Author: Michael Martin

For thousands of years certain materials have been known to have tremendous antimicrobial properties, and yet we continue to accept a variety of inferior materials for environmental surfaces in public places. This must come to an end. If as we are told, that ‘custodial services are the first line of defense against cross-contamination and infection’ then this is the industry that must lead the charge in the insistence that commonly touched surfaces receive innate, non-toxic, antimicrobial properties either during manufacturing or on a measured cyclical basis throughout their life-cycle. Continue reading to refamiliarize yourself with many that you already know, and to hear about some others that may not be as regularly discussed or well known.

Metal Ions

The first and most commonly recognizable of the antimicrobials are those metals and metallic compounds that collect energy from the atmosphere and release microbial-destructive ions. While others may fit this class the historically verifiable metals are:

Copper

Copper is an excellent and affordable means of making many common touch points antimicrobial in nature: hand rails, push bars, light switches, handles and even countertops. The first recorded use of copper as an antimicrobial material can be traced back to ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used copper to sterilize wounds and drinking water. Greek physicians also recognized the healing properties of copper, and used it to treat various medical conditions such as skin infections and ulcers. In the 19th century, a French chemist named Louis Pasteur demonstrated that copper ions were toxic to bacteria. Later, in the 20th century, researchers discovered that copper surfaces could kill bacteria within hours of contact. Today, copper is used in various medical and non-medical settings as a natural antimicrobial agent. Its ability to kill bacteria and other harmful microorganisms has made it a popular and effective material for use in hospitals, food preparation areas, and public places such as schools and transportation systems. The discovery of copper’s antimicrobial properties has revolutionized our understanding of how to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It is actually a very sad fact that new construction is more often equipped with plastic water lines than with copper lines – this may be good cause to add regular water testing to environmental services protocols in facilities with plastic water lines.

Silver

Silver is another material that has had a long history of being recognized as having antimicrobial properties – with even faster effect than copper, silver ions can kill bacteria and viruses on contact and can be ground to so fine a material that it can be added to almost any material or added to nearly any coating. Historically, silver has been

used as a powerful antimicrobial agent for centuries. In ancient times, people used silver plates and utensils to protect themselves against bacteria and other harmful microorganisms. Since the nineteenth century, silver was used to treat burns and wounds, because of its ability to inhibit the growth of bacteria. The use of silver as a potent infection-fighting agent continued throughout the twentieth century, with applications in fields such as medicine,

water purification, and food preservation. Today, silver is still widely used in healthcare and home sanitation products due to its demonstrated ability to kill harmful microorganisms.

 Zinc & Titanium Dioxide

 Zinc, another naturally occurring and readily available element has been shown to have antimicrobial properties. Titanium dioxide, a derivative compound of another element has been demonstrated to have powerful and long-lasting UV-activated antimicrobial properties and both can be incorporated into both paints and clear coatings, adhesives, plastics and laminates.