What are some of the APVMA’s specific concerns over copper and silver ion based sanitiser systems?
Authoritative expert bodies worldwide agree that silver and copper ion based systems have not been shown to be adequately effective in controlling human pathogens of concern in a swimming or spa pool environment. In its document, Guidelines for Safe Recreational Waters Vol 2 – Swimming pools, spas and similar recreational-water environments, chapter 5 – Managing Water and Air Quality, the World Health Organization states the following. “The demand for fast biocidal action – to ensure that an infection of swimmers by transmission of bacteria and viruses via pool water does not occur even when the pool is used in rapid succession by large numbers of bathers – rules out the use of silver or other heavy metals for pool water disinfection, because a long exposure period (several hours) is required for these substances to show a biocidal effect. A quick, sensitive, analytical field procedure for measuring low concentrations of silver is not available.” The German Federal Environmental Agency
