Most likely, in most homes there is copper wiring and some utensils made with this material, which stands out for its great durability, resistance to corrosion, and high thermal and electrical conductivity. In addition, this material is a "superpower" that experts in materials have been able to take advantage of: its antimicrobial capacity.
Bacteria rely on metals like iron and calcium for the energy they need to survive. Copper, on the other hand, is a metal that not only does not "feed" them, but rather eliminates and destroys them quickly and effectively. Therefore, copper and its alloys, such as bronze and brass, can boast of having antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties.
What does this mean? Copper has proven to be effective in the fight against bacteria and fungi, specifically, it has shown an effectiveness of 99.9% with two hours of contract. It is a metal that what it produces is a "death by contact" on metal surfaces that contain it. This metal is capable of killing ten to one hundred million bacteria per minute.
What the experts highlight about this material is that it is capable of also destroying the DNA of the bacteria, which prevents it from developing resistance. It is the only solid metal touch surface that has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has registered it as the first and only metal with antimicrobial properties.
The idea of using copper as an antibacterial is not new. In fact, it was already used at the time of the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who used it to treat wounds caused in battles, burns and infections. Currently, copper is a promising alternative to the problem of antimicrobial resistance in superbugs such as MRSA, a current problem that is growing as a result of the excessive use of antibiotics, which has led bacteria to develop resistance.