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Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#61

Post by Moto7451 »

zxv wrote: post #44
ComputerGuru wrote: post #28

Silver is also known to have antibacterial/antimicrobial properties and is used both as a coating on handles, surfaces to prevent bacterial buildup and also in typical creams as an antibacterial option (however, I do believe a recent study showed it to be no better than a control when applied topically to burns, which is/was one of its primary uses). Both copper and silver oxidize unpleasantly very quickly, though.

Silver sulfadiazine 1% cream is a highly effective antibiotic for preventing infections in deep burns. In my experience, while while the wound is open, this was the only cream that had no skin reactions, and that made it far easier keep it on 24/7. The cream kept air out, greatly reduced pain. Eliminating infection allowed more rapid healing. I don't know whether it's prescribed today, but it was the only cream that…

Yup, it is still prescribed. They gave it to me after I had surgery on ingrown toenails on both sides of both big toes [1]. My Podiatrist used acid to burn away part of the nail matrix to prevent the outer quarter of each toenail from growing, reducing my toenail to half width. That prevented the problem from happening again [2]. Silvadine kept my toes from getting infected further and they healed rather painlessly. All in all good medicine.

[1] Genetics and apparently bad grooming habits for the win! [2] A smashing success for ten years and counting. About 1/8 of each side grew back but it's not physically possible for me to get ingrown toenails unless I intentionally try to induce them.

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#62

Post by samstave »

fensterblick wrote: post #53
samstave wrote: post #47

I have a copper water bottle that I bought online from India: https://i.imgur.com/3k2QBQI.jpg I love the thing, and I was drinking water out of it... But one time I put alcohol in it... and I took a few sips from it and I almost immediately started feeling nauseous and weird... now I'm scared to use it, even for water.

That doesn't sound normal. Many alcohol stills use copper (wikipedia has this bit of information: "(a copper still) removes sulfur-based compounds from the alcohol that would make it unpleasant to drink")

Yeah, that's why I'm scared of it now... any clue how I could test it?

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#63

Post by jessaustin »

Mtinie wrote: post #60
jessaustin wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen CCA lumber before, but the stuff I'm talking about is different than that. You have to wear gloves while handling it, and if you touch your face you'll be crying the rest of the day. It's nasty shit, but it doesn't rot.

Creosote? Railroad ties are coated in it and for a long time it was one of the main wood preservatives used. It's tar-based, nasty stuff and you'd definitely want to use gloves when working with it.

Good guess, but this wasn't creosote either. It was much more irritating than that. Who knows, maybe it's an especially noxious mix that was only used by sawmills here in the Ozarks? Like I said, we can't find it anymore. My dad had a bunch of 16' 1"x6"s for fence boards in the last batch treated at the last sawmill we knew that could do the treatment, and that was some years ago.

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#64

Post by redm »

kwillets wrote: post #58
redm wrote: post #48

Because of copper's antibacterial properties, I investigated putting copper sink faucets in my house remodel. While it's true that it works well initially, over item film builds up on the surface preventing the benefits. You have to clean them constantly to get the benefit.

Uh, copper tube is a common supply piping.

You aren't touching the inside of your copper pipes, you are touching your faucets.

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#65

Post by [deleted] »

mirimir wrote: post #45
vram22 wrote: post #37

Using copper vessels to store water for drinking is somewhat common in parts of India. Seen it in Maharashtra. Lead vessels were traditionally used (and may still be) to make certain dishes (like rasam, a watery lentil-based sour soup) in South India. No idea about any benefits or the reverse. Update: Also, I've seen relatives of the previous generation to mine (in India), sometimes eating from silver plates. Not sur…

For rasam, it's tin, not lead. But lead has sometimes traditionally been used in cooking etc, because many lead salts are sweet :( That's why children chew on flakes of leaded paint. They're like candy :(

[deleted]

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#66

Post by HillaryBriss »

jessaustin wrote: post #34
LgWoodenBadger wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is storing it in copper pots significantly different than "storing" it in the copper pipes prevalent in a majority of houses in the USA?

That's true for houses of a particular age and value. New stuff is all PEX, and has been for some time. Old enough houses would have been cast iron. Cheaper houses (mobile homes, for example) were all PVC for a long time. I had to dig up and repair a sewer pipe yesterday, and was somewhat surprised to find that it was made of clay tile .

in Los Angeles county (and, I believe, LA City), clay pipe is still an approved material for sewer pipe laterals

http://dpw.lacounty.gov/general/faq/index.cfm?Action=getAnsw...

http://library.amlegal.com/nxt/gateway.dll/California/lamc/m....

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#67

Post by gumby »

Copper pots have interesting properties. For a long time I had read (and scoffed) that eggs should be whipped in a copper pot for best results. But it turns out that when you do that, striking the side of the pot liberates electrons that bond with the albumin and make the protein stiffer.

As for the comment about silver: it does have some antimicrobial properties. I'm amazed the effect is noticeable at the macro level of eating utensils.

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#69

Post by kpil »

m45t3r wrote: post #26
batter wrote: post #2

I will just leave it here in case someone will want to employ copper pots: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10383875

Just remember the authors are suggesting copper pots for water storage in developing countries, where people have more chance of dying from diarrhea than from prolonged exposure to copper.

My water is delivered in copper tubes... It can't be that bad, can it?

Re: Storing Drinking-Water in Copper Pots Kills Contaminating Bacteria (2012)

#70

Post by jessaustin »

jessaustin wrote: post #34
LgWoodenBadger wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is storing it in copper pots significantly different than "storing" it in the copper pipes prevalent in a majority of houses in the USA?

That's true for houses of a particular age and value. New stuff is all PEX, and has been for some time. Old enough houses would have been cast iron. Cheaper houses (mobile homes, for example) were all PVC for a long time. I had to dig up and repair a sewer pipe yesterday, and was somewhat surprised to find that it was made of clay tile .

'icantdrive55 the thread is about water supply lines, not boilers or HVAC evaporator coils. I've dealt with a number of plumbers over the last several years, and not one wanted to use anything but PEX for supply lines. Actually a different preference would be a strike against any plumber I'd consider hiring for new work. Also you appear to be hellbanned.
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