Klarinet Archive - Posting 000958.txt from 1998/05

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Reeds and Germs
Date: Sat, 16 May 1998 23:13:37 -0400

Justin Wood wrote:
>
> <snip>
> Dee Hays said that you can disinfect reeds with peroxide...
>
> I hate to do this to you, but I don't think that peroxide will kill the
> virus. The main reason peroxide works on a cut or something is because the
> bubbles push out the dirt and other foreign matter. The same with reeds.
> When a read gets to the point it appears "yucky" it just has some dirt and
> other foreign matter stuck in the fibers. The peroxide just pushes the dirt
> and foreign matter out of the read.
>
> Though letting the reeds sit without being used will kill the virus. The
> virus is dependent upon a living host which a reed is not. Soon the virus
> should die...
>
> Somebody should correct me if I am wrong.

You're wrong. Hydrogen peroxide is an unstable compound, H2O2, that
releases oxygen easily. Oxygen will kill anoxic bacteria, many of
which are pathogens. Whether or not hydrogen peroxide kills viruses
is beyong my knowlege. Another quick trip to the dictionary will
verify that H2O2 is a disinfecting agent, as well as a rocket fuel!

Some viruses encyst themselves and can live a _very_ long time without
a host.
--
Mark Charette | "This is a very democratic organization, so let's
charette@-----. All those who disagree with me, raise
MIKA Systems, Inc.| their hands." - Eugene Ormandy
Webmaster of http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet, The Clarinet Pages

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