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 8 that may emerge in the future. A variety of new viral infections seems to rapidly spread around the world, perhaps because of the ease of air travel. Thus it seems logical to deploy copper touch surfaces as a first line of defense in transportation facilities, including airports, train and bus stations, as well as planes, rail cars, and buses. Of course, nursing homes, extended care facilities, and hospitals should also be outfitted with copper alloys because they house a very susceptible demographic. ~AM&P Lead image: 2019-nCoV spike protein, courtesy of Jason McLellan/University of Texas at Austin. For more information: Harold Michels, consultant, Manhasset, N.Y. 11030, cu. microbes@gmail.com, amcopper.com; retired senior vice president, Copper Development Association, copper.org. References 1. H.T. Michels and C.A. Michels, Can Copper Help Fight COVID-19?, Advanced Materials & Processes, Vol 178, No. 4, p 21-24, 2020. 2. N. van Doremalen, et al., Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARSCoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1, N. Engl. Jour. Med, 2020, DOI: 10.1056/ NEJMc2004973. 3. S.L. Warnes, Z.R. Little, and C.W. Keevil, Human Coronavirus 229E Remains Infectious on Common Touch Surface Materials, mBio, American Soc. Microbiology, Vol 6, e01697-15, 2015. 4. C. Bryant, S.A. Wilks, and C.W. Keevil, Rapid Inactivation of SARSCoV-2 on Copper Touch Surfaces Deter- mined Using a Cell Culture Infectivity Assay, bioRxiv, DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.02. 424974. 5. EPA Registers Copper Surfaces for Residual Use Against Coronavirus, February 10, 2021, epa.gov/newsreleases/ epa-registers-copper-surfaces-residual- use-against-coronavirus. EPA REGISTERS COPPER SURFACES FOR RESIDUAL USE AGAINST CORONAVIRUS The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that certain copper alloys provide long-term effectiveness against viruses, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. As a result of EPA’s approval, products containing these copper alloys can now be sold and distributed with claims that they kill certain viruses that come into contact with them. This is the first product with residual claims against viruses to be registered for use nationwide. Testing to demonstrate this effectiveness was conducted on harder-to-kill viruses. In this action, EPA is granting an amended registration to the Copper Development Association for an emerging viral pathogen claim to be added to the label of Antimicrobial Copper Alloys- Group 1 (EPA Reg. No. 82012-1), which is made of at least 95.6% copper. Amended registrations allow previously registered products to make label changes (e.g., changes to product claims, precautions and/or use directions) and/or formulation changes. In this case, the amended registration is adding virus claims to the product registration. New efficacy testing supported by the Copper Development Association and conducted according to EPA’s protocols demonstrated certain high-percentage copper alloy products can continuously kill viruses that come into contact with them. Based on testing against harder-to-kill viruses, EPA expects these products to eliminate 99.9% of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, within two hours. Antimicrobial copper alloys can be manufactured into a wide range of surfaces, including doorknobs and handrails. These high-percentage copper alloy products will be added to the List N Appendix, the Agency’s list of residual antiviral products that can be used to supplement routine cleaning and disinfection to combat SARS-CoV-2.
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