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Copper could help keep Africa clean

Programme aims to use metal taps and work tops to kill hardy bacteria.

In Africa's ongoing struggle against tuberculosis, a group of scientists and industry representatives are now exploring a plan to introduce copper pipes, doorknobs and work surfaces to the country's waterways and clinics. The metal's known antibiotic activity, they say, could provide a simple way to help fight the deadly infection.

Read the story here.

Posted by Nicola Jones on August 8, 2006 09:21 PM |

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Comments

As a mineral copper is used for growth, but as a metal it kills various bacteria as a DDT vaccine which uses metal.
Metals are added to most of our medicines, to kill the infectious bacteria.

Posted by: Devi | August 9, 2006 02:14 PM

When I was growing up in India, my grandfather had a copper vessel in whih he used to leave water over night and drink it the next morning claiming that it was good for health. I know several people, from his geenration who used to do it. Cooking vessels from
those days were mostly copper based.Stainless steel slowly repalced copper over the years.
I am very excited to see a scientifc basis for some old traditions. Next time I visit India, I will surely be returning with some coper jugs.
I hope Indian scientist are also reading this article and will incorporate these results in the hospitals there.

Posted by: Pallavi Sri | August 14, 2006 07:21 PM

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