• Environmental

  Will the continued use of non environmental disinfectants damage the environment

  Posted by Nigel on 14 September 2020 at 5:15 pm

  According to a June 2020, report released in Bloomberg Law, “businesses across the U.S. have begun intensive COVID-19 disinfection regimes [that may be] exposing workers and consumers to chemicals that are largely untested for human health.”

  When the seriousness of the pandemic reached U.S. shores earlier this year, it caused building managers to have a knee-jerk reaction when it comes to cleaning in general, especially with the use of harsh non environmentally friendly disinfectants. To protect building users and keep facilities and business operating, disinfectants were used everywhere and anywhere.

  The same thing happened in Hong Kong nearly twenty years ago when the SARS virus began to spread. But now there are concerns as COVID-19 resurfaces that building managers, along with cleaning professionals, will return to using non environmentally friendly disinfectants randomly and excessively.

  This could have an impact on the environment. We can understand why, back in March, with the considerable chaos and uncertainty, there was a rush to disinfect. But now, as a second resurgence evolves, we need to stop and make sure this uncontrolled use is not repeated. As the Bloomberg report indicates, this may cause more harm than we realize.

  So, what do we need to know about disinfectants and the use of these products to ensure we use them wisely, with the protection of the user and the environment in mind?

  Use only where necessary.

  Unfortunately, cleaning professionals in the past, and certainly now with COVID, are using these products on far too many surfaces where they are not needed. Because we know disinfectants in the U.S. are not green certified, overusing them increase the chances they can harm the environment as well as the user.

  Overusing disinfectants can cause pathogens to develop immunity to them. Just as doctors are careful prescribing antibiotics because some germs and bacteria have now become immune to them, the same situation is developing with disinfectants.

  Use the correct disinfectant. If we must use a disinfectant, it is important to select the right one. The labels on disinfectants list the kill claims, that is, the pathogens the disinfectant should be able to kill if used properly. As for COVID, the EPA has created the N-List, which lists all disinfectants proven to kill the pathogens that cause the virus.

  Use the disinfectant properly. Before using a disinfectant, surfaces must always be cleaned first. Cleaning removes soils from a surface so that the disinfectant can work more effectively.

  Using electrostatic sprayers. Electrostatic sprayers are being used in all types of facilities because of the pandemic. Essentially, they apply a disinfectant mist over a wide area. The mist is given an electrical charge so that it attaches to surfaces as it is used. Once on those surfaces, the disinfectant is designed to go to work, killing germs, pathogens and infectious viruses.

  Sanitise (www.sanitise.net) uses a safe, environmentally friendly but powerful disinfectant that is a medical grade Log 6 broad efficacy, that leave no chemicals behind and is approved for use in the NHS in the UK.

  

  Nigel replied 4 years, 3 months ago 1 Member · 0 Replies
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