International Copper Association Southeast Asia

As a naturally occurring element, copper is present in the world around us. Human life has evolved in this natural presence and we have built-in mechanisms for using it. Copper is required as part of a balanced diet and it is a topic of major interest to doctors and nutritionists. We obtain copper from a variety of sources. As a natural element, it appears in many of the foods we eat and the water we drink. The digestive system of the body assimilates the amount necessary for good health through an effective system of uptake, called homeostasis. Copper in excess to what is required is excreted.

Copper's Role in Growth and Development

Copper is essential for infant growth, bone strength, red and white blood cell maturation, iron transport, cholesterol and glucose metabolism, heart muscle contraction, and brain development. Copper nutrition is important for pregnant women, the developing foetus and new-born babies. A typical recommended daily requirement is 1-2 mg for adults and 0.5-1 mg for children. According to the World Health Organisation, there is a greater risk from copper deficiency than from copper toxicity, even in developed areas such as the US and Western Europe. Copper deficiency can lead to health problems such as anaemia, heart and circulation problems, bone abnormalities and complications in the functioning of the nervous and immune systems, the lungs, thyroid, pancreas and kidneys.

Copper, Naturally Antimicrobial

Throughout history, copper has been linked to health and well-being. Well before micro-organisms were discovered, the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Aztecs used copper-based preparations to treat sore throats and skin rashes, as well as for day-to-day hygiene. Then, in the 19th century, came the discovery of the cause-and-effect relationship between germs and the development of disease, allowing scientists to begin to understand the potential of copper's antimicrobial properties.

Today, copper is used in applications ranging from antiseptics and anti-fungal products, to medical devices and oral hygiene products by the pharmaceutical industry, as well as in other applications, such as water distribution, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Fighting infections and flu pandemics

It is now believed that copper could have a vital role in reducing the risk of transmission of germs that threaten public health in our hospitals, public buildings and food-processing facilities. Approximately 80% of infectious diseases are transmitted by contact. Among the micro-organisms most frequently identified in hospital-acquired infections are MRSA, coliforms, such as E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, as well as Clostridium difficile. And more recently, bird flu and swine flu are presenting a highly infectious global threat.

A promising weapon in fighting infection in hospitals

According to the EU's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, three million healthcare-related infections in Europe each year result in some 50,000 deaths. Not all hospital-acquired infections are preventable, but, according to the UK's National Audit Office, the professional consensus is that these could be reduced by at least 15%.

Scientific evidence shows that copper's antimicrobial properties can inhibit the most important pathogens challenging public health, including MRSA and Clostridium difficile (two organisms causing hospital-acquired infections), E. coli, and the bacteria which cause Legionnaires' disease. Copper has also been shown to inactivate the Influenza A virus and so could even play a part in reducing the risk of a bird flu epidemic.

For more information about copper's antimicrobial properties, visit the Copper Development Association's Antimicrobial page.

Talk to us, contact our Project Manager - Health & Environment, Dr. Jennifer Yang.