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U.S. EPA approves germicidal labeling for copper alloys


On Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. EDT, the U.S. EPA
approved the labeling of copper and copper alloys for public health
purposes.




        【Copper alloys can also sterilize hospital-acquired pathogens, 
                                  including multidrug-resistant pathogens and MRSA】

Copper and copper alloys are the first solid materials that the EPA has recognized as having a real public health benefit, and the EPA played a major role in the demonstration of their germicidal effects. The EPA's certification is based on the results of tests conducted by an independent testing organization in accordance with EPA-specified testing methods, which demonstrated that copper and copper alloys can kill a variety of pathogens, including the pathogen known as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is resistant to antibiotics and is one of the most serious pathogens that can cause hospital-acquired and environmental infections in humans.

In one example, more than 99.9% of MRSA became non-viable on copper and copper alloy surfaces after two hours at room temperature. The certification label also includes the following statement: "Bactericidal copper and copper alloy surfaces kill more than 99.9% of tested pathogens within two hours and continue to kill 99.9% of the pathogens even if the same surfaces are repeatedly contaminated with them." "Copper and copper alloy surfaces do not replace standard infection control measures, such as cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces, but they can be considered as a complement to those measures. Copper and copper alloy surfaces by themselves do not completely prevent cross-contamination, but have been shown to reduce the risk of pathogen contamination."

According to publicly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of patients who contract hospital-acquired infections in hospitals in the United States exceeds 2 million each year, and the number of deaths due to these infections is estimated to be close to 100,000 per year. In addition to the infection control measures currently advocated by the CDC, such as encouraging hand washing and thorough disinfection, it is expected that the risk of contracting an infectious disease in a hospital room can be reduced by actively using copper and copper alloys on environmental surfaces such as doors and furniture, bed rails, IV support stands, dispensers, faucets, sinks, and work tables for computers. Unlike coatings and other surface treatments, copper and copper alloys have germicidal properties in the material itself and will not wear away. The material itself will protect public health from pathogens without changing. Major medical device manufacturers are currently starting to develop products using copper.



                             【Background】

Long before modern medicine evolved and bacteria was scientifically discovered, ancient healers used copper's healing properties. The Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water and wounds, and Hippocrates, the 5th century BC Greek physician who is known as the father of medicine for taking the Hippocratic Oath, is said to have applied copper to wounds and skin inflammations. The ancient Romans also used copper to treat a variety of ailments, and the Aztecs even used it to treat sore throats.

Copper itself has been known for its bactericidal properties for a long time, but there is a reason why it has recently been attracting attention again. Deadly pathogens, especially infections in medical facilities, have become a major problem, and copper was thought to be effective in killing such pathogens. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than 2 million people in medical facilities contract so-called hospital-acquired infections every year, resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. This causes social losses of up to $30 billion.


          【Copper Development Association of America (CDA)】
 The Copper Development Association (CDA) is the information, education, market and technology development organization representing the U.S. copper, brass and bronze industry. CDA is an affiliate of the International Copper Association (ICA).

CDA selected five types of copper and copper alloys (brass, bronze, etc.) and began experiments to obtain approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to display their bactericidal effects. The experiments were conducted in a format that met the strict standards set by the EPA (1), and demonstrated that 99.9% of pathogens were killed within two hours of contamination, and that the effect was not lost after 24 hours or even after repeated contamination. The results were submitted to the EPA, and on February 29, 2008, the EPA approved the display of copper and copper alloys as effective in protecting public health. Copper is the first solid material to be approved by the EPA to be displayed as effective in protecting public health.

(1) Pathogens used in the experiment: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacillus aerogenes, pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

In medical facilities, the most problematic areas are the surfaces that patients touch, known as environmental surfaces. Doors, furniture, bed rails, IV support poles, medical monitor screens, faucets, sinks, work tables, etc. are areas that are frequently touched and must be disinfected frequently. Compared to antibacterial materials that require coating or surface treatment, copper's bactericidal properties do not fade, and there is no risk of the effective parts peeling off. Where copper can be used depends on future research, but copper has a continuous bactericidal effect, and by maintaining public health without its effect fading, it is expected to reduce pathogens while continuing to live daily lives.

If copper and copper alloys are used on environmental surfaces in a complementary manner, along with hand washing, which has long been said to be an effective method for disinfection and sterilization, they will form the first line of defense in infection control. Copper and copper alloys are not positioned as a replacement for the measures that have been taken so far to prevent infection and maintain hygienic conditions, but as a complement to current infection prevention measures. The bactericidal effect of copper and copper alloys has been proven to reduce pathogen contamination, but it does not necessarily completely eliminate the possibility of mutual infection.

Congress has approved funding for a clinical trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of using copper on environmental surfaces in hospitals. The study is being overseen and led by the Telemedicine and Advanced Technologies Research Center (TATRC), part of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC). The research is being conducted at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and the Ralph H. Johnson Virginia Medical Center in Charleston, Virginia. Three more trials will demonstrate how effective the natural materials copper, brass and bronze are at reducing the number of pathogens in hospital rooms.


The paper on the results of the above clinical trials can be found at the following address:
            Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, May 2013, Vol. 34, No. 5


       The above information has been excerpted from online sources. September 5, 2024 by Sakurada Tsukasa