Guest guest Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Thanks Carl. Its always nice to hear other opinions on these new products, when in reality they are not new at all.Just the marketing is. KC > > Group, > > Re: previous subject posted July 23: " New Research is a Breath > of Fresh Air for Heating and Air Conditioning Units " > > As a follow-up to my post about how careful and diligent we must > be on the mycotoxin test kit (and all other claims), I have a > response on copper cooling coils from an HVAC expert who is > deeply involved with several HVAC non-profit organizations, is a > leader in developing industry standards, plus has some insight > into regulatory agencies. > > The above news item was touting how copper has anti-microbial > properties and thus offers the " breath of fresh air " for HVAC units. > The A/C coils are notorious for a build-up of dust plus growth of > mold and bacteria because they act like a filter and become > damp with use. It is a difficult and costly problem for the > equipment and, oh by the way, can affect people. > > Paraphrasing his response to me plus my comments: > > A lobbyist group representing the copper industry successfully > lobbied for a government grant to study the anti-microbial > properties of copper. Copper is a very strong anti-microbial as is > already well known. The study confirmed this. (Waste!) So now > the lobbying effort is to get EPA to issue claims about the anti- > microbial properties of copper. > > The copper representatives are therefore touting the use of > copper plated surfaces not only on HVAC coils but also door > knobs, door handles and other similar surfaces of human contact. > This would not only increase the sales of copper but drive up the > price as it becomes more scarce. Great for copper producers and > manufacturers of products using copper! > > So now for the caveats: Copper is lethal to organisms that > actually contact the copper surface, but once there is a slight film > or coating of dust or moisture the mold and bacteria can no > longer contact the copper surface. They not only survive but > thrive in the bio-film which forms on the copper surface. > > This is the same reason why anti-microbial coatings on > water damage fail after a short time. Despite their > warranties of 20-30 years, they all say the warranty is void > if it gets damp or wet again. What good is that? > Remember recently how the silver industry was touting > the anit-microbial properties of silver and wanted door > knobs etc coated with silver? Ever wonder why it never > happened? It works in theory but not in practice. Same > with ozone and titanium dioxide light bulbs and other > miracle cures because while some can work in practice, > the practice is in the lab or in big industrial applications > but not on the scale of home use. So, nothing new here. > More of the same 'ol, same 'ol. > > Proof of the failing of copper to prevent this well known problem > in HVAC is the equally well known fact that most HVAC coils > already have copper tubes running through them. So if copper is > " magically " effective why isn't the problem already solved? > > Solid copper is too expensive so the surfaces would be plated > with copper. But copper is very soft and the thin layer on the > surface wouldn't last. It would wear off rather quickly in HVAC > from air flow. Ever see a brass door knob and how there is a > wear pattern from human hands? The surface coating won't last > and much money will have been spent for the only effective > purpose of enriching industry bank accounts by depleting ours. > > What we need to keep in mind is that presence of an anti- > microbial influences efficacy but does not absolutely determine > that anything will be killed or killed sufficiently. Which is really no > different than the problem with exposure. The presence of mold > does not automatically mean we are exposed to it. Presence is > not the same as exposure. > > The converse is that the lack of evidence with mold (or other) > testing is not the same as no exposure. You could be exposed > but the tests can't " see " or detect which of the many parts of mold > and dampness you are being exposed to and which one(s) > causes your symptoms and complaints. > > This isn't meant to discourage. It is meant to emphasize how > carefully informed we must be to successfully take care of > ourselves with what resources we have left. > > Carl Grimes > Healthy Habitats LLC > > ----- > Photos: New Research is a Breath of Fresh Air for Heating and > Air Conditioning > Units > > Copper may increase heating and air conditioning efficiency > and prevent > odors. (PRNewsFoto/Copper Development Association) > > NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES > > > http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT > =104 & STORY=/www/story > /07-22-2009/0005064323 & EDATE= > > Antimicrobial components being tested for increased efficiency > and odor > prevention > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 26, 2009 Report Share Posted July 26, 2009 Thanks Carl, Just one more item to point out. The ONLY thing that prevents mold in A/C systems is efficient filtration because this is what removes the food for microbial growth. ASHRA recommends a minimum of MERV-8 filters for A/C and for folks with allergies, etc. MERV-11 filters are a must. Don't be fooled by claims of treated, washable, electrostatic or electronic filters. Disposable, pleated media filters are the answer for central systems, the deeper the better. For window and wall A/Cs, pleated media filters are not available and you must use foam-type pad filters (such as Web Products). Although high-energy, UV-lamp arrays can be effective in commercial installations, typical, single-bulb UV lamps for homeoowner systems are useless. Some of you may be interested in the PDF of the presentation I gave at the National Air Filter Association (lots of photos!), accessible from the home page at <www.mayindoorair.com>. May May Indoor Air Investigations LLC www.myhouseiskillingme.com > > Group, > > Re: previous subject posted July 23: " New Research is a Breath > of Fresh Air for Heating and Air Conditioning Units " > > As a follow-up to my post about how careful and diligent we must > be on the mycotoxin test kit (and all other claims), I have a > response on copper cooling coils from an HVAC expert who is > deeply involved with several HVAC non-profit organizations, is a > leader in developing industry standards, plus has some insight > into regulatory agencies. > > The above news item was touting how copper has anti-microbial > properties and thus offers the " breath of fresh air " for HVAC units. > The A/C coils are notorious for a build-up of dust plus growth of > mold and bacteria because they act like a filter and become > damp with use. It is a difficult and costly problem for the > equipment and, oh by the way, can affect people. > > Paraphrasing his response to me plus my comments: > > A lobbyist group representing the copper industry successfully > lobbied for a government grant to study the anti-microbial > properties of copper. Copper is a very strong anti-microbial as is > already well known. The study confirmed this. (Waste!) So now > the lobbying effort is to get EPA to issue claims about the anti- > microbial properties of copper. ............ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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