You forgot about germs and parasites.
Comment on Take one!
QuinceDaPence@kbin.social 7 months agoFun fact: tetanus comes from dirt, not rust
Slow@lemmy.today 7 months ago
QuinceDaPence@kbin.social 7 months ago
Yeah but Tetanus is caused by a specific bacteria called Clostridium Tetani and I don't know how it would find its way to a random thumb tack.
LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 7 months ago
So are you saying there is no risk of tetanus after getting pierced by a rusty nail with no dirt on it?
QuinceDaPence@kbin.social 7 months ago
Correct. If you take a totally clean, disinfected nail, stick it in some lab grade brine until it gets rusty, and then stab yourself with it, there is a 0% chance of getting tetanus.
You could technically have tetanus on something without it being covered in dirt. My point is tetanus bacteria lives in the dirt. But the rust has nothing to do with it other than making the metal more likely to cut or pierce you.
People tend to think the rust is what causes it.
EddoWagt@feddit.nl 7 months ago
Correct, I definitely thought that was the case
SuckMyWang@lemmy.world 7 months ago
Not me I never thought that. In fact I never even thought about it at all so I’m next level stupid
penguin_knight@lemmy.world 7 months ago
i was told the increased surface area caused by rusting provided a better environment for tetanus
Username@feddit.de 7 months ago
It appears to be a complete US phenomenon to me. I have only ever heard this myth in online media, and it just seems absurd that Bacteria somehow preferd iron oxide.