Okay, raise your hands if the first thing you thought when you heard about IOGEAR's
Germ Free Wireless Laser Mouse was "That probably uses an unregistered pesticide that warrants government involvement." Yeah, that's what we thought -- but it appears some
freak concerned citizen had your best interests in mind, because the EPA just fined IOGEAR $208,000 based on a tip that the company's Germ Free keyboard and mice peripherals were violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Apparently no one ever verified that the titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticle compound on the mice is actually effective at killing nasties, and even if it is, it's illegal to sell pesticides without Uncle Sam's blessing. IOGEAR's stopped claiming that the products kill germs and forked over the cash, but it's not clear if the products still have the coating on them. Either way, you should probably start washing your hands more, Mr. Filthy.
[Via
Nanotech Project]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
aj @ Mar 7th 2008 8:31PM
All that crap does anyways is help breed super bacteria. e.g. http://scienceline.org/2008/02/15/health-hadhazy-antibacterials/
Aguiluz @ Mar 7th 2008 8:36PM
+1
Anyway, that's why it says "unverified claims" on the entry title, right? Unverified that it really works! (In fact, it may be doing the reverse.)
Aguiluz @ Mar 8th 2008 12:01AM
"Apparently no one ever verified that the titanium dioxide and silver nanoparticle compound on the mice is actually effective at killing nasties"
http://www.ccohs.ca/headlines/text186.html
Aguiluz @ Mar 7th 2008 8:34PM
Germ resistant mice are for paranoids. Generally, you will not need a germ-resistant mouse unless:
1. You share the computer, especially with diseased ones (not me!). [no offense]
2. You work in some place really dirty. (no, not me!)
3. You put that mouse in some place really dirty, like in the toilet. (no!)
4. You regularly use your butt to move your mouse. (bleh!)
Tim @ Mar 7th 2008 8:39PM
Have you been spying on me?
Aguiluz @ Mar 7th 2008 11:55PM
@Tim
Umm... No?
Mark @ Mar 7th 2008 8:51PM
Germ-resistant mice? Sounds like genetic engineering.
Peter @ Mar 7th 2008 8:55PM
heavy metals have been used to control bacterial growth for a verym very long time. Only recently has it been used to coat consumer products. There's a company that logitech deals with called Agion (Ag = elemental Silver). I hope they have the okay to use it by uncle sam.
happy_penguin @ Mar 9th 2008 4:50AM
Yep. Thimerosal was used for years in contact lens solutions. It contains Mercury. I'm sure it's been used for many products.
Mmmm cheese @ Mar 7th 2008 8:59PM
Well, that explains my odd obsession with cheese and squeeking...
JK @ Mar 7th 2008 9:21PM
Metals such as silver or gold particles aren't supposed to claim that they kill bacteria. Whether or not it's true, the claim is that they prevent bacterial growth.
happy_penguin @ Mar 9th 2008 4:56AM
I think you are right. It's not that heavy metals kill bacteria per se, just that they are able to control the growth of bacteria.... I think.
dlreid @ Mar 7th 2008 9:23PM
It's hilarious that the EPA is classifying TiO2 and Ag nanoparticles as "pesticides". Are there any real scientists left at the EPA these days?
Trent @ Mar 7th 2008 11:00PM
Nope, Bush fired all the real scientists and replaced them with friends who worked in the banking industry or republican party. Remember the mantra of the Bush administration, "We don't care what you know, only how loyal you are.".
Daniel @ Mar 7th 2008 11:56PM
Thanks for linking us directly to the website of the product featured in this post, Nilay! That is so helpful! We all appreciate it!
Oh wait... no you didn't.
Jerk.
Sean Ty-Eight @ Mar 8th 2008 12:19AM
Sometimes you just need to unregistered-pesticide a bitch.
mr friggles @ Mar 8th 2008 12:36AM
Silver most definitely does kill germies...which is probably why the FDA stepped in. Can't have this kind of stuff becoming common knowledge. Next thing you know people will be demanding silver coated handles at hospitals to limit the spread of those antibiotic-resistant super bugs they keep producing. Nope. Can't have that.
fairportfan @ Mar 8th 2008 4:05PM
I don't really have nay evidence one way or the toher that silver actually kills germs (though silver notrate - i think it's the nitrate - is good fo cauterising small skin ulcers), but i feeled to point out the whole "colloidal silver cures everything" fad i used to get a lot of spam promoting is a rerun of one from many years ago.
Let's just say that, whether or not it cures anything, taken in doseages sufficient to actually have any real effect, it has Unfortunate Side Effects that render it pretty well useless.
See:
http://www.doh.state.fl.us/PHARMACY/alert2.htm
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/111/case_reports/argyria/wadhera.html
http://www.billingsgazette.com/rednews/2002/10/03/build/local/72-candidate_large.inc
(The last is a photo of Stan Jones, perennial unsuccessful Libertarian Party candidate for Senate and Governor, who developed the condition from the use of home-brewed colloidal silver remedies...)
mr friggles @ Mar 9th 2008 4:59PM
Hello health industry troll. A simple google search would show you that silver has been known to kill germs, since..well..the middle ages.
Here's just 1 article describing its germ killing effectiveness, as well as its known history dating back to, well..the middle ages.
http://betterbizbuilders.com/content/view/61/86/
Many people have also taken Collidial Silver to treat various illnesses with great benefits. And it shouldn't be surprising that someone making a home-brew concoction would botch it - that doesn't mean its any less effective. Just look at how many die of aspirin. If someone tried to make their own aspirin pills and botched it, noone would blame the aspirin.
From years of personal research on the subject I can strongly recommend anyone who might be interested in silver benefits to look up collidial silver and try it out if everything looks on the up & up.
markcih @ Mar 8th 2008 7:23AM
All they had to do was register; there were ample notices in the Federal Register and if in fact Agion was a supplier (as they are for one of my company's products) then Agion provides that info and will help you apply. Note if one makes any claim for controlling bacteria it falls under the EPA. FIFRA includes things with bacteriostatic properties.
Atanas Boev @ Mar 8th 2008 12:30PM
And I didn't even know the word "Rodenticide" exists. Someone should name a nu metal band likt that :)
dajimmers @ Mar 8th 2008 7:33PM
Well there is a need for stuff like this that works (and preferably doesn't grow resistant buggers). Hospitals these days are relying more and more on computer-based care, and that means more and more hands inadvertently sharing bugs on keyboards and mice. Even if people washed (they don't), some still get by from time to time. Guess we'll just have to wait for mind-controlled PCs.
Oh, and it seems a bit odd, if not evil, to use rodenticides on mice.
Mike @ Mar 13th 2008 9:54AM
Silver is what is being used in the latest anit-scent products for hunters. Both Titanium Dioxide and silver nanoparticles are known to kill bacteria. I'm guessing it's the "free" part of the "germ free" that they are getting hammered on.
P.S. Titanium Dioxide is in lots of stuff, like food, tooth paste, and paint.