One of the interesting things about beer is that the act of brewing does not generate any pathogens. Sure, eating a teaspoonful of trub is probably really nasty, but there’s nothing in there that can kill you.

It turns out, beer can also help us with other chemical nasties. According to Kobe Pharmaceutical University in Japan, beer bran, a byproduct of brewing that is discarded by the truckful, can soak up hazardous organic compounds including benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE). (TCE is used in paint and other products, and there is mounting evidence that it is a carcinogen.)

Manufacturers have, to this point, used activated carbon filters to absorb these chemicals. Unfortunately, this method is expensive and uses a lot of energy. Beer bran, which is practically as cheap as dirt, is nearly as effective.

(Source: New Scientist (paywall). See also: Metro.co.uk)

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