The Lifestraw: Is This The End Of Travellers’ Diarrhea?
Trust the ever practical Danes to come up with something as useful as this: the ‘Lifestraw’ – a handheld plastic ‘straw’ that filters out ‘at least 99.99 percent of many parasites and bacteria’ (beware the other 0.01%!).
Although some people might see traveller’s diarrhea as an important rite of passage for independent travellers, it’s likely most would welcome a handy water-purifying device like this one.
According to the New York Times, the Lifestraw is a ‘plastic tube with seven filters: graduated meshes with holes as fine as 6 microns (a human hair is 50 to 100 microns), followed by resin impregnated with iodine and another of activated carbon.’
It’s small enough to be worn around your neck, and should last you about a year. It also shouldn’t cost more than $3.
The Lifestraw is unfortunately not yet available to the general public (more field-testing is required), but here’s hoping it won’t be long before it hits the shelves!
Related stories:
‘A $3 Water Purifier That Could Save Lives’ (New York Times)
‘A Bittersweet Farewell to ‘Traveler’s D’‘ (Rolf Potts)
Posted in Travel Gear, Travel News
October 12, 2006 at 5:49 am
Don’t think the LifeStraw will be the end of the Tenacious D. Note the Times article mentions that the straw does not filter giardia which is one of TD’s main culprits.
October 16, 2006 at 4:54 am
Giardia will emerge dead due to the iodine element, Kelsey.