Water temperature-legion disease link debated
There is no agreement on the theory that lowering water temperatures to conserve energy may be linked to legionnaires' disease as was cited at the Ohio State University Hospital. Hospital researchers argue that the 100 to 120/sup 0/F environment could create a suitable environment for the legionella micro-organism to breed. Hot-water temperatures were lowered at hospitals in accordance with a 1976 conservation guideline, which has since been revised to allow hospitals to select their own sub-scalding temperature. A heat-eradiation technique is used every three months at one Veterans Administration hospital, while others use chlorination. Skeptics note that the Ohio research did not follow pre-publication peer review before announcing the findings to the public. (DCK)
- OSTI ID:
- 5712456
- Journal Information:
- Energy User News; (United States), Vol. 8:23
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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