Environmental Graffiti

According to a group of scientists from the University of Maryland and Cardiff University, English Breakfast tea may well provide the solution to Anthrax or Bacillus anthracis.

Black Tea Image by Ultratomio

That’s great news for us Brits who drink millions of gallons of the stuff and it’s more proof that my caffeine addiction is healthy. What is unfortunate however, is that the study led by Professor Les Baillie and Doctor Theresa Gallagher, concluded that the cure only works if the tea is black and doesn’t work at all with whole milk. That means I’m probably screwed in a terrorist attack.

Published in the March issue of the Society for Applied Microbiology’s journal Microbiologist, Professor Baillie said:

“Our research sought to determine if English breakfast tea was more effective than a commercially available American medium roast coffee at killing anthrax. We found that special components in tea such as polyphenols have the ability to inhibit the activity of anthrax quite considerably.”

Professor Baillie continued: “I would suggest that in the event that we are faced with a potential bio-terror attack, individuals may want to forgo their dash of milk at least until the situation is under control.

This research is definitely an interesting solution. Could it be the next line of defense against bio-terrorism? We’ll just have to wait and see. But in the mean time have a cuppa tea old chap.

Source: Press release.

Contact: Professor Les Baillie
bailliel@cf.ac.uk
029-208-75535
Cardiff University

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