I’m by no means a virologist, however as physician, perhaps I can clarify some concepts behind how some materials are considered superior to others in being “anti-microbial.” If you find any mistakes below, please let me know as I’m very open to learning new things.
According to this article, COVID-19 is theorized to be like other viruses in needing a certain infectious dose to cause disease, known as the ID50 number. This number is how many viruses are needed in one exposure to cause disease in 50% of exposed susceptible individuals. Therefore a single virus on any surface is highly unlikely to cause disease. Of course the more viruses, then there is an increase in likelihood of disease.
This article points to what researchers believe to be how copper kills microbes. And in the case of COVID-19, the preliminary research shows 4 hours of contact on a copper surface will reduce the number to non-detectable levels, or at least cannot be cultured. It may reduce the virus to below infectious doses before the 4 hour mark is reached. This killing process requires oxidation of copper (therefore coating to preserve the shine will greatly reduce efficacy), and increased humidity and heat can speed it up. (Good for those with sweaty hands?) And this applies to most if not all microbes, not just COVID-19.
So what does this mean for flashlights? Let’s say I use a titanium high CRI flashlight in the clinic to examine skin. Microbes on the titanium can survive longer and remain at an infectious dose for a longer period. If I use an uncoated copper flashlight, the infectious dose will remain viable for a shorter period of time, therefore reducing my chances of getting sick from contact. It’s a reduction in risk, not a guarantee.
Disease and infection are not binary, rather a process of logarithmic/exponential decreases and increases. I would prefer to carry a mildly stinky copper flashlight at work because it can reduce my chances of harboring harmful microbes on that one instrument. Of course, I would not rely upon that to increase safety. The primary measure would be wiping down all my instruments and hands with alcohol and/or washing my hands between every patient.
Sorry for the long-winded response, but I hope this might clarify the utility of copper.
haha, good thread, thanks everyone. I’m interested in copper not so much as a hand washing replacement. But, you know how it’s nice to have an 18650 light that can also handle CR123A’s? It’s kinda like that. An extra feature that makes a light just nicer to own.
While not fully related to flashlights, but related to copper, but I am not sure why it is not mentioned more often that various copper forms (one of which oxide, and many others) are used for a very long time as a contact fungicide on plants, maybe many do not have plants, maybe do have but use the more high-end substances that are patented by big companies that are system fungicides (thus more effective compared to contact), but surely this is something has been done for a very long time by so many people, including in our family.
So it’s proprieties are not as mythological as seen by some.
somebody, please buy them, to save me from doing so
those are older models, with mechanical clicky… that means they also work with 10440, unofficially. And there is no delay to charge an eSwitch, so the modes work immediately upon inserting a battery, as would be expected for most lights.
it also means they start on Medium, MLH, which is actually my personal preference…
there are other potential differences
some of the older drivers had better efficiency… you might get lucky if you buy this one… (im not affiliated, just tempted, so wanted to share)
Think about it:
If after rubbing your hands with a copper flashlight, you can smell something different on your hands… then yes… copper ions are now interacting with the surface of your skin
here is a product using that exact concept:
“The CopperTouch Bar can be carried in your pocket or your purse. It is an amazing invention that will take sanitizing to a whole new level. Caregivers will love the extra security knowing they are spreading fewer germs to residents, their families and themselves. Parents will be able to bring one to work, or send kids off to school with extra protection from bacteria that can make families sick. ”
how does that kill every germ on every part of your hand though?
it might kill a few but as i said, you can not depend it doing anything specific or guaranteed
“The CopperTouch Bar can be carried in your pocket or your purse. It is an amazing invention that will take sanitizing to a whole new level. Caregivers will love the extra security knowing they are spreading fewer germs to residents, their families and themselves. Parents will be able to bring one to work, or send kids off to school with extra protection from bacteria that can make families sick. “”
The biggest benefit I see is that copper doesn’t help spread germs.
Say you have some type of bad germs on your hands from touchng a public door handle.
You pull out your flashlight and use it for some reason.
You then clip it to your pocket and head home.
Once home you wash your hands and later pull out your flashlight and use it again.
Then the wife yells dinner time, you go eat and pass around the vittles were everyone is touching the same spoons to get their helpings.
You just washed your hands a few minutes earlier so you didn’t wash them again after touching the flashlight.
You just now spread those same germs that was on that public door handle to everyone at your table.
.
Now this is a widely exaggerated example but I see where the copper would be a benefit.
Knowing that copper kills germs like it does, I have never understood why a hospital or clinic doesn’t use copper or heavy guage copper plated door handles.
I agree that copper is not an instant hand sterilizer.
I still use safe practices including Hand Washing, and I use Hand Sanitizer too.
I suggest copper as a an interesting additional tool,
to reduce pathogen loads in our contact zones, and on the contact zones on our hands.
When I handle my copper flashlight, I am also making part of my skin more hostile to pathogens. And any contamination that is deposited on the copper light, will die overnight… so every morning… I have a sterile light to play with
and about sanitizing water
river water stored overnight in a copper pot will have a lower incidence of amoeba, that cause dysintery. There are actually numerous articles online about using copper to sanitize drinking water. Part of the key to it working, is to provide long contact time, such as storing the water in a copper pot overnight
Copper flashlight germ protection is miniscule-starter.
Copper/brass doorknobs/pushbars/sinkhandles are another matter which should be incorporated into public contracts.