Just a theory from a bunch of academics, but the topic has made it onto the TV (BBC News 24).

Wow, I wonder how many other public sector workers are out there with completely pointless functions!

your right. we should stop ALL research now as it a complete waste of money.

Wow, I wonder how many other public sector workers are out there with completely pointless functions!

*waves*

Wow, I wonder how many other public sector workers are out there with completely pointless functions!

I don't know – perhaps the Government should set up an organisation to look into it. 😉

Indeed.

It doesn't surprise me at all, given what I've cleaned out of the washer bottles of cars owned by tight arses. You have some manky water that's kept nice and warm, then you spray it through a nozzle, so you can breathe stuff in easily.

Given that Legionella can be fatal, and for someone to die costs the economy a fair bit of money, I'm happy for the government to research these things.

Dread to think what they'd find in my camelback.

if it is a genuine risk to public safety then I would like to know that not putting screenwash in my window wash could give me a debilitating, potentially deadly disease!

that reminds me, must fill my wash reseveroir as it is empty ATM!

A theory from a bunch of academics? What's wrong with that?

This is science backed by research and a study – why do you have a problem with it?

Double post.

Great, i get screenwashed loads of times when people drive past me and i'm cycling.

I bet spongebob's going to post some twaddle about showers next.

Here's another load of twaddle

Who gets under a shower and then turns it on?

Utter nonsense!

Twenty years ago some herbert said you could get cancer from the ionized air around a shower head, Ridiculous!

there was something recently about soap dispensers harbouring bacteria on the pump! surely if you are washing your hands with the soap you only touch it with dirty hands anyway!!

we're all going to die of cancer well before we die of Legionaires

Things the Daily Mail says will give you cancer:

AGE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-449783/Women-birth-age-30-double-risk-breast-cancer.html
AIR POLLUTION http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-358875/Pollution-cars-linked-child-cancer.html
AIR TRAVEL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-200443/Frequent-fliers-raise-cancer-risk.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-591109/Cancer-risk-frequent-fliers.html
ALCOHOL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-147083/Drink-day-increases-breast-cancer-risk.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-471910/Bowel-cancer-danger-just-glass-wine-day.html
ALLERGIES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-324732/Child-allergies-raise-cancer-risk.html
ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-55023/Cancer-causing-chemicals-soy-sauce.html
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-391267/Artificial-light-increases-breast-cancer-risk.html
ASBESTOS (as if it wasn’t bad enough already) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1170584/Asbestos-schools-kill-pupils-warns-teacher-dying-lung-cancer.html
ASPIRIN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-205490/Asprin-link-cancer-risk.html
BABIES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-157683/Birth-size-link-breast-cancer.html
BABY BOTTLES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1038697/EU-rejects-ban-baby-bottles-linked-early-puberty-breast-cancer-miscarriage-infertility.html
BABY FOOD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-199887/Baby-food-cancer-alert.html
BACON http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1102368/Additives-used-bacon-ham-chicken-make-cancers-grow.html
BARBEQUES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-326153/Australians-warned-backyard-cancer-risk.html
BATH WATER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-431777/Chlorine-bathwater-linked-cancer.html
BEEF http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-393666/Alarm-beef-link-breast-cancer.html
BEER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1161843/Just-pint-beer-day-raise-risk-prostate-cancer.html
BEING A BLACK PERSON http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1064547/Black-men-times-likely-prostate-cancer.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-508753/Black-women-develop-breast-cancer-decades-earlier-white-women.html
BEING A WOMAN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-63976/Cancer-risk-higher-women-smokers.html
BEING A MAN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-306543/Men-twice-likely-die-cancer-women.html
BEING A SKINNY GIRL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1266092/Skinny-girls-greater-risk-developing-breast-cancer.html
BEING SOUTHERN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1027331/Why-affluent-women-South-likely-die-breast-cancer.html
BISCUITS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-126342/Cancer-foods-avoid.html
BLOWJOBS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-453843/Oral-sex-cause-throat-cancer.html
BRAS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-182370/Is-bra-bad-you.html
BREAD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-411506/White-bread-increases-cancer-risk.html
BREAST FEEDING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-178756/Whos-risk-breast-cancer.html
BREAST IMPLANTS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-41443/Breast-implants-cancer-scare.html
BROKEN HEARTS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-450049/How-heart-broken-grief-send-early-grave.html
BUBBLE BATH http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-403703/Is-bubble-bath-safe.html
BURGERS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-467360/Cancer-scare-food-colour-added-sausages-burgers.html
CAFFINE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1127473/Coffee-raise-child-cancer-risk-New-evidence-caffeine-damage-babies-DNA.html
CALCUIM http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1052127/Fatal-cancer-risk-men-high-blood-calcium-levels-say-US-researchers.html
CANDLE-LIT DINNERS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1207726/Candles-release-scents-laced-cancer-chemicals-warn-scientists.html#ixzz0dufFps6a
CANNED FOOD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-44676/Gender-bending-chemicals-tin-cans.html
CARBOHYDRATES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-313227/Low-carb-diets-beat-breast-cancer.html
CARS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-358875/Pollution-cars-linked-child-cancer.html
CEREAL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html
CHEESE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1002424/Italy-shuts-mozzarella-production-toxin-fears-spread.html
CHICKEN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-429303/Families-risk-toxic-imported-foods.html
CHILDLESSNESS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-474820/SUZANNE-MOORE-Im-sick-told-fault.html
CHILDREN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-506501/Prostate-risk-having-family-according-new-study.html
CHILDREN’S FOODhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-201390/Health-warning-childrens-food.html
CHILLIS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-347287/Cancer-checks-spices-new-food-dyes-alert.html
CHINESE MEDICINE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-75547/Warming-cancer-risk-Chinese-medicines.html
CHIPS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-487571/Parents-told-chips-cause-cancer.html
CHLORINE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-431777/Chlorine-bathwater-linked-cancer.html
CHOCLATE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-386625/Cancer-fears-chocolate-snacks.html
CITY LIVING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-496495/City-life-blamed-higher-risk-breast-cancer.html
CLIMATE CHANGE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-452789/Warmer-climate-mean-thousands-deaths-skin-cancer.html
COCA COLA http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-337178/Carrot-day-reduces-cancer-risk.html
COD LIVER OIL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-379918/Cancer-fears-cod-liver-oil-capsules.html
COLD TEMPERATURES & LACK OF SUNLIGHT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1267653/Cold-temperatures-lack-sun-linked-prostate-cancer.html#ixzz0ll1ioCBU
COFFEE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3027/How-healthy-cup-coffee.html
CONSTAPATION http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-193698/Atkins-diet-cancer-risk.html
CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-181273/Cancer-risk-45-higher-Pill.html
COOKING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-382571/Frying-increase-cancer-risk.html
CORDLESS PHONES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-515970/After-cancer-warnings-mobiles-home-phone-putting-health-danger.html
CRAYONS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6706/Safety-alert-best-selling-crayons.html
CURRY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-342632/Cancer-dye-Grossman-curry-sauce.html
DENTAL X-RAYS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1283393/Ten-dental-X-rays-raise-cancer-risk.html
DEODRANT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-205705/Deodorants-linked-cancer.html
DIETING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-73056/Is-diet-lifestyle-putting-risk-breast-cancer.html and http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1266591/Dieting-really-CAN-harm-health-Slimmers-higher-risk-heart-disease-cancer.html
DOGS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-490581/Can-dogs-breast-cancer-Bizarre-medical-theories-experts-claim-actually-true.html
EGGS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-50995/Cancer-chemicals-eggs.html
ELECTRICITY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-449679/Power-lines-link-cancer-new-alert.html
ENGLISH BREAKFAST http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1049142/Traditional-English-fry-raise-risk-bowel-cancer-63-cent.html
FACEBOOK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1149207/How-using-Facebook-raise-risk-cancer.html
FALSE NAILS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1174768/Having-nails-skin-cancer-doctors-warn-women.html
FATHERHOOD http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-506501/Prostate-risk-having-family-according-new-study.html
FIBRE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4903/Fibre-cancer-risk-warning.html
FISH http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-117840/Fish-cancer-scare.html
FIZZY DRINKS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1249305/Two-fizzy-drinks-week-raise-chance-getting-pancreatic-cancer-87.html
FLIP FLOPS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1025915/Wearing-FLIP-FLOPS-skin-cancer-doctors-warn.html
FLY SPRAY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-459938/Using-pesticide-sprays-home-double-risk-brain-tumours.html
FRUIT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-371260/Breast-cancer-drug-cuts-death-risk.html
FRUIT JUICE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254534/Fruit-juice-cancer-warning-scientists-harmful-chemical-16-drinks.html
GARDENS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-326153/Australians-warned-backyard-cancer-risk.html
GRAPEFRUIT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-468559/Eating-grapefruit-increase-breast-cancer-risk-third.html
HAIR DYE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1017259/How-using-hair-dye-increase-risk-cancer.html
HAM http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-490845/Is-safe-eat-Cancer-report-adds-bacon-ham-drink-danger-list.html
HEIGHT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1064454/Bigger-taller-baby-girls-higher-risk-breast-cancer-says-study.html
HONEY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-429303/Families-risk-toxic-imported-foods.html
HOT DRINKS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html
HRT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1214782/HRT-increases-risk-dying-lung-cancer.html#ixzz0dueJ7qOY
HUGGING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-436043/Hugging-dad-gave-terminal-cancer.html
INTERNET http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-312505/Cancer-patients-risk-websites.html
IVF http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-148228/How-IVF-raises-cancer-risks.html
KIDNEY TRANSPLATS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-459097/TV-prize-kidney-carries-risk-cancer.html
LAMB http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-446559/Red-meat-link-higher-risk-breast-cancer.html
LARGE HEADS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-370870/Big-headed-babies-prone-cancer.html
LEFT-HANDEDNESS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-363477/Left-handers-likely-breast-cancer.html
LIPSTICK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-499967/Is-lipstick-giving-cancer.html
LIVER TRANSPLANTS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-207838/Cancer-liver-transplant-killed-husband.html
MENOPAUSE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-395201/Weight-gain-menopause-increases-breast-cancer-risk.html
MENSTRUATION http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-68946/Do-women-need-periods.html
METAL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1081692/The-metals-daily-glass-wine-linked-cancer-Parkinsons.html
MILK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-328863/Milk-linked-ovarian-cancer.html
MOBILE PHONES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-473553/Orange-remove-mobile-mast-tower-doom-cancer-rate-soared.html
MODERN LIVING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-474157/Modern-living-blame-cancer-epidemic.html
MONEY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1025375/Wealthy-background-raise-risk-cancer-teenagers.html
MORPHINE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1230208/Pain-drug-morphine-cause-cancer-spread.html#ixzz0dudlHqN2
MOUTHWASH http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1113422/Mouthwash-causes-oral-cancer-pulled-supermarkets-say-experts.html
NUCLEAR POWER (there is no hint of irony in this article) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42066/New-study-links-nuclear-sites-cancer.html
OBESITY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-245997/Obesity-raises-risk-cancer.html
OESTROGEN http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4098/Oestrogen-link-breast-cancer.html
OLDER FATHERs http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1223025/Why-older-fathers-likely-children-genetic-disorders.html#ixzz0dudLlJsP
PASTRY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html
PEANUT BUTTER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1164417/Food-watchdog-warning-peanut-butter-brand-containing-cancer-causing-fungus.html
PERFUME http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1051130/How-perfumes-scented-creams-make-unborn-baby-infertile.html
PICKLES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html
PIZZA http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-341698/New-food-dye-warning.html
PLASTIC BAGS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1207840/Plastic-decomposes-sea-releases-cancer-causing-chemicals-study-warns.html#ixzz0duexZlFs
PORK http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1093039/After-alert-Irish-pork-safe-beef.html
POTATOES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-115037/Cancer-chemical-link-cooked-food.html
POVERTY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-474820/SUZANNE-MOORE-Im-sick-told-fault.html
PREGNANCY http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-82458/Breast-cancer-risk-career-women.html
RADIOACTIVITY (again, just no irony whatsoever) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-421140/As-radioactive-spy-buried-bar-staff-served-facing-cancer-risk.html
RICE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-444222/Rice-tainted-arsenic-raises-risk-cancer.html
SAUSAGES http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-550729/Why-eating-just-sausage-day-raises-cancer-risk-20-cent.html
RETIREMENT http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1220446/Oh-Work-good-especially-youve-retired.html#ixzz0ducbviCE
SEX http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-191219/Did-sex-cancer.html
SHAVING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-206459/Shaving-raise-cancer-risk.html
SKIING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-206243/Skiers-warned-cancer-risk.html
SOUP http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1132814/Salty-soups-increase-cancer-risk-says-expert.html
SPACE TRAVEL http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1015482/How-astronauts-risk-cancer–premature-ageing–travelling-space.html
SUN CREAM http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-592076/Cancer-fear-childrens-sun-creams.html
TALCUM POWDER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1063040/Cancer-alert-talc-Women-using-powder-day-risk.html
TEA http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-87131/Too-tea-treble-cancer-risk-women.html
TEEN SEX http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1237530/Girls-sex-teens-greater-risk-developing-cervical-cancer.html#ixzz0dudvXOF7
THIRD HAND SMOKE (read article and you'll understand) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1249591/Even-hand-smoke-dangerous–especially-children.html
TURNING ON THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT TO GO TO THE LOO http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1265277/Cancer-danger-night-time-trip-toilet.html
VITAMINS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-320006/Vitamin-pills-cause-early-deaths.html
WAR IN IRAQ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1259393/Colin-Brazier-asks-Did-Iraq-war-cancer.html
WATER http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-13620/Cancer-link-tap-water-radon-hotspots.html
WI-FI http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-456534/The-classroom-cancer-risk-wi-fi-internet.html
WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-338899/Dye-alert-spreads-school-meals.html
WORKING http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1031934/Why-men-desk-jobs-higher-risk-prostate-cancer.html
X-RAYS http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-207035/X-rays-bring-risk-cancer.html

Hmm.. Spongebob's media-informed knee-jerk opinion, or some scientist who's researched it? Who should I beleive.. hmm.. tough one that…

Michael Wright.. you are as bad as they are with that stuff. The first one does not say anything WILL GIVE you cancer.. it seems to report fairly well a scientific study about probabilities….

I believe they were researching Legionnaire's and found that a high rate of professional drivers get it. They looked into why & traced it to the screenwash bottles (that were filled with just water).

this one is worse it didn't even come from a team, just one guy!! huh!

that list made me chuckle, some of its not really saying these things increase cancer likelyhood but still funny.

never mind the washer bottle, what about the aircon?…

ok spongebob

why not test it out and drink a tank of screenwash water?

after all what do those scientists know?

hang on, this screenwash thing is an example of good research, isn't it?

(yes it is)

what's your problem spongebob? – we now have a better understanding of legionnaires disease.

ps that list is genius

heres my favourite

TURNING ON THE LIGHTS AT NIGHT TO GO TO THE LOO http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1265277/Cancer-danger-night-time-trip-toilet.html

There's an even bigger list here
"Help to make sense of the Daily Mail’s ongoing effort to classify every inanimate object into those that cause cancer and those that prevent it."
http://kill-or-cure.heroku.com/

a theory from a bunch of academics

Its a hypothesis not a theory
I know why cant we not have nuch more of the unfunded outlandish claims rather than evidenced research by people who know stuff. If I want info on the world I buy the Daily Star and watch Jeremy Kyle… take that boffin

Crap you mean there is some légionaires in my screen wash tank…
Hope I don't get my head chopped off… 😆 😆

but how can they fit in?

Lol at spongebob taking a quick bit of research totally out of context and blowing it out of all proportion. Or at least guilty of letting the media convince him that someone employs a crack team of academics to work 24/7, 365 on monitoring shower head bacteria and washer bottle contents. Dear god man, get a sense of proportion and think through the story you read before moaning. Most stories of this nature are simply idle thought on the part of an academic/researcher who has, out of curiosity, tested the thought by taking all of a couple of hours of, more likely than not, unpaid overtime, written it up and submitted it for the sake of interest and record. The papers then get behind the story and make it into world war 3 and turn it into a "story" in any way they can, including probably contacting the researcher and saying "is this possible, maybe this?" – the researcher will say "well, yes technically but" and the journo will sever the "but" and continue with the story.

I thought people learned to read around stories like this in high school English class?

Most stories of this nature are simply idle thought on the part of an academic/researcher who has, out of curiosity, tested the thought by taking all of a couple of hours of, more likely than not, unpaid overtime, written it up and submitted it for the sake of interest and record.

or more commonly known as 'for sh1ts and giggles'

indeed!

Is there any chance we can have that list cross referenced against things the DM says can cure/prevent cancer and see which are on both?

ask and thou shalt have

THINGS THAT CAUSE AND PREVENT YOU FROM GETTING CANCER

ALLEGIES (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-324732/Child-allergies-raise-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4105/Allergies-key-ovarian-cancer.html
ASPIRIN (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-205490/Asprin-link-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-528008/Will-taking-aspirin-day-cut-risk-breast-cancer.html
BABIES (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-157683/Birth-size-link-breast-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-537433/Having-baby-make-fat-But-cut-risk-cancer-ease-stress-levels-make-brainy-Einstein.html
BEER (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1161843/Just-pint-beer-day-raise-risk-prostate-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-334816/How-having-pint-protect-cancer.html
BREAD (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-411506/White-bread-increases-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-430950/Fibre-rich-diet-halve-risk-breast-cancer.html
BREAST IMPLANTS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-41443/Breast-implants-cancer-scare.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-512225/Coffee-mobiles-breast-implants-WONT-cancer–doctors-debunk-cancer-myths.html
CAFFEINE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1127473/Coffee-raise-child-cancer-risk-New-evidence-caffeine-damage-babies-DNA.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-509596/Three-cups-coffee-day-cut-risk-ovarian-cancer.html
CALCUIM (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1052075/Blood-tests-calcium-levels-prevent-prostate-cancer-deaths-study-reveals.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-458243/Calcium-Vitamin-D-cut-breast-cancer-risk-third.html
CEREAL (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3014/The-anti-cancer-cereal-bar.html
CHEESE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-547111/Italy-shuts-mozzarella-production-cancer-causing-toxin-fears-spread.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-186458/Greek-diet-lengthen-life.html
CHILDREN (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-506501/Prostate-risk-having-family-according-new-study.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1166002/The-health-commandments-women-know-based-research-examining-MILLION-us.html
CHILLIS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-347287/Cancer-checks-spices-new-food-dyes-alert.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-427558/Spicy-foods-protect-cancer.html
CHINESE MEDICINE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-75477/Warning-cancer-risk-Chinese-medicines.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5203/Herbal-drug-gives-cancer-patients-hope.html
CHOCOLATE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-386625/Cancer-fears-chocolate-snacks.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-342266/Good-news-Easter-eggs-healthy.html
CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-155131/Is-link-breast-cancer-Pill.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-481293/The-Pill-reduces-risk-cancer-later-life.html
COSMETICS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-499967/Is-lipstick-giving-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-207742/Cream-zap-skin-cancers.html
CURRY (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-357341/Curry-cancer-scare-leads-spice-recall.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-126341/More-foods-protect-cancer.html
DAIRY PRODUCTS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-115696/How-safe-favourite-foods.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1158659/JANE-CLARKE-Want-ward-cancer-Eat-yoghurt.html
DIETING (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-193698/Atkins-diet-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-313333/Atkins-cut-risk-breast-cancer.html
DOGS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-490581/Can-dogs-breast-cancer-Bizarre-medical-theories-experts-claim-actually-true.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1073930/Cats-dogs-cut-owners-cancer-risk-researchers-say.html
EGGS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-50995/Cancer-chemicals-eggs.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-7939/Chickens-help-fight-cancer.html
ELECTRICITY (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-350891/Cancer-risk-70pc-higher-near-power-lines.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-351838/No-link-power-stations-cancer.html
FIBRE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4903/Fibre-cancer-risk-warning.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-179272/High-fibre-diet-does-beat-cancer.html
FISH (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-117840/Fish-cancer-scare.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1164709/Eating-oily-fish-week-slashes-prostate-cancer-risk.html
FRIED FOOD (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-382571/Frying-increase-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-468863/Could-fry-help-fight-cancer.html
FRUIT (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-194925/Produce-pesticides.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-302799/Get-fruity-beat-cancer.html
GARDENING (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-326153/Australians-warned-backyard-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-83208/Gardening-new-protection-cancer.html
GAS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-331564/Gas-homes-causing-1-000-UK-deaths-year.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-399569/Gas-bubbles-kill-tumours-help-conquer-liver-cancer.html
GRAPEFRUIT (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-468559/Eating-grapefruit-increase-breast-cancer-risk-third.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/columnists/article-496672/Will-giving-wheat-help-sons-autism.html
HORMONE THERAPY (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-544648/The-HRT-patch-linked-breast-cancer–men.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1172244/Pregnancy-hormone-new-breast-cancer-hope.html
HRT (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-191674/HRT-doubles-risk-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-316079/HRT-patch-fight-prostate-cancer.html
MAMMOGRAMS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-146402/Breast-scans-risk-women.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-506967/Screening-halves-deaths-breast-cancer.html
MEASLES (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-138805/Measles-babies-double-cancer-threat.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1106044/Eat-egg-day-bonny-baby-measles-fight-cancer.html
TANNIING PILLS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1130089/Tanning-drug-mask-signs-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-591352/Tanning-pill-cut-skin-cancer.html
MILK (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-328863/Milk-linked-ovarian-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1022266/Drinking-organic-milk-cut-risk-heart-disease-cancer.html
MOBILE PHONES (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-486239/Using-mobile-phones-10-years-doubles-risk-brain-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-374620/Mobile-phones-dont-raise-brain-cancer-risk.html
MOUTHWASH (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1187493/As-research-shows-mouthwash-contains-TWICE-alcohol-wine-gargling-way-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-441865/Mouthwash-test-breast-cancer.html
RADIOTHERAPY (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1089091/Why-wont-doctors-face-dangers-radiotherapy.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-539249/Women-breast-cancer-benefit-shorter-bursts-radiotherapy.html
RICE (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-444222/Rice-tainted-arsenic-raises-risk-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-197032/More-foods-prevent-breast-cancer.html
SEX (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-191219/Did-sex-cancer.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-253779/Regular-sex-cuts-prostate-cancer-risk.html
SOYA (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1173510/Why-soya-super-food-all.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-126636/Soya-beat-breast-cancer.html
STATINS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-470425/Statins-raise-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1174152/Drug-prevents-prostate-cancer-year-statins-offer-protection-too.html
STRESS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-484898/Stress-work-increase-breast-cancer-risk-third.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1192561/Its-official-stress-really-does-make-hair-grey-protects-cancer.html
SUN (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-301340/The-facts-sun-exposure.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-382182/Sunshine-cut-risk-breast-cancer.html
SUNCREAM (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-197804/Sun-creams-raise-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-197852/Sunscreen-defence-cancer-alert.html
TEA (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-87131/Too-tea-treble-cancer-risk-women.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-449382/Two-cuppas-day-slash-skin-cancer-risk.html
VITAMINS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-515445/Could-vitamin-pills-cancer-patient-harm-good.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-191044/Vitamin-pill-cuts-cancer-rates-third.html
X-RAYS (causes) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-207018/X-rays-pose-cancer-risk.html (prevents) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-607/X-ray-refines-lung-cancer-detection.html

I believe they were researching Legionnaire's and found that a high rate of professional drivers get it. They looked into why & traced it to the screenwash bottles (that were filled with just water).

They're not very professional if all they use is water.

the majority of commercial vehicle lease/hire companies stick water in them (if they work at all).

the majority of commercial vehicle drivers don't have the time/money to add screenwash to a vehicle they might only drive for a few hours.

I'd imagine your transport is somewhat better cared for than most Drac

No water in your washer bottle is an offence. Perhaps only on a par with a broken bulb, but it is an offence. Certainly if you were in an accident, or you were simply in a 7.5tonne or more truck, then you could potentially be in big trouble.

I used to have to do a lot of driving for my work (no idea if that'd qualify me as a professional driver or not), and I always tried to make sure I had some screenwash in the tank – plain water does naff all to get bugs off your windscreen.

From the beeb article the other factor was that professional drivers may drive with the window open, so get to inhale that nice legonella mist directly as they spray it on the window.

Ridiculous. It's caused by the Big God Sky Daddy if he gets annoyed at you for not genufliciting enough on Sundays.

As any fule kno.

"Give it a rest, Woppit"…

be most likely to get a bout of e-coli off anything you touch in my car..

legionnella will happily sit wherever conditions are favorable, so nice warm water, some organic material for nutrients and a slow water turnover rate and there you have it. The risk of contracting legionnaires disease is dependent upon inhalation of aerosolised droplets containing viable bacteria in sufficient quantities, usually for people with a reduced immune response (elderly, young, etc) so theoretically a screen wash bottle could pose a risk to health in certain circumstances.

drinking water with legionnella won't give you the disease, and yes showers can be a high risk, especially in hotels etc.. if correct water temperatures and high water turnover rates are not maintained which is why the there is a requirement to undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of risk in accordance with HSE document L8