Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has partnered with Teck Resources (TSX:TECK.B, NYSE: TECK), B.C.’s biggest copper miner, to install copper fixtures and other high-touch surfaces at the airport as a way of reducing transmission of microbes.
Copper is known to have anti-microbial properties.
“Copper has unique antimicrobial properties and is proven effective in eliminating up to 99.9% of harmful bacteria within 2 hours,” YVR and Teck said in a joint news release.
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the importance of better sanitization to prevent the spread of pathogens in high traffic areas like airports and public transit.
“When installed in high-touch, high-traffic locations, antimicrobial copper can help reduce the spread of infection," the news release stated. "Used on high-touch surfaces at YVR, antimicrobial copper is acting as an added layer of protection, in addition to normal cleaning procedures, to reduce the spread of bacteria as tens of thousands of passengers move throughout the airport each day.”
The products were made in Canada by Aereus Technologies and Copper Clean by CopTek.
“Through the partnership, nearly 1,000 antimicrobial copper applications have already been installed on baggage carts, water fountains and washrooms throughout the terminal as well as YVR’s offices."
Through its Copper & Health program, Teck has installed copper surfaces at Vancouver General and St. Paul’s hospitals, on public transit in Metro Vancouver and Toronto, and in post secondary institutes, including the BC Institute of Technology, Simon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.
