But copper cups are far from a new fad –– humans have been drinking water from copper vessels for thousands of years.Â, One Facebook user recently posted a list of supposed health benefits attributed to copper cups, including killing bacteria, slowing down aging, getting rid of anemia, lowering the risk of cancer and heart disease and more.Â, Copper drinking vessels have historical roots that extend back thousands of years. Keevil said many of copper’s alleged benefits stem from oral history rather than scientific research. Assess your health with interactive tools such as calculators, quizzes, and questionnaires. For instance, one study from Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition demonstrates that copper “holds potential to provide microbially safe drinking water to the rural masses in developing countries,” but includes that this and other supposed benefits of copper have not been widely studied. A federal government website managed by the Office on Women's Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. © 2021 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. The transmissibility of COVID-19 has been thoroughly proven through scientific studies. RMIT ABC Fact Check is a signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network's code of principles. According to their about page they “cover stories that impact your health, but that the mainstream media seldom covers.” Founded in 2011, Health Impact News is an alternative medicine, holistic, and nutrition website. The multiplier impact of pollution, winter on influenza and COVID-19 A link has been sent to your friend's email address. A number of studies indicate the need for further research.Â. A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. “I’m not aware that there’s ever been a proper study done, but anecdotally, many people claim that there are health benefits.”, Without the help of further scientific study, copper’s supposed health benefits remain under-researched and therefore difficult to sufficiently support or deny.Â, “It’s a challenge for scientists to rebut these claims,” Gordon said.Â, The health benefits included in this post, on the whole, have not been sufficiently demonstrated as true or untrue. Health information on some of the cancers that affect women and tests to screen for them. We don't necessarily want to change your gut microbiome," Gordon said.Â, Keevil studied solid copper surfaces and bacteria, and in his article for The Conversation, he cited results from a study that demonstrated a 58% reduction in infection rates in hospital rooms with copper components.Â, “Certainly when bacteria and viruses land on copper, they’re killed very quickly. Yellow fever - general fact sheet. PHE has not made any such admission. The human body needs copper to survive. ET (closed on federal holidays). Thank you for supporting our journalism. Public Health England Admits It Cannot Scientifically Prove That COVID-19 Is Contagious.” The PHE is “an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct organisation with operational autonomy,” according to its website. An image shared on Facebook claims Public Health England admitted it “cannot scientifically prove that COVID-19 is contagious.”. You can check your risk for heart disease, calculate your ideal weight and body mass, find out how many calories your favorite exercise burns, and more. Until a stronger body of research emerges to provide scientific insight to these claims, they cannot be demonstrated as substantially true or false. Pap and HPV tests fact sheet (PDF, 267 KB) Spanish (PDF, 267 KB) From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Cervical cancer fact sheet (PDF, 570 KB) Spanish (PDF, 545 KB) Ovarian cancer fact sheet (PDF, 532 KB) Spanish (PDF, 472 KB) Health literacy and clear communication between health professionals and patients are key to improving health and the quality of health care. The recommended dietary allowance of copper for men and women older than 18 is 900 mcg, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements.Â, It is used in electrical wiring, plumbing and pesticides. 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20201 1-800-994-9662 • Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The bulletin warns that food with a pH level below 6.0 may not be consumed with a cup with a copper interior, as stipulated by the federal Food and Drug Administration’s Model Food Code. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. A copy of the FOI request and the response can be found on the U.K. government website. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Sarah Lynch. The CDC calls corrosion of copper pipes the greatest cause for concern, in addition to contamination of well water, wastewater releases and more.Â, The Agency for Toxic Substances & Diseases Registry reports that ingesting high levels of copper could lead to harmful effects, from “nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea” to kidney and liver damage or even death, in extreme cases.Â, Many copper cups are lined with silver or stainless steel, however, so liquid does not make contact with the copper itself.Â, Copper has certainly been the subject of some scientific research, but the claims included in the Facebook post have yet to be substantially corroborated or accepted in the scientific field. The transmissibility of COVID-19 has been observed and is well documented by other health organizations as well. A photo of a distraught girl has been shared hundreds of times in multiple posts on Facebook and Twitter alongside a claim it was taken in Myanmar as the military launched air … Keevil pointed to studies connecting copper intake to fecal bacteria that live in the intestines. One from the Journal of Nutrition demonstrated “higher fecal free radical production, fecal water cytotoxicity and alkaline phosphatase activity when consuming low dietary copper,” all of which are considered risk factors for colon cancer. Rather, PHE clearly states in a published guidance that “the main way coronavirus spreads is when someone who has coronavirus breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes and another person breathes it in.”. If drinking water is of a standard pH, leaching should not occur –– but there may be other ways that copper could leach into water, like through copper pipes. Public Health England Admits It Cannot Scientifically Prove That COVID-19 Is Contagious, (RELATED: Viral Post Falsely Claims The First UK COVID-19 Vaccine Recipient Is A Crisis Actor), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Water is stored in brass or copper vessels overnight and drunk the next morning.Â, This practice stems from an ancient system of medicine called Ayurveda, which translates to “knowledge of life” and promotes natural remedies. The two organizations have maintained this position since at least February 2020, according to published reports. Public Health England Admits It Cannot Scientifically Prove That COVID-19 Is Contagious.”The PHE is “an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, and a … Fact check: Health benefits of drinking from copper cups needs more study. USA TODAY The claim: Drinking water from a copper cup can bring a number of health … (RELATED: Viral Post Falsely Claims The First UK COVID-19 Vaccine Recipient Is A Crisis Actor), The claim appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the PHE’s response to the FOI request. If you are travelling to Africa, the Caribbean, Central or South America, you should be aware of the risk of yellow fever virus transmission and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself from infection. Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about. The article explains that the author filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, which, according to gov.uk, is an application that can be filed to request to “see recorded information held by public authorities.” The request was for information related to evidence proving that COVID-19 is “person-to-person transmissible.” PHE responded to the author that it did not hold the information specified in the request. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/07/08/fact-check-health-benefits-copper-cups-need-more-study/5360249002/, electrical wiring, plumbing and pesticides, Agency for Toxic Substances & Diseases Registry, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Copper and Drinking Water from Private Wells, The Journal of Nutrition, “Production, Fecal Water Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Cytotoxicity in Healthy Men”, The Conversation, Feb. 24, 2017 - “Copper is great at killing superbugs – so why don’t hospitals use it?”, Health Environments Research & Design Journal, “From Laboratory Research to a Clinical Trial: Copper Alloy Surfaces Kill Bacteria and Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections”, Agency for Toxic Substance & Disease Registry, Toxic Substances Portal - Copper, Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division, Use of Copper Mugs in the Serving of Alcoholic Beverages, Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition, "Storing Drinking-water in Copper pots Kills Contaminating Diarrhoeagenic Bacteria", Washington State Department of Health, "Copper in Drinking Water"Â. subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. "But what does it mean to 'kill bacteria?' Moscow mule lovers know that the vodka-based cocktail is traditionally served in a copper mug, topped with a fresh lime. A wider internet search likewise turned up no results of the agency making such an admission. The post shows what appears to be a screen grab of a message thread including a link to a March 18 article published on the website Humans Are Free bearing the headline: “Bombshell! Copper is one of the body’s essential micronutrients, as well as a naturally occurring metal. Scientific briefs establishing the contagious nature of COVID-19 have been published by the World Health Organization (WHO), The Lancet, the National Academy of Sciences and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Coronavirus fact-check: Can the Pfizer vaccine affect a woman's reproductive health? Copper’s bacteria-fighting properties could increase its usage in public spaces, especially hospitals, going forward.Â, While copper in water could be helpful for individuals who do not consume enough copper, high concentrations of copper can be dangerous. Overall, we rate the Children’s Health Defense a strong conspiracy and quackery level advocacy group that frequently promotes unsupported claims. They are published by Sophia Media and Brian Shilhavy is the Managing Editor. Our fact-check sources: Federal Register, Executive Order No. Copper’s antimicrobial effects, in particular, appear supported in scientific research. “Copper is actually in certain proteins in our body … and it does kill bacteria,” Gordon said, adding that of all the health claims in this post, copper's ability to kill bacteria seems by far the most plausible. … Myth debunked! We create, promote, and curate evidence-based health literacy and communication tools, practices, and research for health professionals. HCPCS code G2012: Brief communication technology-based service, e.g. And that includes the new coronavirus, by the way,” Keevil said. Bombshell! Proper quantities of copper, therefore, may make a positive difference in health.Â, “It’s possible that if you live in countries where you don’t get much copper in the diet, then having copper in the drinking water could be a good thing,” Keevil said. We've got trillions of bacteria in our gut that we live with. FACT CHECK: Trump Falsely Claims Widespread Fraud In Latest Election Speech. “Many people wear copper jewelry –– bangles, for example –– and they claim that it’s good for their arthritis, the argument being that copper is absorbed through the skin,” Keevil said. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. The response does not indicate that the PHE admitted it “cannot scientifically prove that COVID-19 is contagious.” It simply stated, “PHE can confirm it does not hold information in the way specified by your request.”, Check Your Fact searched the agency’s website, but found no instance of PHE admitting that it has no evidence the virus is contagious. This photo was taken in Cambodia in 2007 -- not Myanmar in 2021. Published on 14/04/2021 at 05:00. Most likely, drinking from copper cups has a negligible impact on health, though that can depend on the type of cup and the pH of the liquid. Â, Sarah Lynch is an intern for the Asbury Park Press and the editor-in-chief for the Marist Circle at Marist College. The virus is primarily spread from person to person through respiratory droplets during close physical contact, according to the CDC and the WHO. Keevil said that copper can be found especially in nuts, chocolate and red wine. Â. Terry Gordon, professor for the department of environmental medicine at New York University, noted copper’s biological function. Reach her at SDLynch@gannett.com or via Twitter at @sarahdlynch.Â. In more developed countries, traces of copper may still enter drinking water, but just how much depends on "the types and amounts of minerals in the water, how long water stays in the pipes, the water temperature and acidity," according to the Washington State Department of Health. Fact Check: The post shows what appears to be a screen grab of a message thread including a link to a March 18 article published on the website Humans Are Free bearing the headline: “Bombshell! Copper as a metal may appear in construction, home decor and household items. Bill Keevil, director of the Environmental Healthcare Unit at the University of Southampton, said that the practice of “tamra jal” in India has existed for thousands of years. 13937 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, July 2020, "Trump Administration Announces Historic Action … According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine can have positive effects “when used as a complementary therapy in combination with standard, conventional medical care,” but its claims have not been studied extensively in the scientific field.Â, Some health benefits of copper have been the subject of scientific study. Depending on the acidity of the food, copper could be leached through copper cups. The Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division issued an advisory bulletin in 2017 to address copper cups used to serve alcoholic beverages.Â. The supposed health benefits of drinking water from copper cups are rooted in Ayurveda and are under-researched, experts say. We also rate them low for factual reporting due to the promotion of propaganda as well as several failed fact checks. Copper represents an essential micronutrient, but any extraordinary health benefits brought from drinking out of copper vessels are, at this point, rooted in anecdotes.

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