Copper's Known to Combat Viruses--Can it Help With Public Health?

[LiberalArkie]

Copper’s comeback could be beneficial for more than just interior design

The humble doorknob has become a symbol of danger in recent weeks, as we’ve learned exactly how long viruses can live on surfaces—COVID-19 can survive for two to three days on stainless steel, according to unpublished studies. This discovery has also led to renewed interest in copper as a tool for combating nasties.

Copper and copper alloys like brass, bronze, and copper-nickel, have long been known to have health benefits—but did you know these metals are naturally antimicrobial? Some research has even gone so far as to show that copper kills certain viruses on contact. Meaning they can’t be transferred to the next person who touches that copper doorknob. (This type of contact transmission is thought to be one way the novel coronavirus is spreading so quickly.)

"We’ve seen viruses just blow apart [on copper]," Bill Keevil, professor of environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, told Fast Company this week. "They land on copper and it just degrades them."



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https://www.dwell.com/article/copper-brass-disinfect-coronavirus-covid-19-d0c45789

I guess there are advantages to having copper plumbing also.

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Good Article

I was surprised that tarnished brass was still effective.
It talks about copper ion transfer, but the electronic conformation of the oxidized brass is very different.
That might be the cause of the "minutes to hours" destruction data.
So, my water pipes are the cleanest thing in our house from a viral standpoint, I guess. We're 100% copper & brass.
The one concern is that some brass fittings are lacquered so they don't tarnish. That would seem to eliminate this advantage.

[LiberalArkie]

4. It made me wonder why all the old door knobs and stuff like from the 1700's and before were

always brass and bronze. Candle sticks and fixtures in churches and public places were brass. I think they knew something, but did not know what and why.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Brass Looks Like Gold

And it's WAY(!) cheaper.
Bronze is different. Much stronger than brass, but nothing like iron or steel.
But, until stainless steels were abundant & affordable, bronze looks way nicer than iron and doesn't rust.
I doubt the use was about sanitization.
It just looks cool!

[LiberalArkie]

8. I have hope that some people noticed than since they moved to the new place

"we have been sick as often"

[ret5hd]

2. Pretty sure that the laquer applied to most...

copper consumer items (for corrosion protection/aesthetics) will completely block this effect.

[Alliepoo]

3. Saw a commercial today

That was advertising face masks with copper woven into the material. Don’t recall the brand but the ad kept repeating that you get the benefits of copper. You could buy a mask for $29.95 +s&h and if you acted quickly you could receive a second mask!! Now this is making me wonder if the copper in the material would somehow be beneficial.

[LiberalArkie]

5. What ever biological touches the copper dies from what I have read. Makes no difference if

it has turned green or not

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Copper Fit?

They run ads for all sorts of these products.
For the most part, their marketing points at copper killing odor causing bacteria in socks, gloves, elbow & knee wraps, etc.
In this case, odor isn't the issue.
My question is whether the copper is finely enough distributed such than a very high % of air never touches any copper.
But, some of the air is better than none I suppose.

[luv2fly]

9. I saw that the other day too

And I immediately thought bullshit. I might be wrong, but thirty bucks for two masks, it's not going to happen.

[Alliepoo]

11. Ya know-we sure do think alike! Lol!

[roamer65]

10. Definitely better to handle coins than paper money.

I’ve been exclusively using coins and credit cards the past 2 months. Have touched a few bills but hand sanitize immediately after.