On behalf of the Vienna Environmental Ombudsman’s Office, the Klade Technical Office took a closer look at the range of disinfectant household products. The study examined the range of all-purpose cleaners, cleaning cloths and sponges, gels, soaps and sprays as well as detergents and washing-up liquids found in supermarkets and drugstores for which the manufacturer explicitly claims a disinfecting effect.
This can be recognized by formulations such as “antibacterial”, “disinfectant”, “eliminates 99.99 % of bacteria” or “eliminates fungi, mould, algae or viruses”. An inventory in shopping centers revealed 78 such products. The packaging was evaluated with regard to the type and quantity of biocidal active substances used. Data sets published by the European Chemicals Agency ECHA were used to evaluate the active substances with regard to their effects on health and the environment[1], [2].
The evaluation of the active substances examined can be summarized as follows:
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- The use of biocidal active substances such as organic acids, alcohols and peroxides generally appears to be unproblematic. However, caution is advised with regard to their irritating or corrosive effect on the skin and eyes. Splashes should be avoided during application and gloves should be worn. The environmental risks are rather low due to the generally rapid biodegradability.
- The use of kitchen sponges and cloths containing silver appears to be problematic as highly environmentally toxic silver ions can be released. Silver does not decompose further and can accumulate in the sediment of natural waters. The use of low doses in the household promotes the development of resistant germs, which in turn can impair the sensible use of silver in the healthcare sector (e.g. for catheters and in wound dressings).
- The use of sanitizer for laundry disinfection is particularly problematic. The biocidal active ingredients used – benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) – are important representatives of the quaternary ammonium compounds (QAV) group. Due to their poor degradability, they are found in sewage sludge and sediments. In addition, long-term exposure of microbes to QAV in the environment also appears to increase their resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The frequent use of sanitizers can also lead to health problems: Since QAV are absorbed by the clothing fibers during washing, wearing the clothing can lead to indirect contamination of the living environment. For example, surprisingly high quantities of these active substances were found in the dust of school ventilation ducts. This is also a cause for concern because these chemicals also have a certain skin-sensitizing potential. These potential application risks are offset by low or questionable benefits: In general, disinfecting laundry only seems justified if it is already contaminated – for example due to an existing (fungal) infection – and cannot be washed at 60°C.
Hinsichtlich des potentiellen Nutzens einer Desinfektion im Lebensumfeld „Haushalt“ stimmt die die überwiegende Mehrheit der HygieneexpertInnen darin überein, dass eine unbegründete routinemäßige Desinfektion der Gesundheit eher schadet als nutzt. Nur in ganz spezifischen Situationen erscheinen desinfizierende Maßnahmen im Haushalt gerechtfertigt – etwa wenn ein Familienmitglied an einer hochansteckenden Krankheit leidet oder bei Personen mit stark geschwächtem Immunsystem, z. B. in Folge einer Chemotherapie oder aufgrund ihres Alters.
The study therefore suggests making private individuals’ access to disinfectants dependent on a justified need: One proposed measure involves shifting sales from supermarkets to pharmacies, in conjunction with appropriate specialist advice. A further proposed measure is aimed at implementing the EU Biocidal Products Regulation: in the course of product approval, applications in the household could be scrutinized by hygiene experts with regard to their benefits. As a result, the quantity or packaging size could be adapted to the requested application or the packaging could contain instructions for use.
The study can be here can be downloaded here.
A statement on this can also be found on the website of the Vienna Environmental Ombudsman’s Office: http://wua-wien.at/positionen-und-stellungnahmen/studie-desinfektionsreiniger-2
[1] https://echa.europa.eu/de/information-on-chemicals/registered-substances
[2] https://echa.europa.eu/de/information-on-chemicals/biocidal-active-substances