The Science
The Science
Professor Bill Keevil, a microbiology researcher at the University of Southampton in England, has studied the antimicrobial effects of copper for more than two decades. He has watched in his laboratory as the simple metal slew one bad bug after another. He began with the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's Disease and then turned to drug-resistant killer infections like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He tested viruses that caused worldwide health scares such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic of 2009.
In each case, copper contact killed the pathogen within minutes.
"It just blew it apart," he says. In 2015, Keevil turned his attention to Coronavirus 229E, a relative of the COVID-19 virus that causes the common cold and pneumonia. Once again, copper zapped the virus within minutes while it remained infectious for five days on surfaces such as stainless steel or glass.
Professor Bill Keevil, a microbiology researcher at the University of Southampton in England, has studied the antimicrobial effects of copper for more than two decades. He has watched in his laboratory as the simple metal slew one bad bug after another. He began with the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's Disease and then turned to drug-resistant killer infections like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). He tested viruses that caused worldwide health scares such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic of 2009.
In each case, copper contact killed the pathogen within minutes.
"It just blew it apart," he says. In 2015, Keevil turned his attention to Coronavirus 229E, a relative of the COVID-19 virus that causes the common cold and pneumonia. Once again, copper zapped the virus within minutes while it remained infectious for five days on surfaces such as stainless steel or glass.
“One of the ironies is, people [install] stainless steel because it seems clean and in a way, it is,” he says, noting the material’s ubiquity in public places. “But then the argument is how often do you clean? We don’t clean often enough."
Copper has a free electron in its outer orbital shell of electrons that easily takes part in oxidation-reduction reactions (which also makes the metal a good conductor). As a result, Schmidt says, it becomes a “molecular oxygen grenade.” Silver and gold don’t have the free electron, so they are less reactive.
“One of the ironies is, people [install] stainless steel because it seems clean and in a way, it is,” he says, noting the material’s ubiquity in public places. “But then the argument is how often do you clean? We don’t clean often enough."
Copper has a free electron in its outer orbital shell of electrons that easily takes part in oxidation-reduction reactions (which also makes the metal a good conductor). As a result, Schmidt says, it becomes a “molecular oxygen grenade.” Silver and gold don’t have the free electron, so they are less reactive.
Copper, by contrast, disinfects merely by being there.
Copper, by contrast, disinfects merely by
being there.
Copper kills in other ways as well, according to Keevil, who has published papers on the effect. When a microbe lands on copper, ions blast the pathogen like an onslaught of missiles, preventing cell respiration and punching holes in the cell membrane or viral coating and creating free radicals that accelerate the kill, especially on dry surfaces. Most importantly, the ions seek and destroy the DNA and RNA inside a bacteria or virus, preventing the mutations that create drug-resistant superbugs.
Copper kills in other ways as well, according to Keevil, who has published papers on the effect. When a microbe lands on copper, ions blast the pathogen like an onslaught of missiles, preventing cell respiration and punching holes in the cell membrane or viral coating and creating free radicals that accelerate the kill, especially on dry surfaces. Most importantly, the ions seek and destroy the DNA and RNA inside a bacteria or virus, preventing the mutations that create drug-resistant superbugs.
"The properties never wear off, even if it tarnishes," Schmidt says.
Schmidt has focused his research on the question of whether using copper alloys in often-touched surfaces reduces hospital infections. On any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one healthcare-associated infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control, costing as much as $50,000 per patient. Schmidt’s landmark study, funded by the Department of Defense, looked at copper alloys on surfaces including bedside rails, tray tables, intravenous poles, and chair armrests at three hospitals around the country. That 43-month investigation revealed a 58 percent infection reduction compared to routine infection protocols.
Scientific Papers
However, if you'd like to go deeper please see our list below of links to scientific papers and articles.
Rapid Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 on Copper Touch Surfaces
Rapid In-Situ Assessment of Cu-ion Mediated Effects & Antibacterial Efficacy of Copper Surfaces
Copper Alloy Surfaces Kill Bacteria and Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections
Contact Killing & Antimicrobial Properties of Copper
Metallic Copper As An Antimicrobial Surface
Assessment of Exposure to Alcohol Vapor from Alcohol-Based Hand Rubs
Copper in Drinking Water
Storing Drinking-water in Copper pots Kills Contaminating Diarrhoeagenic Bacteria
Using Copper to Improve the Well-Being of the Skin
Scientific Papers
Bryant, C., Wilks, S. A.,
& Keevil, W. (2021)
Rosenberg, M., Vija, H., Kahru, A., Keevil, C., & Ivask, A. (2018)
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Of Applied Microbiology
ASM Journals
Int J Environ Res Public Health
National Academies Press (US)
Journal of Health, Population & Nutrition
Current Chemical Biology
Interesting Articles On Copper
Healthcare In Europe
Copper: The Relentless Killer On Our Side
VICE.com
Copper Destroys Viruses and Bacteria. Why Isn’t It Everywhere?
Smithsonia Magazine
Copper’s Virus-Killing Powers Were Known Even to the Ancients
Science Daily
Using Copper To Prevent The Spread of Respiratory Viruses
Health Europa