You may be surprised to learn that many common surface disinfectants have some pretty alarming statements on their labels.
Check a few labels next time you are at the store, and you will notice words like “CAUTION,” “WARNING,” or even “DANGER.” But who determines these signal words, and what level of risk is associated with each?
Most importantly, how could those risks affect the people in your facilities?
The EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires the manufacturer to perform a series of acute toxicity tests for registration of an “antimicrobial pesticide” product, which includes common surface disinfectants and sanitizers used every day in households and businesses. These acute study tests include oral, inhalation, dermal, eye effects, and skin effects.
Each of the five studies is assigned to a toxicity category based on the results, ranging from highly toxic (I) to practically non-toxic (IV). The study with the most severe toxicity category determines the signal word that is on the product label.
Below is each category, the signal word you should look for on the label, and what it means:
Toxicity Category I
- Signal word: DANGER
- Highly toxic and severely irritating.
Toxicity Category II
- Signal word: WARNING
- Moderately toxic and moderately irritating.
Toxicity Category III
- Signal word: CAUTION
- Slightly toxic and slightly irritating.
Toxicity Category IV
- No Precautionary Statements
- Practically non-toxic and not an irritant.
Risks
Products that fall in Categories I-III are required to include safety information and precautionary statements on the product label. For example, does the product require the use of gloves or protective eyewear? Does the surface need to be rinsed before coming into contact with food? Should people avoid breathing in the vapor for prolonged periods of time? Should this product be used around domestic animals?
They also will include emergency instructions, such as poison control contact information and immediate first aid if the product gets in your eye or on your skin. Even contact with clothing can require immediate action for some products!
Hidden Costs
When calculating costs, most stop at the price of the product. But the precautionary statements can reveal expenses that could cause your overall cost to escalate. You might need to buy extra goggles and gloves for your cleaning and maintenance team. You’ll also need to perform additional safety training to ensure staff understands the precautionary statements, which can be a big burden for facilities with high turnover. And that’s on top of the cost of time lost to additional steps, like a potable water rinse after use.
Finally, many facilities like to leave surface wipes and spray out for non-cleaning staff to use when an area just needs a quick touch-up. These people would have no training and would likely not read the instructions before use.
Category IV Surface Products
Toxicity Category IV products are different from the rest. They are classified as practically non-toxic because most chemicals could be considered toxic in mass quantity. But under normal use, these products are considered not poisonous and won’t cause irritation to eyes, skin, or lungs.
Because they can be used without additional personal protective equipment, Category IV products can be freely placed in break rooms or gathering spaces for general use. They also require minimal instructions, so facilities can focus on proper disinfection, not safety training.
Sticking with Toxicity Category IV products helps to ensure everyone will be able to use the products easily, efficiently, and without added concerns.
PURELL® Surface Spray and Wipes
The PURELL® brand has developed a line of disinfectants and sanitizers that have all earned the EPA’s lowest toxicity rating. As Category IV products, our wipes and sprays have no precautionary statements and no need for protective equipment. There’s no need to rinse surfaces after use – including food-contact surfaces, which is a step beyond what even the EPA looks for in their testing.
Most importantly, PURELL® Surface Disinfectants and Sanitizers are still powerful against germs without the use of harsh chemicals. They quickly kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, including human coronavirus, cold & flu, norovirus, strep, MRSA, VRE, Listeria, and more.
Businesses interested in learning more about PURELL® products should contact their GOJO distributor, click here to schedule a meeting with our representatives, or find a distributor now. Be sure to subscribe to the GOJO blog so you don’t miss upcoming content around surface sanitization and disinfection (enter your email address in the column at the top right of the page).