Perhaps the most compelling image of hope in the battle against future pandemics is something you used to see everywhere — copper fixtures in kitchens and bathrooms, copper water lines, copper in buildings, and copper power networks.
Copper can drastically decrease the spread of infections. When influenzas, bacteria such as E.coli, or even coronaviruses land on most hard surfaces, they can live for up to four or five days. But, when they land on copper and copper alloys such as brass or copper nickel, they begin to die within minutes and are undetectable within hours. Copper degrades viruses.
We would be in much better shape now if the antimicrobial properties of copper and copper alloys had been more widely recognized years ago and not pushed out of many applications by a wave of new materials: stainless steel, tempered glass, aluminum, and plastics. Brass doorknobs in hospitals and public spaces went out of style a long time ago.
Jubilee Metals Group (LON:JLP) is a global, diversified metal recovery company that operates world-class projects, ensuring a positive impact on the environment and its stakeholders.
