Copper health properties hailed at Chile Pavilion

• Source: Global Times
• [09:37 August 04 2010]
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By Duan Wuning

The International Copper Association and Chilean copper producer Codelco took advantage of the Chile Pavilion's Copper Week event Tuesday at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai to promote the use of copper as an antimicrobial surface in China, the world's largest copper consumer.

Copper continuously kills microbes, and can be used in hospitals, schools, and public transportation areas for disease control.

Codelco, which controls 20 percent of the world's copper reserves, wants to take the Expo as a chance to promote the material.

"Chile is the world's largest producer of copper. We sincerely hope to share with Expo visitors copper's benefits to public health," Carmen Tardito, strategy and market development director at Codelco, said.

According to the International Copper Association, copper has been used in trial antimicrobial applications in China, including the air-conditioners of buses running inside the Expo Park. Chinese manufacturer Ningbo Boqiang is also working with the association to produce and launch copper tank water dispensers.

"We will be very glad to cooperate with Shanghai hospitals to trial this kind of performance," Colin May, sub-regional director of East Asia for the International Copper Association, said.

Min Guoquan, director of the Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center, told the Global Times Tuesday that the antimicrobial properties of copper are widely recognized in industry and the scientific community.

"Applications include the use of copper sulphate in swimming pools, and copper ions added to some textiles to reduce bacteria," Min said.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved the registration of an-timicrobial copper alloys with public health claims.