/oss/taxonomy/term/782/all en /oss/article/you-asked/should-we-be-anti-all-anti-microbial-products <p>We received a question about antibacterial soaps, namely why should or shouldn’t we be using them? And if we’re supposed to avoid antibacterial soap, why is Purell, an antimicrobial agent, allowed?</p> Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:29:04 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 6919 at /oss /oss/article/did-you-know/honey-more-just-sweet <p>Honey isn’t just useful as a topping for your toast; it’s actually a powerful antimicrobial. To the best of our knowledge, honey never spoils, as it is a supersaturated sugar solution with only 17% water content. Because of this, any bacteria that get into honey are dehydrated by it, as the water from inside the bacterial cells diffuses into the honey, meaning nothing can survive long enough to cause spoilage. When honey sits in the cupboard for a while it can start to crystalize. This is simply sugar precipitating out of the solution; it is not a sign of spoilage.</p> Thu, 18 May 2017 16:42:47 +0000 Ada McVean B.Sc. 2451 at /oss /oss/article/environment-quirky-science-supplements/mystique-parsley-sage-rosemary-and-thyme <div> <p style="text-align:justify"> </p> </div> Fri, 04 Apr 2014 22:29:30 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2123 at /oss /oss/article/controversial-science-health-household-products-news-quirky-science/marketing-appears-trump-science-antibacterials <p>Store shelves these days sag under the weight of antibacterial soaps, cosmetics, socks, toys and even garbage bags. There’s no question that “antibacterial” on a label increases sales, but there are plenty of questions about the wisdom of impregnating everything in sight with compounds that kill bacteria indiscriminately.</p> <p>Triclosan has been the hot antibacterial ingredient in household products for about four decades. But it is now itself feeling the heat, due to concern about endocrine disruption, the promotion of antibiotic resistance and effects on aquatic ecosystems.</p> Thu, 24 Jul 2014 11:24:08 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 2172 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/are-antibacterial-household-products-health-hazard <p>Antibiotic resistance from “superbugs” has been a growing concern of health professionals for the past 20 years. Diseases that are now treatable could soon become fatal, if nothing is done to prevent bacteria from acquiring further resistance. <span>The main cause for antibiotic resistance has been the over-use and misuse of antibiotics.</span></p> Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:33:56 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1821 at /oss /oss/article/food-health-history/honey <p style="text-align:justify"><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/?attachment_id=3659" rel="attachment wp-att-3659"><img alt="winnie the pooh" height="150" src="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/files/2012/11/honey-150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a>We have a sweet topic for today. Honey. That concentrated solution of sugars in water that was central to Winnie the Pooh's obsession. Most of us like it too. The main sugars in honey are fructose and glucose, with smaller amounts of sucrose which of course is ordinary table sugar. There various other compounds in small amounts as well which are responsible for the flavor and aroma. Honey, because of its sugar content, can act as a preservative. The preservative action of sugar is due to its ability to remove water from microorganisms by the process of osmosis. This essentially means that if the concentration of a dissolved material is higher outside the microbe than inside, water will diffuse through the cell membrane to the outside thereby dehydrating and killing the microbe.</p> <p style="text-align:justify">The ancient Romans already knew about this phenomenon and preserved fruits and meats by immersing them in honey. Others made more imaginative use of the preservation property. Both Democritus and Alexander the Great were buried in honey coatings. Much later, Admiral Nelson was returned to England after the battle of Trafalgar in a barrel of honey. The Romans also discovered that wounds healed better when treated with honey and today we understand why. The honey kills microorganisms that can infect a wound. Roman soldiers actually carried honey into battle for this purpose. Modern research shows that there may be compounds in honey other than sugars which could have antibacterial activity.</p> <p><a href="http://blogs.mcgill.ca/oss/2012/11/27/honey/">Read more</a></p> Tue, 27 Nov 2012 20:51:19 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1833 at /oss