Why Does Salt Kill so many Pathogens? Parasites/Bacteria?

Question

To reiterate: Why Does Salt Kill Parasites, Bacteria and Viruses?
Are there ANY pathogens that can live in high salt concentrations?
Is this rare?

Answer 1

Because of osmosis the water from the cells comes out and thus the microorganisms die. Actually it doesn't really kill viruses.
Viruses are not considered living organisms at least according to the way we currently define living organisms. It could be possible that high salt concentrations might denature some viral proteins and interfere with the ability of the virus to infect cells. However my guess is that generally viruses themselves will not have a problem in high salt conditions because of their structural organisation.

There are the halophiles which can survive at salt levels ten times that of ocean water. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halophile

Answer 2

High salt concentration has been an alternative food preservation method for centuries.....primarily due to the inhibition of MOST micro-organisms. Sugar will also inhibit bacterial growth. It is due to osmotic effects. Anything that causes large water loss is likely to kill that cell. There are some significant human pathogens that are capable of surviving high salt levels. Remember, our body is 0.9% sodium chloride. that is relatively low salt. Staphylococcus aureus can easily survive 6.5% salt. Vibrio vulnificus is commonly found in seawater. It is the cause of food poisoning and septicemia every year.....primarily from eating improperly prepared or raw oysters. Parasitic organisms and viruses are not necessarily easier to kill just by increasing the salt concentration. Good Question.

Answer 3

Does Salt Kill Viruses

Answer 4

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Yes. In several senses. The goverment reccomends no more than 6g of salt a day for an adult [1]. If you eat more than this is can cause heart dissease. Salt given in large doses at once can also cause serious problems to other organs in your body including your brain and kidneys. There was a court case a few years ago where a couple were on trial for allegedly poisening their adopted son by feeding him 4 teaspoons of salt! [2] So, yes, salt can kill.

Answer 5

When a living cell is placed in a solution containing high Salt concentration, it causes the water to move out of the cell. The process is known as osmosis. This exodus of water from an organisim kills it.

Answer 6

Last Updated: Thursday, 24 February, 2005, 16:22 GMT E-mail this to a friend Printable version Son's bizarre death in salt case Jeremy Britton BBC News David Stocker's death from salt poisoning was sudden and unexpected. The nine-year-old had spent seven months suffering from a mystery illness that baffled doctors at both his local hospital in Hornchurch, Essex, as well as the world famous Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Petrina Stocker Petrina Stocker denied poisoning her nine year-old son But his death followed a series of unusual events which made doctors and nurses increasingly suspicious that his mother, Petrina, was deliberately tampering with David's samples and medical equipment in an attempt to fabricate symptoms that were not really there. Some of David's urine samples seemed to have had blood clots added on top of them. The vomit samples his mother showed to staff also appeared odd - sometimes looking like blackcurrant juice or smelling minty. And on two occasions his intravenous drip appeared to have been adjusted and a white powdery substance added. Disastrous miscalculation When nurses asked Petrina if they could watch David pass urine she refused, saying he was too embarrassed. When nurses suggested moving David closer to their nursing station she again refused, saying it would make him upset. Petrina Stocker's final attempt to deceive the doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital proved to be a disastrous miscalculation, the court was told. In August 2001 she allegedly went into the communal kitchen area and scooped teaspoons of table salt into the bottles containing her son's milk feed. The prosecution claim she had no intention to kill David, saying that in all likelihood it was another ruse to keep the doctors guessing about his symptoms. Within a few days he was dead. I'm gone say it depends on your size probably somewhere around 12-14 tablespoons.

Answer 7

Bacteria and parasites still require water--salt draws water out of those organisms causing their destruction.

Answer 8

It dehydrates them........their water will leave to the area with higher concentration.......................... I dont know the pathogens that can survive in high salt concentration

Answer 9

It dries them out.