Where does copper come from?
Copper is refined from the ore, which is present in nature in many places around the world. The largest copper producers are: Chile, United States, Peru, Australia and Russia.

Is copper recyclable?
Copper is one of the few materials that can be recycled indefinitely without losing its properties. In 2009, almost 34% of global copper demand was recycled and it is estimated that most of the copper ever mined is still in circulation. Almost half of the recycled copper comes from construction waste and common use items, electrical cables, plumbing, vehicles and electronic/electrical equipment. The rest comes from production waste.

What are copper alloys?
An alloy is created by mixing a metal with one or more elements. This combination allows it to have properties that they would not have individually in their pure state. The ratio of copper concentration and added elements varies depending on what properties are required for the resulting alloy. Brass and bronze are the most common alloys of copper.

Is bronze different from brass?
Yes. Brass is created by combining pure copper with zinc. This alloy is strong, corrosion resistant and malleable. Bronze is an alloy of tin and phosphorus with copper. Bronze is heavier than brass; solidity is combined with strength, workability and high wear resistance. Both brass and bronze are available in a wide range of colors and finishes.

Has copper been tested clinically?
Yes, copper antimicrobial surfaces have been shown to be 90% less contaminated than conventional surfaces studied in hospitals around the world. In the UK, Selly Oak Hospital - part of the NHS Trust's Birmingham University Hospital - is a testing ground for this new approach of preventing infection. The first results of the study were presented at the "Interdisciplinary Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy" held in Washington in October 2008 (later published in the Journal of Hospital Infection), conclusively showing that copper is antimicrobial in real clinical settings and that Bacterial contamination was found to be 90-100% lower on copper surfaces than on control surfaces of conventional materials. These results were confirmed by ongoing studies in Chile and the United States, where the studies were funded by the Department of Defense. There are several ongoing studies in Germany, Japan, Finland and Greece. In US Department of Defense-funded studies conducted in the intensive care units of 3 hospitals, the goal was not only to determine the effectiveness of antimicrobial copper in reducing the level of pathogens, but also whether such a reduction would reduce the rate. infection. Researchers at the three hospitals involved in the study - the Sloan Kettering Oncology Center in New York, the University of South Carolina Medical Center and the Ralph H Johnson VA Medical Center, both in Charleston, South Carolina - replaced items of common use. , such as bed bars, bedside tables, emergency buttons, infusion holders with antimicrobial copper versions. In rooms with copper elements, a 97% reduction in pathogens was observed, the same level as in a "terminal" cleaning: regime performed after the departure of each patient from a room. In addition, the first results showed that the use of copper antimicrobial surfaces in intensive care units led to a higher percentage of 40.4% in reducing the risk of nosocomial infections. For patients who spent the entire period of hospitalization in a "copper chamber" with elements made of copper and copper alloys, the reduction in the risk of acquiring an infection was 69.1%. Due to the importance of this data, it will be validated by a team of independent evaluators before being published.

Has the antimicrobial efficacy of copper been recognized by an official organization?
Yes. As of February 29, 2008, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has registered 275 copper alloys. Other alloys have been registered since then - the total number of registered alloys is now 350. Copper is the only solid material that holds this record, which can be used to market products in the United States.

What public health claims does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) support?
If cleaned regularly, copper, brass and antimicrobial bronze surfaces:

• Eliminates 99.9% bacteria within two hours of exposure.
• They have a continuous antibacterial effect and eliminate 99.9% of bacteria even after recontamination.
• They retain their antibacterial properties and destroy 99.9% of the bacteria in two hours even after repeated wetting, drying and recontamination.
• Helps inhibit the growth of bacteria within two hours of exposure in addition to regular cleaning.

Do aluminum, stainless steel and plastics have antimicrobial properties?
Nu. Comparative antimicrobial efficacy studies have been performed on copper, aluminum, stainless steel, PVC and polyethylene. While it has been clearly shown that copper is able to eliminate microbes quickly and efficiently, there is no evidence that aluminum, stainless steel, PVC, polyethylene have antimicrobial properties.

Can copper be compared with silver in terms of effectiveness?
In Professor Keevil's tests in Southampton, the polymer coating impregnated with silver particles behaves the same as stainless steel at a similar temperature and humidity, meaning that it has no antimicrobial effect. The Japanese standard was used to examine the antimicrobial effect of several silver-coated coatings, but the testing conditions for this standard differ greatly from those common in medical institutions.

Does the color of copper and copper alloys change over time?
Copper surfaces and their alloys oxidize naturally and their color becomes darker over time. The time needed for these surfaces to change color depends on the copper concentration of the alloy and the conditions of exposure. Under typical interior conditions, noticeable color changes can occur over several years. The brass plates on the hinged doors of the main entrance of the test room at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham have not changed color in 36 months. A range of stable-colored copper alloys with antimicrobial efficacy are available with a rich color palette, including a silver look.

Does oxidation diminish the antimicrobial effect of copper?
No. In fact, studies show that copper, brass, and bronze surfaces without a protective layer after oxidation or discoloration become even more effective in eliminating disease-causing bacteria.

Is copper a safe element if it has the ability to kill microbes?
Yes. Copper, brass and bronze surfaces are safe and have a long service life. The copper industry has initiated a voluntary risk assessment for copper.
The evaluation process was also approved by the Italian Institute Istituto Superiore di Sanita, as the government institution in the country conducting the review, acting on behalf of the European Commission and EU Member States. The risk assessment has been completed and one of the main conclusions accepted by the European Commission and the experts of the EU Member States is: "the use of copper products is generally safe for the European environment and for the health of its citizens." Copper is also an essential trace element for the human body's health along with zinc and iron. An adult needs 1 mg of copper every day. Copper-rich foods include chocolate, nuts and seeds. A balanced diet should provide enough copper to avoid copper deficiency.