Penicillin has been in existence since the early 1900’s and we have been using it to help treat and cure bacterial infections since then, but it was not developed deliberately. It was actually discovered by accident by a scientist in Scotland named Sir Alexander Fleming in 1928.
While conducting some experiments in his laboratory in London, he noticed that a dish of Staphylococcus had been cross-contaminated with Penicillium notatum. The penicillium inhibited the growth of the bacteria in a semicircle and he believed in the beginning that this was the discovery of a simple disinfectant. He saw that it was effective, but was not very toxic. He did not realize just how important his discovery was at the time and the use of penicillin as a drug did not really start until after 1939. Infectious bacteria was not much of a match for the new drug, but at the time Britain was in the middle of World War II and did not have the money that was required to make the large amount of penicillin that was required in order to do more clinical studies on its usefulness. It soon asked the United States for assistance on the matter.
Soon after a lab in Peoria agreed to assist with the production of the penicillin, a search began to find the most appropriate strain of Penicillium notatum. A strain that multiplied quickly was needed and not too long after a worldwide search began, the strain they were looking for was found in a cantaloupe in a market next to the lab that had agreed to assist the Oxford lab to produce the penicillin in the first place.
By around the end of 1941, a mold nutrition expert named Andrew J. Moyer was able to multiply the production of penicillin by about 10 times and by 1943, penicillin was finally approved by public use. In the beginning, doses of penicillin were very expensive, but as it became more common, the doses went down in price significantly finally settling around fifty cents per dose in the mid 1940’s.
Unfortunately, there are some people that have been found to have an allergic reaction to penicillin and cannot be treated with it in the case of bacterial infection like other people can. If you are allergic to penicillin, it is possible that your child may also be allergic, so if your girlfriend or wife is expecting, you should notify your spouse’s doctor of your allergy.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Miami water damage restoration companies and
mold remediation companies across the united states.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Bleach Is Not The Best Method To Kill Mold
People who run and maintain a household will probably contend that they use bleach to clean and disinfect just about anything that needs it, but what they might not be aware of is the fact that bleach is not the great purifier that we tend to think that it is. It has been used for years by dutiful housewives trying to get by without having to go to the store and buy another cleaner and it has come into light recently as being good for the removal of mold. Unfortunately, these claims are not true.
Bleach will do nothing to eliminate the mold that can occur on porous surfaces such as drywall. A study that was paid for recently by Clorox, the largest manufacturer of chlorine bleach in the world, states that trying to get rid of mold using bleach is to effective on nonporous surfaces only and that trying to use it on porous surfaces will only have a temporary effect. This would mean that if you see mold growing on your ceiling or on another part of your wall, then trying to use chlorine bleach to kill it will only work on a superficial and cosmetic level. The mold is likely to have contaminated the entire depth of the board and will only grow back later.
The EPA also does not classify chlorine bleach as a registered disinfectant that will terminate mold infections. Every bottle of disinfectant that kills mold is labeled with a registration number and there is no current brand of bleach in existence that has this label.
Also, in the effort to save the time of going to the store and buying more chemicals and in the interest of saving money, some people who attempt to get rid of mold themselves are often guilty of believing that mixing household chemicals can somehow “up the ante” and give them an advantage of some sort. It is a misconception that mixing household chemicals can somehow make them more effective and it is also dangerous. Chlorine bleach should not be mixed with any other household chemical, especially anything that contains ammonia. When chlorine bleach is mixed with ammonia, it can give off hazardous fumes and if your home is not properly ventilated at the time, these fumes can do serious harm to you. When attempting to remove mold from your home or business, it is always best to purchase chemicals that are reputable and advertised as able to kill mold.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Bleach will do nothing to eliminate the mold that can occur on porous surfaces such as drywall. A study that was paid for recently by Clorox, the largest manufacturer of chlorine bleach in the world, states that trying to get rid of mold using bleach is to effective on nonporous surfaces only and that trying to use it on porous surfaces will only have a temporary effect. This would mean that if you see mold growing on your ceiling or on another part of your wall, then trying to use chlorine bleach to kill it will only work on a superficial and cosmetic level. The mold is likely to have contaminated the entire depth of the board and will only grow back later.
The EPA also does not classify chlorine bleach as a registered disinfectant that will terminate mold infections. Every bottle of disinfectant that kills mold is labeled with a registration number and there is no current brand of bleach in existence that has this label.
Also, in the effort to save the time of going to the store and buying more chemicals and in the interest of saving money, some people who attempt to get rid of mold themselves are often guilty of believing that mixing household chemicals can somehow “up the ante” and give them an advantage of some sort. It is a misconception that mixing household chemicals can somehow make them more effective and it is also dangerous. Chlorine bleach should not be mixed with any other household chemical, especially anything that contains ammonia. When chlorine bleach is mixed with ammonia, it can give off hazardous fumes and if your home is not properly ventilated at the time, these fumes can do serious harm to you. When attempting to remove mold from your home or business, it is always best to purchase chemicals that are reputable and advertised as able to kill mold.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Beware Of Water Damage Caused By Frozen Pipes
If you have just moved into a new home or even if it is just a rental, if you are planning on spending the winter there, it might be a good idea to remember to wrap any water pipes that you can gain access to. Most people who have owned a home for a while know all about this necessity, but if it is your first home, you might not think about it until it is too late. Well, it is likely that your parents mentioned it to you when you were younger, but you did not understand fully why they did it.
So, why wrap them? When the temperature outside falls below around twenty degrees Fahrenheit, the water pipes that are in your basement, under your sink, or outside exposed to these temperatures can become frozen and will burst. This will not only cause your water bill to go up if you do not notice this right away (and you should, unless you are away on vacation), but also cause water damage to the inside of your home depending on which pipe was ruptured.
Any pipes that you can reach easily should be wrapped up in some kind of insulation and if you can manage to get warm air to any of these pipes, it is a good idea to do so. Keeping the pipes above freezing is not too difficult if you have some good common sense.
The first thing to do is to open your bathroom and kitchen cabinets so that any heat inside your home can reach the water pipes inside. Even if your home is not being heated by a central heat and air system, you can still use space heaters to get this benefit as long as you are careful not to place them close enough to the cabinets for them to catch fire. Careful placement of space heaters is essential if you do not want to start a house fire. Use space heaters with caution.
It is also advised to leave a tad of water running in most faucets during the wintertime; even though your water bill may be a little more every month, but it might be a good idea to do this, anyway. The cost of repairing the water damage a busted pipe can cause far outweighs the little bit of extra you might pay each month during the winter by leaving a little water running all the time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
So, why wrap them? When the temperature outside falls below around twenty degrees Fahrenheit, the water pipes that are in your basement, under your sink, or outside exposed to these temperatures can become frozen and will burst. This will not only cause your water bill to go up if you do not notice this right away (and you should, unless you are away on vacation), but also cause water damage to the inside of your home depending on which pipe was ruptured.
Any pipes that you can reach easily should be wrapped up in some kind of insulation and if you can manage to get warm air to any of these pipes, it is a good idea to do so. Keeping the pipes above freezing is not too difficult if you have some good common sense.
The first thing to do is to open your bathroom and kitchen cabinets so that any heat inside your home can reach the water pipes inside. Even if your home is not being heated by a central heat and air system, you can still use space heaters to get this benefit as long as you are careful not to place them close enough to the cabinets for them to catch fire. Careful placement of space heaters is essential if you do not want to start a house fire. Use space heaters with caution.
It is also advised to leave a tad of water running in most faucets during the wintertime; even though your water bill may be a little more every month, but it might be a good idea to do this, anyway. The cost of repairing the water damage a busted pipe can cause far outweighs the little bit of extra you might pay each month during the winter by leaving a little water running all the time.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Critical Steps You Must Take If Your Home Is Flooded
Investing in a home that is in an area prone to floods can be frustrating, especially after the home you just bought gets flooded for the first time. Having to dry out parts of the building or even the entire thing can be a long and tedious process and if you have not ever had to do it, you might not know how to go about it. There are a few different things that you need to do after a home has become flood damaged and precautions to take in case it happens again.
After flood waters have receded and you re-enter your home, you need to be certain that there is no risk of electrocution. All power to your home should be cut before you re-enter, because it is likely that there is still some standing water. There are also some biological risks that you take when you go back into a home or other building that has been flooded. There are all kinds of chemicals and biological hazards that tend to exist in flood waters and you should wear protective gear while you are attempting to dry out your home and thoroughly wash your hands before you eat.
Before you begin trying to do anything to the home, you should take a video camera and carefully document the damage done to every part of your home. Do this thoroughly and try not to miss anything because this will help you tremendously when trying to file an insurance claim on your damaged home.
You should start by removing any insulation in your attic that has become wet. This will weigh down on your ceilings and can cause them to collapse, because wet insulation is not only heavy, but no longer effective. Anything else in the home that is still wet should be removed and set outside to dry. Opening windows to allow air to circulate through the home is also essential and if you have hardwood floors, drying them out naturally is the best way to go if you do not want to cause them to buckle. Using hot air from heaters to dry your home out is not recommended at all.
Watch for mold beginning to grow in the home shortly after the waters have receded. Mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours after something has come into contact with water or high humidity. This is another issue that you do not want to have to deal with after a flood, not only because of the damage that it can do to your home, but also because of the damage it can do to your health.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Dallas Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
After flood waters have receded and you re-enter your home, you need to be certain that there is no risk of electrocution. All power to your home should be cut before you re-enter, because it is likely that there is still some standing water. There are also some biological risks that you take when you go back into a home or other building that has been flooded. There are all kinds of chemicals and biological hazards that tend to exist in flood waters and you should wear protective gear while you are attempting to dry out your home and thoroughly wash your hands before you eat.
Before you begin trying to do anything to the home, you should take a video camera and carefully document the damage done to every part of your home. Do this thoroughly and try not to miss anything because this will help you tremendously when trying to file an insurance claim on your damaged home.
You should start by removing any insulation in your attic that has become wet. This will weigh down on your ceilings and can cause them to collapse, because wet insulation is not only heavy, but no longer effective. Anything else in the home that is still wet should be removed and set outside to dry. Opening windows to allow air to circulate through the home is also essential and if you have hardwood floors, drying them out naturally is the best way to go if you do not want to cause them to buckle. Using hot air from heaters to dry your home out is not recommended at all.
Watch for mold beginning to grow in the home shortly after the waters have receded. Mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours after something has come into contact with water or high humidity. This is another issue that you do not want to have to deal with after a flood, not only because of the damage that it can do to your home, but also because of the damage it can do to your health.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Dallas Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Tips To Prevent Wildfire Damage
Even though wildfires are a part of the natural process of creation and destruction in the environment, the bad thing for people is that sometimes their homes are located directly in the path. A large number of people have to worry every year whether a wildfire will affect their area, but if you own your home and you know what to do, there are things that can protect your home from them. Depending on the circumstances and where your home is located, it may not be enough, but it certainly cannot hurt to try and you may actually end up saving your home.
Using fire-resistant materials on the exterior of your house is essential. The roofing material is the most important, since this has the largest amount of surface area and sparks of fire called firebrands will be picked up by the wind and possibly carried over your house. Having the fire-resistant roofing material such as metal, fiberglass, or tile will slow down the spread of the fire from the roof and it may not even catch on fire at all from one of these small sparks. You do not want to use oil-based roofing materials on a home that is located in a place at risk of wildfires.
Fire-resistant materials on the outer walls of your home will also slow down the spread of the fire, such as stone, metal, or brick, so if you are considering having a home built for you, these are materials you really want to consider. You should also have smaller windows on the exterior of your home, since large windows are more likely to break and allow the hot air and fire sparks from the outside of the house inside, where it will catch curtains and everything else. If you have to have large windows, have multi-pane ones instead of single-pane.
If there is a wildfire close to where you live, wet down the exterior of the house, especially your roof. This will give a little extra protection against firebrands floating by on the wind. Wetting down the yard and vegetation will also help, but you should do this just before you decide to leave the house.
Get rid of any dead vegetation in the yard and do not allow things like dead leaves to build up, since these are easy targets. If you do have a pile of leaves in your yard, the best thing that you can do before you evacuate is soak them down with water.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Using fire-resistant materials on the exterior of your house is essential. The roofing material is the most important, since this has the largest amount of surface area and sparks of fire called firebrands will be picked up by the wind and possibly carried over your house. Having the fire-resistant roofing material such as metal, fiberglass, or tile will slow down the spread of the fire from the roof and it may not even catch on fire at all from one of these small sparks. You do not want to use oil-based roofing materials on a home that is located in a place at risk of wildfires.
Fire-resistant materials on the outer walls of your home will also slow down the spread of the fire, such as stone, metal, or brick, so if you are considering having a home built for you, these are materials you really want to consider. You should also have smaller windows on the exterior of your home, since large windows are more likely to break and allow the hot air and fire sparks from the outside of the house inside, where it will catch curtains and everything else. If you have to have large windows, have multi-pane ones instead of single-pane.
If there is a wildfire close to where you live, wet down the exterior of the house, especially your roof. This will give a little extra protection against firebrands floating by on the wind. Wetting down the yard and vegetation will also help, but you should do this just before you decide to leave the house.
Get rid of any dead vegetation in the yard and do not allow things like dead leaves to build up, since these are easy targets. If you do have a pile of leaves in your yard, the best thing that you can do before you evacuate is soak them down with water.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of
Texas Water Damage Restoration and
Houston Water Damage Restoration Which are Certified IICRC Water damage and mold remediation contractors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
