4 ms·

The antibacterial properties of copper are well known, and were proven long ago. I think this is just someone looking for something to research and write a pape

The antibacterial properties of copper are well known, and were proven long ago. I think this is just someone looking for something to research and write a paper on.

ashwinpp 9y ago
> and were proven long ago. Can you back up your claim?
- cyphar 9y ago
  First discovered in 1893. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodynamic_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodynamic_effect There are a whole class of heavy metals that act as germicides.
  - ams6110 9y ago
    Silver is used (in a cream) to prevent infection in wounds, particularly burns.
    - eth0up 9y ago
      I've been making a deodorant created from connecting a few 9v batteries to two copper electrodes in distilled water, followed by the same with two silver electrodes, then blending the results with a bit of alcohol and essential oils. I put it in a spray-bottle and hit the pits with it. Seems significantly more effective than the essential oils alone or conventional products.
  - cat199 9y ago
    For discovery.. (though not 'scientific').. Try 1500-2000 BC https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/2000/06/medicine-chest.html https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/...
- sndean 9y ago
  Not sure about copper pots specifically, but Wikipedia has a reference suggesting 1893 [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper#Mechanisms_of_antibacterial_action_of_copper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_co...
  - Avshalom 9y ago
    and while at the time probably based more on observation than a proven mechanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sheathing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sheathing dates to 1700's
  - diggernet 9y ago
    And the wiki article has another reference [0] stating, "The first recorded medical use of copper is found in the Smith Papyrus, one of the oldest books known. The Papyrus is an Egyptian medical text, written between 2600 and 2200 B.C., which records the use of copper to sterilize chest wounds and to sterilize drinking water." [0] https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/2000/06/medicine-chest.html https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/...
  - eth0up 9y ago
    From [0] Interestingly, silver may be ineffective against MRSA, while copper is fatal.
  - ashwinpp 9y ago
    Thanks. Should have googled. However, upon closer inspection, it seems like there was a wave of research during 1960s which looked at Copper ion concentration between 0.02 - 10g/L In the 2000s there was another wave of research looking at antimicrobial properties, however sampling a few of them, it does seem like they were seen as growing surfaces rather than containers for water purification. So, I guess it was observed for a long time, scientifically studied fairly recently, and not in particular whether it was viable in a practical setting?
    - sndean 9y ago
- teraflop 9y ago
  Wikipedia would be a good starting point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_co...
Filligree 9y ago
The problem with copper is, it's toxic to more or less everything. No, it isn't as bad as lead, and humans tolerate it far better than most organisms, but I'd still rather not ingest it.
- jessaustin 9y ago
  The best treatment for wood exposed to the elements is copper-based. In USA, however, the requirements for treatment facilities have grown more and more onerous, so that it's fairly impossible to find such wood anymore.
  - fpgaminer 9y ago
    About a month or two ago here in California, I picked up a bunch of pressure treated 2x4s from Home Depot. They're copper-azole treated.
  - rainbowmverse 9y ago
    I treat regulations the same way I treat what seem to be illogical programming/engineering solutions. If I don't understand the problem well enough to know why the regulation/solution is the way it is, I have no business commenting on it until I do.
    - comicjk 9y ago
      Very good point. If you're interested, this principle has a catchy name: Chesterton's Fence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence
  - Mtinie 9y ago
    You might be thinking of CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate). It's still in use but harder to find vs. forumations that don't use arsenic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromated_copper_arsenate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromated_copper_arsenate

The antibacterial properties of copper are well known, and were proven long ago. I think this is just someone looking for something to research and write a paper on.

ashwinpp 9y ago

> and were proven long ago. Can you back up your claim?

cyphar 9y ago
First discovered in 1893. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodynamic_effect https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oligodynamic_effect There are a whole class of heavy metals that act as germicides.
- ams6110 9y ago
  Silver is used (in a cream) to prevent infection in wounds, particularly burns.
  - eth0up 9y ago
    I've been making a deodorant created from connecting a few 9v batteries to two copper electrodes in distilled water, followed by the same with two silver electrodes, then blending the results with a bit of alcohol and essential oils. I put it in a spray-bottle and hit the pits with it. Seems significantly more effective than the essential oils alone or conventional products.
- cat199 9y ago
  For discovery.. (though not 'scientific').. Try 1500-2000 BC https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/2000/06/medicine-chest.html https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/...
sndean 9y ago
Not sure about copper pots specifically, but Wikipedia has a reference suggesting 1893 [0]. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper#Mechanisms_of_antibacterial_action_of_copper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_co...
- Avshalom 9y ago
  and while at the time probably based more on observation than a proven mechanism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sheathing https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sheathing dates to 1700's
- diggernet 9y ago
  And the wiki article has another reference [0] stating, "The first recorded medical use of copper is found in the Smith Papyrus, one of the oldest books known. The Papyrus is an Egyptian medical text, written between 2600 and 2200 B.C., which records the use of copper to sterilize chest wounds and to sterilize drinking water." [0] https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/2000/06/medicine-chest.html https://www.copper.org/publications/newsletters/innovations/...
- eth0up 9y ago
  From [0] Interestingly, silver may be ineffective against MRSA, while copper is fatal.
- ashwinpp 9y ago
  Thanks. Should have googled. However, upon closer inspection, it seems like there was a wave of research during 1960s which looked at Copper ion concentration between 0.02 - 10g/L In the 2000s there was another wave of research looking at antimicrobial properties, however sampling a few of them, it does seem like they were seen as growing surfaces rather than containers for water purification. So, I guess it was observed for a long time, scientifically studied fairly recently, and not in particular whether it was viable in a practical setting?
  - sndean 9y ago
teraflop 9y ago
Wikipedia would be a good starting point: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_copper https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antimicrobial_properties_of_co...

Filligree 9y ago

The problem with copper is, it's toxic to more or less everything. No, it isn't as bad as lead, and humans tolerate it far better than most organisms, but I'd still rather not ingest it.

jessaustin 9y ago
The best treatment for wood exposed to the elements is copper-based. In USA, however, the requirements for treatment facilities have grown more and more onerous, so that it's fairly impossible to find such wood anymore.
- fpgaminer 9y ago
  About a month or two ago here in California, I picked up a bunch of pressure treated 2x4s from Home Depot. They're copper-azole treated.
- rainbowmverse 9y ago
  I treat regulations the same way I treat what seem to be illogical programming/engineering solutions. If I don't understand the problem well enough to know why the regulation/solution is the way it is, I have no business commenting on it until I do.
  - comicjk 9y ago
    Very good point. If you're interested, this principle has a catchy name: Chesterton's Fence. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Chesterton%27s_fence
- Mtinie 9y ago
  You might be thinking of CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate). It's still in use but harder to find vs. forumations that don't use arsenic. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromated_copper_arsenate https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromated_copper_arsenate