Antibacterial film, is it really effective?
COVID-19 has changed our lives a lot. Wearing a mask is the norm, and hand sanitizer is available in all public areas. Another thing that stands out to me is the 'antibacterial film' attached to each elevator button, and I once wondered, "Is the antibacterial effect maintained when an unspecified number of hands are passed over the film anyway?"You may have wondered about In some places, it has been applied without replacement since the beginning of the coronavirus until now, which raises questions about its antibacterial durability.
The antimicrobial properties of copper ions have already been shown in several papers, and a team of researchers from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom found that the coronavirus 229E virus can survive for at least five days in plastics, ceramic tiles, glass, silicone rubber, and stainless steel, and that it remains infectious in human lung cells. On the contrary, on copper alloy surfaces, the virus rapidly lost its activity and was killed.
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As a result, copper effectively blocks the transmission of respiratory viruses. This includes the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) viruses that circulated in 2015.
In addition to respiratory viruses, copper has also been shown to inactivate the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza virus, and norovirus, which causes food poisoning.
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On the other hand, "It takes about 30~40 minutes for the virus to die, so if someone comes into contact with it in the meantime, doesn't it mean anything?"There are also critical opinions that say.
Of course, it is best to disinfect frequently with alcohol, etc., but if it is a place where a large number of people gather for minimal quarantine or a place where it is difficult to disinfect continuously due to touch, copper alloy materials can help with quarantine.
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Bacterial killing process on copper surfaces
When copper ions come into contact with the virus, the copper ions destroy the shell of the virus and puncture it, breaking down the RNA of the virus, resulting in complete death. The same process has been shown in another vector of infection: bacteria.
Copper has a microscopic bactericidal effect, and when viruses, bacteria, and germs come into contact with surfaces, copper ions disrupt their metabolism and kill them within a few minutes. In addition, copper has the advantage that it is not toxic to the human body, so it can be used in real life.
Copper has been used in real life for a long time. Following SARS and MERS in 2015, the antimicrobial effect of copper is attracting attention again amid the intensity of the corona pandemic that hit the world this year. Among them, as the second wave of Corona is predicted in the fall and winter of this year, it is important to quarantine public facilities in addition to personal hygiene.
The 'antibacterial film' that is pasted everywhere in our lives, as mentioned earlier, may be the minimum way to prevent public quarantine. However, it takes time for the virus to be completely eradicated, and it has passed through the hands of many people, so it is essential to wash your hands after contact.
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