Copper in HVAC Coils

[Guest guest]

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