As a metalsmith, I always had an affinity for minerals and metals. Since the pandemic, I have been hearing a lot about copper, which drove my interest in learning more about a metal I so love and create jewelry with. It’s amazing to think that copper, a chemical element symbol Cu, was first discovered 10,000 years ago in what is now northern Iraq and has had healing benefits throughout history.
Copper’s health benefits have been employed by the medicinal field for centuries and we are seeing a renaissance of its benefits for safety purposes. During its use in early Egypt, hammered copper jugs were made to sterilize drinking water, clean our wounds by pressing copper plates to the injury, and even for general hygiene practices. People could see the benefits without having the tools to understand why. But now, detailed studies are pointing to copper as a new, hygienic part of our daily wear.
Today, many hospitals are introducing healthcare workers to wear copper-lined masks, adding another layer of defense against a spreading virus. However, utilizing copper is not uncommon in the medical field, and plenty of copper-infused utilities have been introduced over the years; such as copper door handles, bed rails, or even toilet seats have been implemented to help cut down the spread of bacteria. A study from the New England Journal of Medicine states that the Coronavirus lifespan dwindles drastically on copper compared to other surfaces such as plastic or stainless steel.
As a naturally occurring micronutrient, trace amounts of copper are necessary for our survival. This element aids us in the maintenance of healthy skin and connective tissue, in healing our wounds, the function of our heart, and it not only promotes our immune system to work, but studies show that copper boosts it as well. Ions emitted from a pure copper surface act as an antibacterial barrier, doubling down by aiding your immune system in killing germs on and around its surface. So wearing copper can help fight bacteria just by being worn.
