PPG working on self-cleaning counters that kill, resist bacteria

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ^ | July 24, 2004 | The Associated Press

[skinkinthegrass]

HA!HA!...You forgot the paw prints. :)

[Petronski]

Willie, are you a good onion?

[Betteboop]

ROTFLMAO LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!! Tooooooo funny!!!!!

[Nick Danger]

Self-cleaning counters? This will be a boon to men everywhere. I can hardly wait for the self-cleaning stoves and the self-cleaning kitchen floors. Self-vacuuming carpets would be cool, too.

No, it's a dust bunny.

[Chewbacca]

Silver impregnated into the countertop surface would kill bacteria.

Silver is a natural anti-bacterial agent.

[Willie Green]

Studies have shown that the constant use of anti bacterials in our homes is what is causing the increase in allergies. I don't care how clean they make the counter. We are evolved in a bacteria infested environment. Get rid of the bacteria and we harm ourself.

Awwwwwww, gee whiz.
GSlob had me leaning toward believing this titania coating was no more harmful than a little hydrogen peroxide.
Now you have me flip-flopping back toward thinking that maybe it could be harmful, just like excessive use of antibiotic drugs like penicillin which the little bacterial beasties eventually mutate and become immune to.
Please have mercy on me. I'm just an engineer.
I understand things like basic chemistry, physics, electricity and crap like that,
but I get lost in the bio-specialty fields of microorganisms, organic chemistry, etc, etc.
Can anybody explain to me (simply please) how this titanium coating is different than the overuse of antibiotic DRUGS that is making the super bacteria evolve?
Sheeeeesh, I know we hafta keep things reasonably clean to avoid disease, but when does "clean" become "too clean" because the nasty organisms mutate into even worse vermin?

[Willie Green]

Willie, are you a good onion?

Well back in my hippie daze, I used to do a variety of vegetable impersonations.
My friends especially enjoyed my portrayal of a beet or a tomato.
But that was well over 30 years ago, man.
I honestly can't remember if an onion was part of my repertoire or not.

[ridesthemiles]

Another harm is to the water processing (sewage) plants and septic tanks. They REQUIRE bacteria to work properly and break down out waste.
I just had my septic pumped as a prelim to selling my house. The workman told me two things which make him ALOT of money.
Powdered soap: It makes a heavy crust in the tank which inhibits the normal breakdown on the way to the leach field.
Anti-Bacterial soap. Slows or stops the natural workings of the system. He said his business has been booming since these soaps became so well promoted.
I'm glad I use neither. Cost of the regular pumping is enough of a $$$ hit. Replacing your leach field can run into the thousands of dollars. IF you can get another perk area.
So even for the city dwellers, you are costing yourselves more money by indiscriminate use of certain products. It costs your city more to operate your water treatment facilities. You pay this bill eventually.
I also believe the dramatic increase in allergies is due to an over cautious parent worrying about their little darling all the time. Mother always said "if we hadn't eaten at least a pound of dirt by the time we graduated high school, we weren't properly immunized". She raised 4 of us, and our overall health is very good.

[Marie]

Silver is a natural anti-bacterial agent.

Silver also takes care of warts. (Snip off the top, then every night for a week, apply a cotton ball soalked in colloidal silver.) I've also seen it work very well for strep. No joy with the flu, though. Or fungus. Interesting stuff.

[farmfriend]

You bring up some great points. And your mom was right. Studies suggest that this lack of immuno workout is the main cause of allergies.

[farmfriend]

It may be different in that it does not promote resistant strains, I'm still on the fence myself on that one, the point I was making is that we need those bacteria for our own health. The increase in allergies may be caused by the over use of anti bacterials. Keeping things too clean turns our immune systems into couch potatoes.