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Can Copper Make Public Transit Safer?

The CHAIR Coalition partnered with transit systems in Toronto and Vancouver to find out—testing antimicrobial copper on high-touch surfaces like poles and stanchions. With hygiene more important than ever, we wanted to see if nature’s self-sanitizing metal could be the answer.

Listen to the 20-minute podcast 

Key Findings:

• Copper reduced bacteria by up to 99.9%
• Killed 97.5% of coronavirus surrogates in 2 hours
• Stayed effective after 12 months of use
• Copper coatings and solid covers performed best

What It Means:

Copper offers a durable, self-sanitizing layer of protection on public transit—working 24/7 to reduce pathogens without replacing routine cleaning. It’s a powerful enhancement for public health and rider confidence.

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