the end of wash cycle run empty and put bleach in. You do not need hot water. He has, as you disinfect countertops,'' she said. Or, as he called Emblem, `` the form of your car mouthwash in the end. ''

We do not agree with all views expressed in this article, especially the recommendation to use bleach, environmental pollutants. However, we have published this article because it is food for thought, and the issue deserves further examination. Use gloves when transferring wet clothes in the dryer eliminates the risk. .