Wednesday, March 26, 2008

EPA approves copper as drug-resistant germ killer


The Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of copper and alloys for killing bacteria, including the antibiotic-resistance germs that are such a serious problem in hospitals.

The application from the Copper Development Association followed a four-year testing program and is the first approved by EPA for a solid material, rather than for a liquid or aerosol, as a disinfectant. [above: native copper, @StoneTrust]

A CDA official said the copper-based products had a 99.9% kill rate within two hours against the bacteria.

This could open up a whole new market for copper. Arizona supplies 60% of the U.S. demand for copper.

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