Copepods

Question

Copepods are indeed micro mini crustaceans that look like microscopic shrimp and crabs (so do dust mites, by the way, so sleep with your mouth shut) but they ARE plankton. Plankton are the millions of microscopic organisms that live in our living water supply. Plankton populate all of our rivers, streams, oceans and bays. Little bitty fish eat thousands of them an hour and bigger fish eat the little bitty fish. Plankton are the first and very important stage of the aquatic food chain. Plankton and millions of other organisms have always been a part of our water supply (and in the air too- see dust mites, they look like little crabs). It is believed that we do actually obtain some nutrition from micro-organisms and minerals in our water supply. Public water supplies monitor bacteria and mineral levels and add chlorine and filtration when there is a potential health hazard. Many municipalities recycle wastewater as well. I look forward to learning about potential kashrut concerns regarding watersupplies which include treated wastewater (you know what I mean by wastewater). Meanwhile, just five minutes in a hot dryer and you will kill most of the dust mites in your bedding and decrease the amount of these tiny "crustaceans" you ingest each night as you breathe in your sleep. Many allergists also recommend washing all of your linen each week and vacuuming with a HEPA filtered unit at least once a week as well. Happy cleaning.