Chemicals Found in Common Disinfectants
Humans have always been up against germs—from the dawn of civilization, we’ve been battling these invisible enemies that are all around us. Whether from within our own bodies, from our food and water, or from the air we breathe, there has always been a risk of bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms making us sick or even killing us.
Many methods have been developed to try to keep these germs at bay with a variety of tools, such as chemically-produced disinfectants. However, this has posed a number of problems, including potential health hazards. Disinfectants are only one part of an overall cleaning and disinfecting routine, but they play a significant role in fighting against bacteria in germ-prone environments.
Many methods have been developed to try to keep these germs at bay with a variety of tools, such as chemically-produced disinfectants. However, this has posed a number of problems, including potential health hazards. Disinfectants are only one part of an overall cleaning and disinfecting routine, but they play a significant role in fighting against bacteria in germ-prone environments.
Why We Use Disinfectants
When you clean your hands with conventional soap and water, you kill the germs by breaking them down with dirt, foam, and friction. Disinfectants work differently. They are chemicals that kill germs on contact. Some disinfectants are simple household products that you can buy at the store and use to clean your entire household. Others are used in hospital settings to quickly sterilize equipment and rooms.
Most establishments use disinfectants, including healthcare facilities, schools, and restaurants. Each facility has different needs, but disinfectants serve the same basic purpose in all of them: they help keep potentially harmful microbes from spreading and causing disease.
Given the lessons the pandemic has taught us, we will certainly only see an increase in the use of germ-killing solutions as we strive to create safer public environments. Disinfectants are a part of everyday life, especially in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, where we should all feel safe and protected from infection. However, when it comes to disinfectant products, it seems we rarely question what chemicals are in them.
Introducing more chemicals into our daily lives that enter our bodies is certainly not the best—and thankfully not the only—solution. Modern technology has advanced with the ability to use non-chemical methods to get rid of microbes, including a new method for using a safe, reliable anti-microbial metal that we know of as copper.
Before exploring this innovative solution for creating safer public spaces, the following information examines some of the chemicals found in common disinfectants and provides an overview of their uses and harmful effects.
Most establishments use disinfectants, including healthcare facilities, schools, and restaurants. Each facility has different needs, but disinfectants serve the same basic purpose in all of them: they help keep potentially harmful microbes from spreading and causing disease.
Given the lessons the pandemic has taught us, we will certainly only see an increase in the use of germ-killing solutions as we strive to create safer public environments. Disinfectants are a part of everyday life, especially in hospitals and other healthcare facilities, where we should all feel safe and protected from infection. However, when it comes to disinfectant products, it seems we rarely question what chemicals are in them.
Introducing more chemicals into our daily lives that enter our bodies is certainly not the best—and thankfully not the only—solution. Modern technology has advanced with the ability to use non-chemical methods to get rid of microbes, including a new method for using a safe, reliable anti-microbial metal that we know of as copper.
Before exploring this innovative solution for creating safer public spaces, the following information examines some of the chemicals found in common disinfectants and provides an overview of their uses and harmful effects.
Types of Chemical Disinfectants
Alcohol
Alcohol, including ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, is a natural chemical and an organic solvent. It can be an effective disinfecting agent to help clean the air or surfaces. However, alcohol is best used for disinfecting surfaces in a pinch: the degree of its effectiveness to disinfect is limited, making it most suitable for spot treatment or treatment on areas that have been previously cleaned.
A type of alcohol commonly found in disinfectants, 2-butoxyethanol, or 2-BE for short, is a clear liquid used as a solvent for cleaning many things, including your body, your home, and much of our food supply. It is also found in household cleaners as a propellant and has become a common ingredient in many other cleaning products, such as multipurpose cleaners and window sprays.
While it has been shown to be a fairly effective broad-spectrum disinfectant, 2-BE can be quite harmful if it is not used safely. The alcohol is toxic in high doses and may be a carcinogen in humans. 2-BE is a strong irritant, and repeated exposure can lead to severe damage to the mucous membranes, lungs, and kidneys.
Chlorine
When chlorine is added to water, it mixes with the water molecules to create hypochlorous acid, a weak acid with disinfectant properties. The acid destroys bacteria and other microbes by stripping the electrons from molecules in the cell, making them unable to function. The most common chlorine-based disinfectants are household bleach and a number of other products that contain chlorine, such as certain toilet bowl cleaners, laundry detergents, and bathroom cleaners.
Chlorine bleach, for instance, is used in the cleaning process to whiten laundry and disinfect surfaces. However, chlorine is an irritant and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. It’s also corrosive to metals in high concentrations and should not be mixed with other cleaners, as it can create toxic chlorine gas.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable chemical that is naturally produced in the body and can also be found in many products we use every day. This is because formaldehyde is a highly effective germ killer used in a wide range of disinfectants, including hand soaps, cleaning products, and air fresheners. But while that might sound beneficial, formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen.
OSHA requires formaldehyde to be handled in the workplace as a carcinogen and sets a limit for employee exposure. At high levels, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It is especially dangerous for people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses. As a result, it’s best to limit formaldehyde use in sterilization and in the disinfection process.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
Quats are a group of compounds that are known to be effective disinfectants at low concentrations. They are commonly used for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and have been a cleaning staple for hospital rooms. In concentrated form, quats are often used to disinfect and clean medical instruments. Quats are also commonly found in disinfectant wipes, sprays, and household cleaners.
While quats are often viewed as effective to use, their impact on the body has raised concerns about their safety, particularly the disruption they may have on key cellular pathways. Additionally, quats have been linked to asthma and other respiratory problems and can cause corrosive damage to the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes.
Alcohol, including ethanol or isopropyl alcohol, is a natural chemical and an organic solvent. It can be an effective disinfecting agent to help clean the air or surfaces. However, alcohol is best used for disinfecting surfaces in a pinch: the degree of its effectiveness to disinfect is limited, making it most suitable for spot treatment or treatment on areas that have been previously cleaned.
A type of alcohol commonly found in disinfectants, 2-butoxyethanol, or 2-BE for short, is a clear liquid used as a solvent for cleaning many things, including your body, your home, and much of our food supply. It is also found in household cleaners as a propellant and has become a common ingredient in many other cleaning products, such as multipurpose cleaners and window sprays.
While it has been shown to be a fairly effective broad-spectrum disinfectant, 2-BE can be quite harmful if it is not used safely. The alcohol is toxic in high doses and may be a carcinogen in humans. 2-BE is a strong irritant, and repeated exposure can lead to severe damage to the mucous membranes, lungs, and kidneys.
Chlorine
When chlorine is added to water, it mixes with the water molecules to create hypochlorous acid, a weak acid with disinfectant properties. The acid destroys bacteria and other microbes by stripping the electrons from molecules in the cell, making them unable to function. The most common chlorine-based disinfectants are household bleach and a number of other products that contain chlorine, such as certain toilet bowl cleaners, laundry detergents, and bathroom cleaners.
Chlorine bleach, for instance, is used in the cleaning process to whiten laundry and disinfect surfaces. However, chlorine is an irritant and can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. It’s also corrosive to metals in high concentrations and should not be mixed with other cleaners, as it can create toxic chlorine gas.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable chemical that is naturally produced in the body and can also be found in many products we use every day. This is because formaldehyde is a highly effective germ killer used in a wide range of disinfectants, including hand soaps, cleaning products, and air fresheners. But while that might sound beneficial, formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen.
OSHA requires formaldehyde to be handled in the workplace as a carcinogen and sets a limit for employee exposure. At high levels, formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. It is especially dangerous for people with asthma or other respiratory illnesses. As a result, it’s best to limit formaldehyde use in sterilization and in the disinfection process.
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (Quats)
Quats are a group of compounds that are known to be effective disinfectants at low concentrations. They are commonly used for cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and have been a cleaning staple for hospital rooms. In concentrated form, quats are often used to disinfect and clean medical instruments. Quats are also commonly found in disinfectant wipes, sprays, and household cleaners.
While quats are often viewed as effective to use, their impact on the body has raised concerns about their safety, particularly the disruption they may have on key cellular pathways. Additionally, quats have been linked to asthma and other respiratory problems and can cause corrosive damage to the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes.
A Natural Solution
As a result of COVID-19, solutions for disinfecting are in high demand, and manufacturers are responding by creating natural products. While the risks of using disinfectants can be managed, resorting to strictly chemically-ridden solutions is not the only answer. Safer and effective alternatives exist that do not pose any risk to one’s health, regardless of their dose or concentration.
For example, copper is a natural disinfectant that has existed for thousands of years as a surface treatment for drinking water because of its ability to kill bacteria. More recently, copper has found its way into hospitals and transit systems, particularly as installations on door handles and rails.
Copper contains anti-microbial properties that can provide long-lasting protection against the spread of germs and bacteria. Copper surfaces, when in contact with bacteria and other microorganisms, hinder their growth and disrupt their development. The bactericidal action of copper is based on the ability of copper ions that interact with proteins and nucleic acids. Copper is one of the only available materials that have this bactericidal effect without being dangerous to people and other organisms.
While common disinfectant chemicals can be harmful to the human body, copper is a safe alternative. Copper is naturally antimicrobial, so it can treat a variety of surfaces without the risk of introducing new chemicals into the environment. That makes copper the first choice for disinfecting objects that come into contact with food and the best choice for preventing the spread of germs.
Utilizing copper coverings as an antimicrobial agent is a safe, effective, and economical method of reducing the spread of germs in public spaces.
For example, copper is a natural disinfectant that has existed for thousands of years as a surface treatment for drinking water because of its ability to kill bacteria. More recently, copper has found its way into hospitals and transit systems, particularly as installations on door handles and rails.
Copper contains anti-microbial properties that can provide long-lasting protection against the spread of germs and bacteria. Copper surfaces, when in contact with bacteria and other microorganisms, hinder their growth and disrupt their development. The bactericidal action of copper is based on the ability of copper ions that interact with proteins and nucleic acids. Copper is one of the only available materials that have this bactericidal effect without being dangerous to people and other organisms.
While common disinfectant chemicals can be harmful to the human body, copper is a safe alternative. Copper is naturally antimicrobial, so it can treat a variety of surfaces without the risk of introducing new chemicals into the environment. That makes copper the first choice for disinfecting objects that come into contact with food and the best choice for preventing the spread of germs.
Utilizing copper coverings as an antimicrobial agent is a safe, effective, and economical method of reducing the spread of germs in public spaces.
