The Dead Sea mud is no place for bacteria. Why Not?

After reviewing several investigators scientific approach to answering the question, I will attempt to summarize their extensive efforts and encourage you to read the full articles for further information.

Dead Sea Mud has the consistency of clay you might use to make pottery. It is very fine and dense in nature¹. The samples of clay averaged ~35% water but, the water was masked in the clay because of it's fine nature. It might appear dry until squeezed and then express a large amount of water.

The highest counts of bacteria were found to survive best in mud samples that had lowest salinity but salinity doesn't seem to be the most significant factor with regards to the antimicrobial properties of Dead Sea mud. However, the salinity in this mud does reach concentrations upwards of 150 grams/liter. These ion salts predominantly consist of NaCl and MgCl2¹.

Interestingly, there is a significant source of carbon-based matter². Therefore, a lack of food for these prokaryotic creatures (bacteria) is also not a major contributing factor to the antimicrobial power of Dead Sea mud.

So what makes the mud so magically microbe free? It appears that the amount of sulfides in the mud is the number one contributing factor preventing common pathological bacteria (the ones that make us ill, give us acne and infections). These sulfides are believed to be produced by sulfate producing bacteria living or lived in the mud at some point in geological time.

These sulfate-reducing bacteria have not been isolated and we still do not know of any bacterium that is capable of reducing sulfate at the rate required to maintain the concentration of sulfide in the mud³.

In closing, the literature states that the antimicrobial capacity of Dead Sea mud does have an impact on the survival of pathogens as they relate to dermatologic assessment including acne and other superficial lesions and psoriasis². These studies also provide evidence to support the fact that Dead Sea mud has the ability to kill common bacteria that impose upon peoples skin; however, the reasons why Dead Sea mud exhibits this capability are still ambiguous as well as mysterious.


References

1. Report
DMeaa'do rS eta aml.ud antibacterial properties Antimicrobial properties of Dead Sea black mineral mud
Zeev Ma'or1,2, Yigal Henis3,4, Yaacov Alon4, Elina Orlov4, Ketil B. Sorensen5, and Aharon Oren6

2. Oren A. The microbial ecology of the Dead Sea. In: Marshall
KC, ed. Advances in Microbial Ecology, Vol. 10. New York:
Plenum Publishing Co., 1988: 193–229.

3. Fossing H, Jorgensen BB. Measurement of bacterial sulfate
reduction in sediments. Evaluation of a single-step chromium
reduction method. Biogeochemistry 1989; 8: 205–222.




Please let us know if you have any questions or comments by contacting:
trent norris or gary baldwin

Special thanks to Trent Norris & Shelia Rao for researching the Dead Sea Mud literature.

BuyGreenNow is changing the definition of sustainable business by streamlining the green validation process for stylish eco-friendly products and services. BuyGreenNow leverages cutting edge technologies, consumers, and subject matter experts, to evaluate products that fall into one of the following categories: green products, sustainable products, and green and sustainable products. BuyGreenNow publishes evaluation reports on products that it markets and sells, as well as news and information on related topics.

Visit us at buygreennow.com to learn more...