TUESDAY TRIVIA: Certain Metals Kill Bacteria on Their Own
Should you be wiping down your doorknobs; what are they made of?
Studies show that brass, copper and silver have self-sterilizing powers.
One study that measured bacteria in water held in different metal pots over time found that all three metals (unvarnished) kill bacteria; however, copper “showed the maximum bactericidal action compared to silver and brass.” The report explained that “oligodynamic action is the ability of small amounts of heavy metals to exert a lethal effect on bacterial cells.” They do this by changing the structure of the bacteria, and some viruses.
So, items such as brass doorknobs, copper pots and silver flatware that have not been treated with something to keep them from oxidizing.
According to Insider, a 2015 study published in Health Environments Research and Design Journal said some of the common germs copper has been proven to kill are MRSA, E. Coli, Influenza A and Norovirus. More recent research published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that copper can be effective against SARS-CoV-2.