Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Biology

Cleaning products give birth to deadly antibiotics-resistant bugs

Mara Bujor by Mara Bujor
April 8, 2009
in Biology, Health, Research, Studies, World Problems

Disinfectants, all kinds of shampoos, fabric softeners…we love them , we use them and then they go down the drain. Nothing bad about cleanliness, isn’t it? Unfortunately, our foamy friends can prove to be a timebomb as they can create invisible monsters: bugs that are not affected by antibiotics.

Researchers from England have discovered this phenomenon while analyzing soil samples which contained such bacteria, which may have infected humans already. Only in this country 1.5 m tonnes of sewage sludge are produced, most of which ends up on farmland, and 11bn liters of water, which is usually thrown in rivers or estuaries. All these seem to have caused a worrying phenomenon, which could affect millions.

This study proves to be highly important as until now the apparition of these superbugs  was blamed on poor conditions in hospitals or the over-prescription of antibiotics. However the scinetists pointed out that MRSA, which caused thousands of deaths is not related to the disinfectants. Still, the problem remains

The quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) from various household cleaning products were looked at by scientists as these substances kill bacteria when they are in large quantities, but cause their immunity when they are diluted.

In this case evolution seems to work against us, as the resistant bacteria survives and multiplies continuously. The piece of DNA responsible for this also confers resistance to antibiotics, so this is why the sewage may become the perect environment for some extremely deadly bugs. As they enter the food chain, the risk becomes enormous.

Agricultural workers are exposed the most to this phenomenon, especially as some samples of pig slurry that were analyzed included the dangerous bacteria.

Further research is to be made as the risk posed by the newly-developed bacteria cannot be ignored. And the cause of all these is right there in our closets…

source: www.guardian.co.uk

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Bugs could clean your sewage AND give you free power
  2. Lonely microbes become resistant against antibiotics more quickly
  3. One bacteria lives on everybody’s skin — and it’s becoming resistant to antibiotics
  4. New, free app modifies antibiotics to work against drug-resistant infections
  5. Cleaning products may expose people to the same pollution levels as car exhaust
Tags: antibiotics resistant

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW