Innovative Products That Use Copper for Its Antimicrobial Properties
Copper has long been known for its germ-killing capabilities. In ancient Egypt, soldiers would place bronze (a mix of copper and tin) filings in their wounds to help them heal. At the same time—give or take a thousand years—people in China were also using copper as a form of medical aid. And the Aztecs knew about the power of copper as well.
More recently, as in the past year, the properties of copper have once again been brought to our attention, this time as an ally in the fight against COVID-19. Unlike ancient times, we now know how and why copper works to ward off illness. In short, copper ions attack the virus or bacteria and kill it. Hundreds of scientific studies have been done to verify this effect, meaning the claims of copper's germ-killing powers are legitimate.
This rediscovery has resulted in a bloom of copper products, as people become more aware of their bacterial/viral surroundings. Let's take a look at the innovative ways copper is being used in some commercially available products. Please note that none of these products carry Health Canada or U.S. EPA certifications, unlike Coptek's products.
Our cell phones are notoriously dirty. Or rather, our hands are dirty and we're always touching our phones. Health care workers have been found to have up to five million bacteria on each hand. Viruses also get carried around on our hands, including the virus that causes COVID. Granted, many of these bacteria are harmless, but some aren't. And they all can get transferred to surfaces, such as our phones. It's part of the reason why cell phones are ten times dirtier than toilet seats.
And it's why a copper cell phone case makes so much sense. There are several options available, including this one from Alloi, who even makes copper cases for your Apple Airpods.
As an added bonus, copper looks great, especially when paired with leather accessories, so you can be clean and stylish.
As people relearned that copper is a good germ killer, copper face masks started appearing in a variety of versions. Copper-infused fabric became trendy, and we started to see a rise in companies touting the properties of these copper masks. Several companies jumped in and started making them.
Microbiologist Phyllis Kuhn created a mask made from pure copper mesh, as well as copper mask filter inserts. The filters and mask rely on copper's ability to kill viruses and bacteria on contact.
Meanwhile, Custom Chameleon uses fabrics embedded with copper reinforced thread in its reusable fabric masks.
In addition to its proven antimicrobial properties, there are claims that copper can relieve arthritis pain. Scientifically, this has proven to be false, but the claims persist, possibly due to a placebo effect. In other words, sometimes a cure will work simply because you think it will.
Having said that, copper's antimicrobial properties are excellent at killing bacteria that cause odors in gym clothing! A Canadian company, Copper88, has a range of products that make use of copper. Their products include face masks, compression sleeves, and activewear clothing.
Copper Faucets
Bacteria and viruses washed off hands can end up trapped in the drainage, which can then be splashed back into the atmosphere. This is why copper sink hardware makes a lot of sense, especially in public areas and healthcare settings. Before people clean their hands, they also touch the taps, getting germs on them. If that surface kills germs, it can only be a good thing. If you'd like to put germ killing plumbing hardware in your home, a quick internet search will reveal a wide variety of styles to choose from.
As a side note, in the world of interior design, copper is enjoying a resurgence that has nothing to do with antimicrobial properties. Designers just like the way it looks. Stainless steel was popular for a while, then it was black metals, and now copper is having its day once again.
The term "copper sheets" might bring to mind a roll of thin metal, like a copper version of aluminum foil. And while you can buy exactly that, we're talking about bed linens. Yes, you can buy copper-infused sheets for your bed. Marketed as a luxury item, with an accompanying luxury price tag, Copper Linens claims their sheets will kill bacteria, fungi, and mold.
The ability for copper as a metal to kill bacteria and viruses has been well documented and scientifically verified. While other claims of the powers of copper range from dubious to debunked, its antimicrobial properties are definitely real. However, it's important to remember that when evaluating antimicrobial products, one must turn to Health Canada for advisement.
False claims are rampant in the copper industry and consumers must turn to healthcare authorities to ensure claims made are legitimate. Copper also should not be used in place of regular and proper cleaning, but rather a supplement, especially when dealing with serious viruses such as COVID-19.
Copper Covers
Coptek makes a copper product designed to be placed easily over existing surfaces. These thin sheets of copper are flexible and have an adhesive backing. They are intended to be placed in high use areas, such as on door handles and railing, to help slow the spread of bacteria and viruses. Purchase a sample pack today and see for yourself​​