Disinfectant
It is also a form of decontamination, and can be defined as the process whereby physical or chemical methods are used to reduce the amount of pathogenic microorganisms on a surface.
[10] In wastewater treatment, a disinfection step with chlorine, ultra-violet (UV) radiation or ozonation can be included as tertiary treatment to remove pathogens from wastewater, for example if it is to be discharged to a river or the sea where there body contact immersion recreations is practiced (Europe) or reused to irrigate golf courses (US).
It cannot be relied upon to destroy, within a practical period, bacterial endospores, mycobacteria, fungi, or all small nonlipid viruses.
[12] A less specific measurement of effectiveness is the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classification into either high, intermediate or low levels of disinfection.
"High-level disinfection kills all organisms, except high levels of bacterial spores" and is done with a chemical germicide marketed as a sterilant by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"Intermediate-level disinfection kills mycobacteria, most viruses, and bacteria with a chemical germicide registered as a 'tuberculocide' by the Environmental Protection Agency.
"[13] An alternative assessment is to measure the Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of disinfectants against selected (and representative) microbial species, such as through the use of microbroth dilution testing.
More informative methods are nowadays in demand to determine the minimum disinfectant dose as a function of the density of the target microbial species.
[15] A perfect disinfectant would also offer complete and full microbiological sterilisation, without harming humans and useful form of life, be inexpensive, and noncorrosive.
Most modern household disinfectants contain denatonium, an exceptionally bitter substance added to discourage ingestion, as a safety measure.
[17] There are arguments for creating or maintaining conditions that are not conducive to bacterial survival and multiplication, rather than attempting to kill them with chemicals.
For this reason, some question the wisdom of impregnating cloths, cutting boards and worktops in the home with bactericidal chemicals.
[19] In principle, these chemical substances are ideal air disinfectants because they have both high lethality to microorganisms and low mammalian toxicity.
[25] A mixture of 70% ethanol or isopropanol diluted in water is effective against a wide spectrum of bacteria, though higher concentrations are often needed to disinfect wet surfaces.
Further testing is being performed against Clostridioides difficile (C.Diff) spores with higher concentrations of ethanol and dodecanoic acid, which proved effective with a contact time of ten minutes.
[24] Newer synergous, low-alcohol formulations are highly effective broad-spectrum disinfectants with quick contact times (3–5 minutes) against bacteria, enveloped viruses, pathogenic fungi, and mycobacteria.
Quats are biocides that also kill algae and are used as an additive in large-scale industrial water systems to minimize undesired biological growth.
It has a unique method of action: The polymer strands are incorporated into the bacterial cell wall, which disrupts the membrane and reduces its permeability, which has a lethal effect to bacteria.
[42] The phrase "sunlight is the best disinfectant" was popularized in 1913 by United States Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis[43] and later advocates of government transparency.
[52][53] Minimal information remains about the health and safety of workers in other sectors of the production and manufacturing process of disinfectants.
[49][53] Studies have shown reports of workers with short-term neurological impairments,[54] dermal hypersensitivity,[5] skin irritation,[5][49] chemical burns,[5][49] dermatitis,[5][49] occupational asthma and work-related asthma,[55][56][57] mucus membrane (nasal)[58] and lung irritation,[49] and some types of cancer after direct and consistent contact with disinfectants.
[65] Some chemicals in cleaning and disinfectants that have been associated with health impacts include chlorine,[64] ammonia,[2][64] ethanolamine,[64] 2-butoxyethanol,[64] quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs),[65][64] and bleach.
[67][65][64] The adverse health impacts of disinfectants are still not well studied, which makes it difficult to develop guidelines for use in healthcare settings that take mind of potential effects.
Continuous exposure to cleaning agents containing ethanolamine,[55] chloramine-T,[55] and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs)[49] was found to cause Occupational Asthma (OA) in cleaners.
Researchers suggest continuous use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), periodic medical examinations, and guidelines on how to handle chemicals.
[68] Dermal, respiratory, immune, reproductive, and developmental effects of exposure are investigated but there is a currently limited scope of this study.
[68] In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulate QACs depending on their intended purposes.
