In a nutshell… The terms “chlorine” and “chlorine bleach” are not always used accurately in reporting emergency incidents in which elemental chlorine gas or liquid chlorine bleach escape their containers. These two substances have different chemical and physical properties and represent different potential risks to human health. This article explains the differences between the substances
As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, household chlorine bleach—a mainstay of household disinfection—has become a sought-after commodity. We recently worked with several public health experts to develop a user-friendly poster on how to prepare a solution of bleach and water for disinfecting surfaces against the COVID-19 virus. But the question arises: Without an expiration date on the bleach jug, how do you know when bleach expires and that a solution made with it will be effective?
In a nutshell… This article introduces a user-friendly poster featuring directions for preparing a solution of chlorine bleach and water to disinfect frequently touched surfaces against the coronavirus (COVID-19 virus). The poster may be freely downloaded. Directions given are recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). An image of the
When tackling household cleaning chores, soap and water and a little “elbow grease” are sufficient for ridding many surfaces of dirt and grime. When cleaning kitchen and bathroom surfaces, however, disinfectants are needed to destroy bacteria and viruses like E. coli, norovirus, salmonella and listeria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other microorganisms that can spread illness.
Hurricane Florence will be remembered for the relentless rain associated with her slow trek over the Carolinas. As residents return to flooded neighborhoods to deal with Florence’s aftermath, we offer the following tips for cleanup and recovery.
As students return to the classroom and we approach yet another “stomach flu” season, new research provides a fascinating glimpse into the transmission of stomach viruses, including the dreaded norovirus. According to the researchers, large numbers of norovirus particles can invade human cells “Trojan horse-style,” encased within a protective membrane known as a vesicle. Just as the fabled giant model horse of antiquity provided a concealed army of warriors access to the city of Troy, “vesicle-cloaked” viruses are stealthily delivered to human cells, undetected by the human immune system. How ingenious!
For home gardeners, late summer brings a happy burst of activity around the fruits—and vegetables—of their labor. Many gardeners can and store foods to prolong the enjoyment of their home-grown staples. Some are preparing the garden for a fall crop, benefiting from the last of the mild weather.
At this time of the year, it may be helpful to know about a handy product that can increase the success and enjoyment of the backyard, the garden and its bounty. Dilute chlorine bleach solutions can be used judiciously to help destroy harmful microorganisms on surfaces. Bleach is a great example of “chemistry in a bottle.”
One of the most challenging aspects of cooking is safely handling raw foods. Uncooked and undercooked foods can transfer pathogens to every surface they contact, including cooks’ hands. With no way of knowing whether a given raw food harbors pathogens, cooks must assume all raw foods do. That is the reason, for example, we never return cooked meats to the platter upon which they were delivered, raw, to the backyard grill.
We live in an age in which scientists regularly reveal remarkable details of the inner workings of the human body. Recently, a group of German researchers shed new light on the composition of the “antibacterial cocktail” that our immune systems concoct to fight off infection.1 The scientists demonstrated that the active chemical in that cocktail
Dogs Can Get the Flu As if this flu season hasn’t been enough of a trial for humans, now there is news that some of our four-legged best friends are contracting “canine influenza,” aka “dog flu.” The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reports that two strains of canine influenza virus, H3N8 and H3N2, have been