Pitell, Sarah
(2024)
Assessing the impact of showerhead design choices on consumer exposure to drinking water-associated pathogens that can cause infections in the immunocompromised.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Respiratory infections from drinking water-associated pathogens that can cause infections in the immunocompromised (DWPIs) are responsible for >145,000 human infections annually and cost the US economy billions. Cases are rapidly increasing in the United States as susceptible populations increase (e.g., those at either age extreme or currently living with a weakened immune system), and currently outpace illness caused by regulated fecal-borne pathogens. DWPIs thrive in building plumbing biofilms, with several recent studies showing a clear link between the strains of DWPIs found in household water and the strains infecting people. Although DWPI exposure can occur through a variety of pathways, inhalation of shower water associated aerosols are most likely a source of infection. Because DWPI proliferation occurs mainly in building plumbing, studying how consumer choices at the point of use (e.g., showerhead type and water use patterns) affect users’ potential DWPI exposure is critical to helping vulnerable groups make informed decisions about their plumbing to reduce health risks.
This work focused specifically on quantitively assessing the impacts that different showerhead setups had on the microbiome and DWPI exposure risk posed by shower water and shower-water associated aerosols. Through full-scale shower and biofilm reactor experimentation, the findings from this work have shown that antimicrobial additives such as silver do not reduce DWPIs in the shower system, and that showerhead material choice, flow rate, and changes in water use habits impact the microbiome. An especially important finding from this work is that showerhead age (days of use) is a major factor in explaining microbial dynamics in shower water and associated aerosols and consequently should be considered when developing new DWPI microbial risk assessments. Overall, this body of work provides consumers and building managers with unbiased and empirical data to empower and inform them to make choices that are best for their specific situations, as well as provide valuable insights for DWPI mitigation.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
3 June 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
1 March 2024 |
| Approval Date: |
3 June 2024 |
| Submission Date: |
24 March 2024 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
191 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Swanson School of Engineering > Civil and Environmental Engineering |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Legionella pneumophila, nontuberculous mycobacteria, pseudomonas aeruginosa, bioaerosolization, drinking water, showering |
| Date Deposited: |
03 Jun 2024 14:41 |
| Last Modified: |
03 Jun 2024 14:41 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/45893 |
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