Copper is a Powerful Germ Killer
The EPA has approved the registration of copper as the first solid antimicrobial officially stating, "copper is capable of killing harmful, potentially deadly microbes." Since 2002 a huge outpouring of research from universities, hospitals, and labs around the world have proved copper kills many viruses and bacteria rapidly on contact.
Solid copper kills microbes almost instantly.
Using Copper to Stop Deadly Diseases
Copper even kills antibiotic resistant bacteria such as MRSA. The EPA urged hospitals to use copper for "touch surfaces" such as patient bed rails, tray tables, doorknobs, and faucets. In hospitals tested, hospital-acquired infections dropped dramatically.
Copper kills over 200 different pathogens including cold and flu viruses.
How Does Copper Work?
Scientists have identified a number of ways copper can destroy bacteria and viruses. Copper has a high electrical conductance. When a microbe comes in contact with a copper surface, the natural electrical conductance interferes with the electrical balance in the microbe. This weakens the membrane and creates holes in it.
Copper Research StudiesIn other words, copper "ZAPS" the germ.
These are some of the scientists, among others, whose researched helped inspire the idea for CopperZap
Professor Bill Keevil
Director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit in the School of Biological Sciences, and his team at the University of Southampton, examine survival rates of deposits of pathogens (including MRSA, E Coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Influenza A(H1N1), Aspergillus niger, Clostridium difficile) on stainless steel (the metal most commonly used in healthcare and food processing institutions) and on a range of copper alloys.
Dr. Christopher Rensing
While at the University of Arizona, Dr. Rensing demonstrated that copper starts killing microbes in less that a minute after direct contact with a copper surface. He coined the term “contact killing” for the effect of copper on microbes.
Dr. Gregor Grass
Dr. Gregor Grass, Institut für Mikrobiologie der Bundeswehr. General research interests are in microbe-metal interactions. One focus of his research is concerned with the mode-of-antimicrobial action exerted by metallic copper surfaces.