Copper can kill up to 99.9% of all germs

The results of TransLink's study on British Columbia Provincial Transportation show that copper is effective at killing bacteria on surfaces that are frequently touched. Based on sample tests carried out in the means of transport and in a laboratory, the study concludes that selected copper products on means of transport are long-lasting and kill up to 99.9% of all bacteria within one hour of contact with the surface. Phase one of the pilot project began in November 2020 and lasted five weeks on two buses and two SkyTrain vehicles. A second phase will be started in the coming months to verify the results with a larger amount of data. The pilot project is the result of a partnership between TransLink, Teck Resources, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. The first phase was fully funded by Teck under its Copper & Health program. The second phase is also supported by Teck. The tests were carried out using surface culture and ATP bioluminescence tests on samples taken from transit surfaces. During the first phase of the study, more than 1,140 samples were collected and analyzed. The second phase of the pilot project involves testing copper products on more train cars and buses, testing over a longer period of time to analyze different conditions, targeting tests on the products that have been most effective in our traffic environment, and engaging the public to identify the Measure the impact of copper on customer confidence. TransLink was the first North American transportation company to test copper on traffic surfaces. The pilot was launched as part of TransLink's Covid-19 response through the Safe Operating Action Plan, as previous studies had shown copper to be both durable and effective at killing bacteria. The two products that performed best in a transit environment are the copper decals and the copper-nickel plasma sprays, Teck said in a media release. Copper is the only all-metal touch surface approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is registered as a public health product and has been shown to naturally eliminate up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses. "Through our Copper & Health program, Teck has worked with healthcare professionals, academia and others to make communities safer using copper," said Don Lindsay, CEO of Teck. "We look forward to continuing to work with TransLink and all partners to expand the use of copper on high-touch public surfaces to protect human health."