The research: After reviewing studies linking motor vehicle use with a higher incidence of Legionnaire’s, researchers from Arizona State University sought to find out why Legionella bacteria (which are transmitted via mist or vapor) could be associated with driving a car. So they attempted to grow the bacteria in a variety of washer fluid concentrations and found that the concentration of bacteria increased over time and lived for up to 14 months. Even scarier, they reported that 75% of buses in one Arizona school district contained the dangerous bacteria. The meaning: Legionnaire’s outbreaks are commonly linked to water sources, but windshield washer fluid could be another dangerous source. “Right now we can’t accurately assign a risk for drivers,” says Otto Schwake, study researcher and doctoral student at Arizona State University. “But it may potentially be significant from a public health standpoint.” The bottom line: Before you decide to never wash your windshield again, the researchers did note that Legionella can be contained within cabin air filters, which clean the air coming into the car through your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Check your car’s owner’s manual to make sure that it’s equipped with a cabin filter (most cars built after 2000 have them), and to see how often you should replace it. More from Prevention: The 3,000 Types Of Bacteria Found On Money
