Should we be eliminating copper hardware?

[BrunDog]

I definitely learned a lesson I starting this thread - that a logical academic assessment will probably not be made by many. I asked a question, and people who didn't like the idea of their practices possibly being questioned spewed off unrelated comments in an attempt to derail the discussion, appear smart, or be funny. Such as it is on forums.

My last post here. I appreciate those who provided substantiated feedback regarding copper use in our rigs. I feel pretty good that having copper chillers which are maintained clean are appropriate/safe to use.

 

[MaxStout]

I wouldn't downplay this thread too much. I think it brought out many of the salient points of the concern with copper. The big takeaway I found was that the FDA threshold levels for copper are several times higher than the levels that are harmful to yeast. A few posters pointed this out. The yeast become the "canary in the coal mine" in that they will likely die off before the copper levels get to the point of being harmful in human consumption.

BrunDog, I appreciate you bringing up this topic for discussion.

 

[k-moe]

Please only let this be your last post in this thread, and not in the forum. Asking questions is the most important part of learning. Ignorance and fear only grows when those with knowledge and evidence remain silent.

 

[Yooper]

I definitely learned a lesson I starting this thread - that a logical academic assessment will probably not be made by many. I asked a question, and people who didn't like the idea of their practices possibly being questioned spewed off unrelated comments in an attempt to derail the discussion, appear smart, or be funny. Such as it is on forums.

My last post here. I appreciate those who provided substantiated feedback regarding copper use in our rigs. I feel pretty good that having copper chillers which are maintained clean are appropriate/safe to use.

Unfortunately, a forum can be that way although we try to keep discussions civil and fair. If there is something over the line, we'd appreciate a report on it so we could delete it if needed. Attempts to derail are specifically prohibited and we do try to stop those right away if we are aware of them.

I appreciate a discussion based on science.

 

[Firewalker11]

Were there unrelated posts made to derail or negate the topic? I think that when debating any topic, especially one that may be polarized, the use of anecdotal stories or opinions can serve to keep the focus on the overall issue. Whether I or anyone else are to post for the sake of humor or to fake intelligence, its just part of the forum life and one must thicken ones skin.

Brew on!

 

[krackin]

I wouldn't use any copper or copper alloy coming out of China. Then again, I don't buy anything out of China.

 

[Firewalker11]

I wouldn't use any copper or copper alloy coming out of China. Then again, I don't buy anything out of China.

Sadly, if you bought any stainless steel from the LHBS or the brew hardware stores, you are buying from China. The stainless steel foundries in the USA just can't compete with the Chinese economy.

 

[petey_c]

I learned some interesting things on this thread about copper/metals in brewing and cooking. I also learned about aliexpress.... I agree, the alcohol in beer will kill me sooner than any trace metals. Back to some required field testing!

 

[slym2none]

I am sorry that anyone took my attempt at humour as a way of me saying "My practices are being questioned!"

I have no dog in this fight (pardon the pun, OP), as I only BIAB and bottle my beer. My lame attempt at humour was nothing more than that - a lame attempt at humour.

 

[jr72023]

I definitely learned a lesson I starting this thread - that a logical academic assessment will probably not be made by many. I asked a question, and people who didn't like the idea of their practices possibly being questioned spewed off unrelated comments in an attempt to derail the discussion, appear smart, or be funny. Such as it is on forums.

My last post here. I appreciate those who provided substantiated feedback regarding copper use in our rigs. I feel pretty good that having copper chillers which are maintained clean are appropriate/safe to use.

It looked like a fairly academic assessment to me. Don't get butthurt. I learned a lot from this thread.

All things are toxic. It all amounts to the exposure level.

Exposure levels were discussed in detail with examples and citations. That is how the scientific method works.

You asked a good question that took a small veer off the rails when people asked just where all of this "discussion" against copper was. Once it got past the questioning of your intents, the posts were very direct in addressing the topic. All in all, a good post that will be easy to find if someone should ever search for it.

So, don't quit posting, please. In every class I have taught I always first inform people that there is no such thing as a dumb question. If they are thinking it, there is a very good chance someone else is thinking it and is afraid to ask.

To sum it up:
Anything can kill you if you over do it.
Unless, you live in Australia, then, everything can kill you.