Did you know?

We think charcoal is pretty amazing stuff. A whole host of different uses have been made of it in the past and it is still extensively used today. As described elsewhere on this site, it is a remarkable water filter, but it also has air-filtering properties that have been exploited in various ways over the centuries. There is evidence dating back to circa 1500 BC that the ancient Egyptians used it to adsorb malodorous vapours from putrefying wounds. It has also been found in ancient Chinese tombs, where it is thought to have been placed so as to regulate moisture in the air. It was used in gas masks during both world wars and today it is used in various commercial contexts including in the automotive industry, where it is used to help control exhaust emissions. 

In addition, charcoal is well-known as a medicine which aids digestion and treats acute toxic poisoning. Its properties were demonstrated in dramatic fashion by a pharmacist called P F Touery in 1831, who proved the effectiveness of charcoal in cases of poisoning by swallowing 15 grammes of strychnine (apparently, 10 times the lethal dose) and three tablespoons of charcoal. He survived, but we don't recommend you try...