Quote Originally Posted by Neil Miller View Post
I think you have to qualify what is meant by ALL bacteria and viruses dying within a short time of exposure. How about the ones that form spores? Some dormant spores have been cultured after centuries.

Anthrax, for example, can live for many decades - not only as a dusty spore (remember the terrorist attacks?) but in animal products like bone. So sanding bone (or horn?) scales could liberate them into the air.

The spores of clostridium are resistant to antibacteriological agents and treatments.

Many other microbes produce spores that ate heat, drought and irradiation resistant.

The strength of alcohol used to inhibit or kill bacteria is also questionable. Methanol (50%) will kill dried E. Coli bacteria because it contains water - some high grade alcohols will not. In fact the higher percentages (90 - 99%) may be less effective than the lower concentrations: E. Coli when dried is not killed by alcohol in concentrations of 94% and 99%, even after 24 hours. The same goes for several staphylococcus species - and others, too. However, these results are not true for all species of bacteria.

As for viruses dying straight away outside the body - flu germs can live for 48 hours on surfaces. Polio virus can survive for between 24hrs and 5 days on glass or steel. Rhinovirus can survive for up 7 days on stainless steel. Hepatitus B can survive for up to 14 days on stainless steel. Some strains of herpes can survive for up 8 weeks outside the body. The conditions have to be taken into consideration though - how hot or cool it is, the ambient humidity of the air, the amount of UV from the sun, etc.

I'm not trying to be alarmist - I don't even think that there is a real threat if sensible precautions are taken - I just like to question sweeping statements!

Regards,
Neil
I contracted anthrax from a few of my antique razors but have since built up an immunity. You just have to consider it as one of those childhood illnesses.