- Results from TransLink’s industry-leading trial show that copper is highly effective at killing bacteria on high-touch transit surfaces
- The trial concludes that select high-touch copper surfaces are durable and kill up to 99.9 per cent of all bacteria within one hour of the bacteria’s contact with the surface
- Phase one testing was completed on two buses and two SkyTrain cars
- Phase two will include testing copper products on more train cars and buses over a longer period of time
- The study is a partnership between TransLink, Teck, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the University of British Columbia (UBC), and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Results from TransLink’s industry-leading trial show that copper is effective at killing bacteria on high-touch transit surfaces.
Based on sample-testing performed on transit and in a lab, the trial concludes that select copper products on transit are durable and kill up to 99.9 per cent of all bacteria within one hour of the bacteria’s contact with the surface.
Phase one of the pilot, which was fully funded by Teck Resources Limited (TECK), was completed over five weeks on two buses and two SkyTrain cars.
A second phase will be launched in the coming months to verify the results with a larger sample of data.
The pilot’s second phase will include testing copper products on more train cars and buses over a longer period of time.
TransLink was the first transit agency in North America to test copper on transit surfaces.
The pilot was launched as part of TransLink’s COVID-19 response through the Safe Operating Action Plan.
Pilot results could help inform decision-making for TransLink and other transit agencies across the globe.
The research could also benefit any industry that relies on shared public spaces.
The pilot is the result of a partnership between TransLink, Teck, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the University of British Columbia (UBC), and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.
Gigi Chen-Kuo, TransLink Interim CEO said,
“We are excited about the positive results in the first phase of our copper pilot and look forward to finding out more about copper’s impact on viruses such as the ones that cause COVID-19 in the pilot’s second phase. TransLink is proud to be the first North American agency to conduct such a trial to understand how we can continue to make transit safer for our customers. This research could help us, other transit agencies and anyone with surfaces in shared public spaces keep high-touch areas as clean as possible.”
Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck remarked,
“These results reinforce the effectiveness of copper’s antimicrobial properties in killing germs and contributing to better public health. Through our Copper & Health program, Teck has been working with healthcare professionals, academia and others to help make communities safer with copper. We look forward to continuing to work with TransLink and all the partners and working to expand the use of copper on public high-touch surfaces to protect human health.”
Dr. Marthe Charles, Medical Microbiologist, Vancouver Coastal Health stated,
“This project has been an incredible opportunity for our team to export our expertise and experience on self-disinfecting materials from the health care setting to our community. We were pleased to see that the results from the trial were in line with our previous studies in the hospital setting and are excited to further our understanding of the application of copper and its antimicrobial properties on public transit.”
Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, zinc and steelmaking coal, as well as investments in energy assets.
Teck Resources Limited (Teck.B) is down 4.32 per cent, trading at C$26.14 per share at 5 pm EST.
