Super Therm® reduces risk of water bacteria Naegleria fowleri
As Super Therm® blocks 96.1% of heat including all the infrared heat means the surface remains at ambient and with the water supply not heating up ensures the risk of Naegleria fowleri growing is very much reduced therefore reducing human health risks further.
What is Naegleria?
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention state Naegleria is a free-living ameba (a single-celled living organism). It is so small that it can only be seen with a microscope. It is commonly found in warm fresh water (such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs) and soil. Only one species of Naegleria infects people: Naegleria fowleri.
How does Naegleria fowleri infect people?
Naegleria fowleri infects people when water containing the ameba enters the body through the nose. This typically happens when people go swimming, diving, or when they put their heads under fresh water, like in lakes and rivers. The ameba then travels up the nose to the brain, where it destroys the brain tissue and causes a devastating infection called primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). PAM is almost always fatal.
Naegleria fowleri infections may also happen when people use contaminated tap water to cleanse their noses during religious practices or rinse their sinuses (sending water up the nose). In very rare instances, people have gotten Naegleria fowleri infections from recreational water that didn’t have enough chlorine in it, such as pools, splash pads, or surf parks. There is no evidence that Naegleria fowleri can spread through water vapor or aerosol droplets (such as shower mist or vapor from a humidifier). People cannot be infected with Naegleria fowleri by drinking contaminated water.
Where is Naegleria fowleri found?
Naegleria fowleri lives in warm fresh water and soil around the world. The amebae may be present in any freshwater body in Australia, regardless of the state, especially during the warmer months of December, January, and February.
Naegleria fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) organism, meaning it thrives in heat and likes warm water. It grows best at high temperatures up to 46°C (115°F) and can survive for short periods at even higher temperatures. Scientists have tested water temperatures from lakes and rivers linked to some PAM cases, and the temperatures have typically been higher than 26°C. However, it is possible that the amebae may live in water with a temperature below 26°C.
The ameba can be found in:
- Warm fresh water, such as lakes and rivers
- Geothermal (naturally hot) water, such as hot springs
- Warm water discharge from industrial or power plants
- Untreated geothermal (naturally hot) drinking water sources
- Swimming pools, splash pads, surf parks, or other recreational venues that are poorly maintained or don’t have enough chlorine in them
- Tap water
- Water heaters
- Soil, including sediment at the bottom of lakes, ponds, and rivers
Naegleria fowleri is not found in salt water, like the ocean.
In what water temperature does Naegleria fowleri cause infection?
Naegleria fowleri is a heat-loving (thermophilic) organism, meaning it thrives in heat and likes warm water. It grows best at high temperatures up to 46°C (115°F) and can survive for short periods at even higher temperatures. Scientists have tested water temperatures from lakes and rivers linked to some PAM cases, and these temperatures have typically been higher than 26°C. However, it is possible that the amebae may live in water with a temperature below 26°C. It is less likely to be found in the water as temperatures decline. But the ameba can be found in lake or river sediment at temperatures well below where one would find the ameba in the water.
Why is managing heat important to control Naegleria fowleri
Controlling water pipelines from radiant heat is crucial to prevent the growth of Naegleria fowleri, a thermophilic (heat-loving) micro-organism. Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm, stagnant water, typically in temperatures around 30°C to 45°C. By effectively managing the temperature in water pipelines, especially in warmer climates, you can significantly reduce the risk of this organism proliferating.
When water temperatures rise, it creates an ideal environment for Naegleria fowleri. This microbe can cause a rare but severe infection of the brain and spinal cord, known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), which is often fatal. Therefore, maintaining cooler water temperatures in pipelines is not just a matter of efficiency or energy conservation, but also a critical public health measure.
NEOtech Coatings, with its focus on thermal insulation coatings like Super Therm®, can play a vital role in this aspect. By applying thermal insulation coatings to water pipelines, you can effectively block a significant portion of solar heat, maintaining cooler temperatures within the pipes and reducing the likelihood of Naegleria fowleri growth. This approach future-proofing industrial assets and providing innovative solutions for temperature management and public safety.
