Dishwasher Fungus Alarms Scientists

Scientists have found a possibly harmful fungus that grows in dishwashers, surviving high temperatures, aggressive doses of detergents and rinsing salts and both acid and alkaline types of water.

A black yeast called Exophiala dermatitidis was found with a cousin fungus, E. phaeomuriformis, in samples taken from dishwashers in 189 homes in 101 cities in six continents.

Fifty-six percent of the dishwashers contained the fungi on the rubber seal on the appliance door.

Both species "are known to be able to cause systemic disease in humans and frequently colonize the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis," says the study.

Dishwasher Fungus Alarms Scientists - FoxNews.com