Been off the list for a few months, and don't know whether this subject has made the list or not:
My wife discovered this silver factoid while reading "Targeted: Homeland Security and the Business of Immigration" by Deepa Fernandes: A water backpack marketed by a company formerly owned by ex-NYC police commissioner Bernard Kerik (he sold his share when he was being considered for Homeland Security honcho) are being sold to the U.S. Border Patrol and to the military for troops in Iraq. The Camelbak contains a silver-lined pouch for prolonged purity of the water. After 9-11, Camelbak took its $20 athletic water bag, added better straps and the silver pouch, and sold it to the government for about $200. That's what the book is all about. >From Camelbak's website: Q: How do I clean the reservoir - and how often do I clean it? A: The reservoir is very easy to clean for one very important reason - the entire reservoir and the drinking tube is embedded with silver-ion; a compound that works constantly to keep the system clean by effectively eliminating 99.99% of common bacteria and fungus. It doesn't purify the liquid - it prevents the bacteria from 'sticking' to the wall of the reservoir/drinking tube thus making cleaning a snap. The silver-ion is FDA-Approved and EPA-Registered. My wife has also acquired colloidal silver impregnated food storage containers, sold by Sharper Image. They also market silver socks for diabetics. Don't know whether any of this is new to the list, but I'll catch up quickly.