A D V A N C E D M A T E R I A L S & P R O C E S S E S | A P R I L 2 0 2 1 2 7 EPA OFFICIALLY SAYS COPPER SURFACES HELP FIGHT COVID-19 The story behind the Environmental Protection Agency’s registration of copper surfaces against the virus that causes COVID-19. Harold T. Michels,* consultant and retired senior vice president, Copper Development Association, Manhasset, New York MATERIALS SCIENCE AND CORONAVIRUS SERIES In May 2020, a short article[1] describing why copper has the potential to help in the fight against COVID-19 was published in Advanced Materials & Processes magazine. The article cites a short pioneering study[2] illustrating that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, was inactivated in 4 hours on 99.9% copper surfaces, but remained infective for a prolonged period on plastic and 304 stainless steel. The AM&P article also discussed a 2015 publication[3] on another human coronavirus (Hu-CoV-229E) that also causes lung disorders. Six copper alloys, ranging from 100% to 60% Cu, balance Zn, as well as a series of copper nickel alloys were challenged by HuCoV-229E. Rapid inactivation of Hu-CoV229E was observed on different copper alloy surfaces within 10 minutes. Although these twoarticles[2,3] used different strains of human coronavirus, both viruses are essentially structurally identical. They display the now familiar spherical shapes, but with slight differences in their spike proteins. It was surmised that both of these coronaviruses would be inactivated by copper by the same mechanism of attack because of their similar structures. A more recent paper[4], published on January 2, 2021, showed that the COVID-19 causing virus, SARS-CoV-2, was inactivated by copper in as little as 1 minute. This paper confirms the speculation made in the AM&P article[1] that *Member of ASM International because copper was effective against Hu-CoV-229E, it would also be effective against SARS-CoV-2. Copper is effective against both of these human coronaviruses because they have very similar structures. All of this information was made available to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA ANNOUNCEMENT On February 10, 2021, the EPA announced that it has registered certain copper alloys that have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19[5]. (See “EPA Registers Copper Surfaces for Residual Use Against Coronavirus.”) Note that this is the first antimicrobial product that is registered for “residual” use against viruses. Traditional disinfectants only kill viruses and bacteria on the surface at the time they are used, while in contrast, “residual” antimicrobial disinfectants kill pathogens that come in contact with the surface days, weeks, or years after the product is applied. This residual anti- microbial property of copper alloy surfaces provides a unique advantage in the fight against COVID-19 infections. FUTURE PANDEMICS The EPA acted very quickly because of the seriousness of theCOVID-19 crisis. Thus copper alloy surfaces can now be used in the fight against SARSCoV-2 as well as other pandemic viruses AM&P’S MATERIALS SCIENCE AND THE CORONAVIRUS SERIES This article is the eighth installment in an AM&P series on materials science and coronavirus. Below is a list of the first seven articles: • Can Copper Help Fight COVID-19? May/June 2020. • Copper’s Conductivity and Antimicrobial Properties Inspire Renewed Interest, July/August 2020. • Antimicrobial Copper-Containing Stainless Steels Show Promise, September 2020. • Using Digitally Distributed Manufacturing to Address Critical Needs, October 2020. • Development and Validation of High-Performance SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Coatings for High-Touch Surfaces, November/December 2020. • Supersonically Deposited Antiviral Copper Coatings, January 2021. • Optimizing 3D-Printed, Reusable Metal N95 Filters by 3D Characterization and Modeling, February/March 2021.
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