Another use for silver...................
>Subject: [Paranormal_Research] Ancient technique now cutting-edge germ fighting weapon > http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2003-05/kc-wog050903.php > > Public release date: 9-May-2003 > [ Print This Article | Close This Window ] > > Contact: Kirk Monroe > [email protected] > 202-331-0175 > K-M Communications > > War on germs gets cutting-edge weapon from ancient world technique > Antimicrobial powder coating for hospitals, homes uses silver -- > Germ fighter pioneered by Egyptians, Phoenicians > > Alexandria, VA - May 9, 2003 - Ancient Egyptians used it to keep > food supplies safe from fungus and mold. The Phoenicians used it to > keep water from being spoiled by germs. Today silver is a key > ingredient in new high-tech, powder coated finishes that hospitals > and doctor's offices are using to protect walls, counters and other > germ-gathering surfaces. Tomorrow those finishes may be used in home > kitchens, bathrooms and on a wide variety of surfaces such as > doorknobs, handles and push panels. > "These new finishes are an important tool in preventing the growth > of microbes in or on commercial and consumer products such as HVAC > systems, food service equipment, refrigerators and humidifiers, for > use in hospitals, commercial buildings and homes," says Dr. Ravi > Bhatkal of AgION Technologies, Inc. > > The new finishes have been developed by the manufacturers of powder > coating, an advanced method of finishing a wide range of materials > and products. In powder coating, often called "dry painting," tiny > dry particles of pigment and resin are given an electric charge, > then sprayed on to a wide variety of consumer and industrial > products. The electrostatic charge makes the powder particles stick > to the surface. When heated in an oven, the powder is permanently > fused into a uniform, durable, high-quality coating. > > Long praised as a virtually pollution-free process that protects > products from chips, scratches and stains, the new germ fighting > powder coatings use silver as their key antimicrobial ingredient. > Silver's protective benefits have been known since ancient times. > And it's especially useful today, when germs are becoming > increasingly resistant to modern antibiotics. > > "Research shows that the mechanisms by which silver ions act against > microbes are different than those by which antibiotics act," > explains Dr. Bhatkal of AgION Technologies. "Silver also has > multiple mechanisms of action. Use of silver as an antimicrobial is > therefore unlikely to promote antibiotic resistance". > > The new finishes have also been formulated to be effective long > term. According to Greg Bocchi, Executive Director of The Powder > Coating Institute, "Powder coating manufacturers have extended the > protective life of the new finishes by developing an inorganic, > ceramic additive that ensures the slow release of silver ions over a > long period of time." > > Antimicrobial powder coatings are currently in use at the new City > of Hope's Helford Clinical Research Hospital in Duarte, California, > on ductwork, door handles and hardware and push plates. Other > hospitals and clinics are looking into using antimicrobial powder > coated materials in emergency rooms, surgery areas and patients > rooms, on cabinets, counters and other surfaces. > > "These powder coatings just give us one more weapon against germs," > says University of Arizona Microbiologist Dr. Charles Gerba, "They > literally create self-sanitizing surfaces that require less time in > cleaning and give us all greater peace of mind." > > These uses appear to be just the start. Bosch and Siemens in Munich, > Germany, is applying antimicrobial powder coating to the interior of > refrigerators. Honeywell Corporation, in this country, is using > powder coating to coat portable, air-blown humidifiers where wicks > soak up water, which can provide a breeding ground for germs. > > And in the Los Angeles area, AK Coatings is setting up a special > Concept Home to field test antimicrobial powder coatings in high- > touch areas on a wide variety of surfaces such as door knobs, > handles and push panels, as well as on metal panels and railings > inside the home's elevator. > > > ### > Editors: To request photos, interviews, or for more information on > powder coating, please contact: Kirk Monroe, 202-331-0175, or via > email at [email protected] > > To learn more about powder coating, go to: > http://www.powdercoating.org > -- The silver-list is a moderated forum for discussion of colloidal silver. Instructions for unsubscribing may be found at: http://silverlist.org To post, address your message to: [email protected] Silver-list archive: http://escribe.com/health/thesilverlist/index.html List maintainer: Mike Devour <[email protected]>
