Preventing and Mitigating Legionnaires' disease

<p>We talk with chemical and cleaning expert Ray Field on Legionnaires' disease. We discuss what it is, its history, and what we can do to prevent it proactively.</p> <p>Cooling towers host all kinds of microorganisms, including harmful bacteria like Legionella. Legionella is a natural bacteria that you can find in bodies of freshwater, including lakes, but it was discovered relatively recently, in the 1970s. We become susceptible to Legionnaires' disease when we inhale droplets that contain Legionella. Legionnaires' disease causes pneumonia-like symptoms and is potentially fatal. Cooling towers, unfortunately, provide perfect conditions for Legionella to survive and...