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An Improved Proposal for Using Laminar Copper as a Biocidal Material in Hospitals in Touch Surfaces: A Study on Volatiles

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Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition) (EMCEI 2019)

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVSCIENCE))

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Abstract

The use of copper for reducing nosocomial infections has been carried out in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by replacing some objects generally made of stainless steel or other materials with solid pieces of copper. The authors’ proposal consists of introducing copper in a “lamina + adhesive” format. This proposal has been tested in an ICU at the Ceuta Hospital. It has been found to provide an equally efficient solution than the usual “solid” format, but with sustainable use of copper, which is a high-cost and limited resource. After that intervention, some improvements are also proposed: a standardization of the pieces chosen to cover with a lamina of copper for saving material; and another method of replacement aiming to lower the time that the ICU cannot be used. To ensure that the proposed bonding method is harmless to human health and the adhesive does not interfere with the indoor environment by releasing toxic chemicals, the “lamina + adhesive” sheet has been further tested. The results and proposals are briefly shown.

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References

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Acknowledgements

We give thanks to Dr. Benigno Sánchez and Juan Gilaranz for the tests done at CIEMAT facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Polytechnic University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Paula Aillón & Blanca Parga

Authors
  1. Paula Aillón
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  2. Blanca Parga
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula Aillón .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. High Institute of Biotechnology, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Mohamed Ksibi

  2. Appliquées et Technologies, Institut Supérieur des Sciences, Gabès, Tunisia

    Achraf Ghorbal

  3. University of Calabria, Rende, Cosenza, Italy

    Sudip Chakraborty

  4. School of Engineering (ISEP), Polytechnic of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Helder I. Chaminé

  5. Università degli Studi di Roma, Roma, Roma, Italy

    Maurizio Barbieri

  6. University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Giulia Guerriero

  7. High Institute of Biotechnology, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Olfa Hentati

  8. Faculty of Engineering, Water and Water Structure Engineering Department, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt

    Abdelazim Negm

  9. University of Geneva, Genève, Geneve, Switzerland

    Anthony Lehmann

  10. ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH, Flörsheim am Main, Hessen, Germany

    Jörg Römbke

  11. Centre for Environmental+Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Armando Costa Duarte

  12. Department of Geography, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Gießen, Hessen, Germany

    Elena Xoplaki

  13. Springer Nature, Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Nabil Khélifi

  14. Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium

    Gilles Colinet

  15. University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    João Miguel Dias

  16. Faculty of Medicine of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Imed Gargouri

  17. Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris, Université de Paris, Paris, France

    Eric D. Van Hullebusch

  18. FOTOAIR-CIEMAT, Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Benigno Sánchez Cabrero

  19. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

    Settimio Ferlisi

  20. College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, UK

    Chedly Tizaoui

  21. Sfax National School of Engineering, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia

    Amjad Kallel

  22. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Sami Rtimi

  23. Department of Mining Engineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey

    Sandeep Panda

  24. Université Clermont Auvergne, Polytech, Aubière, France

    Philippe Michaud

  25. Institute of Chemical Technology, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Jaya Narayana Sahu

  26. High School of Science and Technology, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia

    Mongi Seffen

  27. SEED DICIV, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

    Vincenzo Naddeo

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Aillón, P., Parga, B. (2021). An Improved Proposal for Using Laminar Copper as a Biocidal Material in Hospitals in Touch Surfaces: A Study on Volatiles. In: Ksibi, M., et al. Recent Advances in Environmental Science from the Euro-Mediterranean and Surrounding Regions (2nd Edition). EMCEI 2019. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-51210-1_362

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