"Please don't rinse your mouth with shower water" ... Swallowing it by accident can lead to terrible consequences [Health Talk]

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\r\n[The Financial News] Experts are warning that bathrooms, spaces meant for daily washing and cleanliness, can become breeding grounds for bacteria and endocrine-disrupting chemicals if they are not properly maintained, leading to serious health problems. In particular, if you have a persistent unexplained cough or skin problems, you should check the bathroom products and shower habits you use every day.
One habit that requires special caution is rinsing your mouth directly with shower water after brushing your teeth. Jaejun Lim, a professor of pulmonology at Seoul National University Hospital, who appeared on the YouTube channel "Seoul National University Hospital TV," warned that this habit can significantly increase the risk of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection.
NTM is commonly found in water-rich environments such as tap water, showerheads, and humidifiers. It is highly resistant to chlorine disinfection and adheres easily to surfaces, where it multiplies by forming a biofilm, or water scale, inside showerhead heads and hoses. If you rinse your mouth with shower water, your mouth and upper airway are directly exposed to droplets, increasing the chance of inhaling the bacteria.
Healthy adults can fend it off with their immune systems, but for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or people with weakened immunity, it can lead to a fatal lung disease.
In Vietnam, a woman who had been rinsing her mouth with a showerhead that had not been replaced for more than 10 years was diagnosed with NTM lung disease. To prevent this, you should always use tap water from the sink when brushing your teeth, and replace showerheads at least every six months or disassemble and clean them regularly.
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Maintaining hygiene throughout the bathroom is also essential. Kim Hye-ran, a pharmacist, recently said on her Social Networking Service (SNS) that "the bathroom is warm and humid, making it an ideal place for bacteria to grow," adding that "if you often have rhinitis, a persistent cough, acne, or folliculitis, you should first check the bathroom environment."
In particular, shower puffs that come into direct contact with the body are prone to bacterial growth, so they should be replaced every month. After use, they must be dried completely, and if the bathroom has poor ventilation, they should be replaced even more frequently.
Bathroom slippers worn every day can also pose a health risk. Products made of PVC, which often have a strong chemical odor, carry a higher risk of exposure to microplastics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals as they age. For safety, choose slippers made of non-toxic materials such as EVA or silicone, and dry them in sunlight and replace them regularly.
Bleach, which is commonly used to clean bathrooms, also requires special caution against misuse. If bleach is mixed with hot water, other household detergents, or vinegar, it can produce deadly toxic gas.
Experts recommend opening a window or turning on a ventilation fan when using bleach, and wearing rubber gloves. They also advise rinsing thoroughly with water afterward so that no residue remains. In households with infants or young children who have weak immune systems, it is preferable to use eco-friendly cleaners instead.
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Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) refers collectively to more than 190 species of mycobacteria other than the tuberculosis bacillus and leprosy bacillus. Although its name and characteristics are similar to tuberculosis, the biggest difference is that it is never transmitted through person-to-person contact such as coughing or talking.
The main cause of NTM infection is exposure to the environment in daily life. The bacteria live widely not only in natural environments such as rivers, lakes, and soil, but also in humid everyday spaces such as tap water, showerheads, humidifiers, and indoor swimming pools. NTM growing in the biofilm, or water scale, in these places can mix with tiny droplets during showering or humidifier use, spread into the air, and cause lung infection when inhaled through the respiratory tract. In rare cases, infection can also occur by drinking contaminated water or through broken skin.
In general, healthy adults do not develop illness even if they inhale the bacteria because immune cells eliminate them. However, people with underlying lung diseases, such as bronchiectasis, COPD, or scarring in the lungs from a past tuberculosis infection, are highly vulnerable to infection.
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NTM infection is dangerous because its early symptoms are not clear, making it difficult to detect early. At first, many cases are asymptomatic or hard to distinguish from a mild cold, which often allows the disease to worsen.
Over time, the bacteria slowly damage the bronchi in the lungs, and chronic symptoms begin to appear only after the disease has progressed to some extent.
The most typical symptoms are a cough and purulent phlegm that last for months. If symptoms do not improve and continue for a long time despite taking cold medicine or common antibiotics, NTM infection should be considered. As the condition worsens, the bronchial mucosa is damaged, leading to blood-streaked phlegm or hemoptysis, in which blood is coughed up.
In addition to respiratory problems, systemic symptoms also follow. These include chronic fatigue and lethargy without a clear cause, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some people also experience night sweats while sleeping or a low-grade fever with no known cause.
Experts stress that "if a common cough lasts for weeks and is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, you should not dismiss it as a simple cold, but visit a respiratory specialist for a thorough examination."
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moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter