CP Lab Safety Blog Disinfecting Surfaces in the Era of Covid and EPA Registered Commercial Disinfectants and Viricides

The disinfection of surfaces at home, in public spaces, and in hospitals and clinics needs to be a priority in the era of transmittable pathogens such as Covid-19, and proper disinfection lowers the exposure of people to both viruses and bacteria. Sanitization is a different process and is directed at bacterial pathogens only.The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a comprehensive database called the N-List that 652 different commercially available disinfectants on the market, and describes their activity in disinfecting surfaces across different viruses and bacterial species, while describing in what settings such as residential, institutional, or healthcare and hospitals the product should be used in. For healthcare and hospitals, the most bioactive products are used with the shortest contact times, while residential disinfectants tend to have longer and more variable contact times.To search whether your disinfection product is appropriate for different pathogens one can search the N-List by EPA Registration number of the product, by active ingredient, product name, or even the company that markets the product, as they are all different in activity, as shown by the contact time in minutes, which range from 0.25 minutes to 10 or more minutes to achieve disinfection. Registered disinfecting agents used in these products vary across different chemical classes and the major ones used are shown below. These disinfectants are either used alone, or in combinations of two or more agents. The quaternary ammonium agents class is the largest listed wit 292 different products commecially available, while hydrogen-peroxide based agents and sodium chlorite/hypochlorite products are equally represented, with 99 and 95 different products available, respectively. Ethanol, other alcohols and phenols, detergents and natural products make up the remainder on the N-List, and all have different potencies as disinfection agents as shown by their contact times until effective. Quaternary Ammonium Agents and Mixtures 292Hydrogen Peroxide and Mixtures 99Sodium Chlorite/ Hypochlorite and Mixes 95Ethanol Based and Mixtures 16Detergents, Natural Products, others 150Contact Time: A Measure of Disinfectant StrengthThe contact time of the disinfectant with the viral pathogen is an important factor, and the N-List highlights 65 different disinfection products that have contact times of 1 minute or less, showing the most potency in disinfecting surfaces. These products also were measured for disinfecting activity in the laboratory directly on SARS-Covid-19 or other strains related to Covid-19.Clorox products dominate on this list, while Ecolab and Gojo products are some of the most active disinfecting agents against Covid-19, and are EPA registered. You can also search the database in Excel, and the supplied link N-List Excel will allow you to download the list and search the spreadsheet readily. Most Potent Disinfection Products Against SARs-Covid-19 Active Ingredient(s)Product Name CompanyContact Time (in minutes)Citric acidAtticusThe Clorox Co.0.5Citric acidEvercleanReckitt Benckiser LLC0.5Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acidMulti-Purpose Plus Disinfectant CleanerEcolab Inc0.5Dodecylbenzenesulfonic acidMulti-Purpose Plus Disinfectant Cleaner RTUEcolab Inc0.5DBsulfonic acid; L-Lactic acidCW32A-RTUEcolab Inc0.25DBsulfonic acid; L-Lactic acidS&S SanitizerEcolab Inc0.25EthanolCharlestonGOJO Industries Inc0.17EthanolLysol Neutra Air 2 in 1Reckitt Benckiser LLC0.5EthanolPURELL Professional Surface Disinfectant WipesGOJO Industries Inc0.5EthanolSalsaGOJO Industries Inc0.5EthanolUrthproUrthtech LLC0.5Hydrogen peroxideClorox Commercial Solutions CloroxClorox Professional Products Company0.5Hydrogen peroxideClorox Commercial Solutions Hydrogen PeroxideClorox Professional Products Company0.5Hydrogen peroxideClorox Commercial Solutions Hydrogen Peroxide WipesClorox Professional Products Company0.5Hydrogen peroxideClorox Pet Solutions Advanced Stain & Odor RemoverThe Clorox Company0.5Hydrogen peroxideDS6835Arxada, LLC0.5Hydrogen peroxideFacility + RTUMidlab0.5Hydrogen peroxideOxivirâ HC WipesDiversey Inc0.25Hydrogen peroxideOxivirâ WipesDiversey Inc0.25Hydrogen peroxidePeroxide Disinfectant And Glass Cleaner RTUEcolab Inc0.5Hydrogen peroxidePeroxide Multi Surface Cleaner and DisinfectantEcolab Inc0.5Hydrogen peroxideProfect HPSpartan Chemical Company Inc0.5Hydrogen peroxide; C8; PAAViraseptEcolab Inc0.25L-Lactic AcidShrubClorox Professional Products Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumActicide C&D 09 WipesThor Specialties Inc0.25Quaternary ammoniumBTC 2125M 10% SolutionStepan Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumCDWThe Clorox Company0.25Quaternary ammoniumClorox Commercial Solutions Formula 409 DisinfectantClorox Professional Products Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumClorox Commercial Solutions Clorox Disinfecting WipesClorox Professional Products Company0.25Quaternary ammoniumClorox Disinfecting WipesThe Clorox Company0.25Quaternary ammoniumClorox EverestThe Clorox Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumClorox Healthcare VersaSureWipesClorox Professional Products Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumLibertadClorox Professional Products Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumLysol Disinfecting Wipes (All Scents)Reckitt Benckiser LLC0.25Quaternary ammoniumSC-RTU Disinfectant CleanerStepan Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumSolvent Free Detergent Disinfectant Pump SprayStepan Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumStepan Disinfectant WipeStepan Company0.5Quaternary ammoniumStepan Spray Disinfectant ConcentrateStepan Company0.25Quaternary ammoniumStepan ToweletteStepan Company0.5Quaternary ammonium; EthanolFirebird F130Microban Products Company0.1Quaternary ammonium; EthanolIronman WipeMicroban Products Company0.1Quaternary ammonium; EthanolLysol Disinfectant Max Cover MistReckitt Benckiser LLC0.25Quaternary ammonium; EthanolLysol Disinfectant SprayReckitt Benckiser LLC0.25Silver ion; Citric acidAxen 30ETI H2O Inc0.5Silver ion; Citric acidSdc3aETI H2O Inc0.5Sodium chloritePerformacideOdorstart LLC0.5Sodium dichloroisocyanurateKAY-5 Sanitizer/Cleaner TabletEcolab, Inc.0.25Sodium hypochloriteClorox Clean Up Cleaner + BleachThe Clorox Company0.5Sodium hypochloriteClorox Commercial Solutions CloroxDisinfectant with BleachClorox Professional Products Company0.5Sodium hypochloriteMicro-kill Bleach Germicidal Bleach WipesMedline Industries Inc0.5Sodium hypochloriteMicro-kill Bleach SolutionMedline Industries Inc0.5Sodium hypochloriteTulmultSpartan Chemical Company Inc0.5Handling Disinfectants and ViricidesSince Covid-19 is spread through the air on microdroplets, according to the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC), the risk of contracting it from surfaces is thought to be low. Another factor in disinfectant favor is that SARs-Covid-19 viruses have a delicate outer-lipid fatty membrane, and its easily disrupted by disinfectants, chemicals, and many different membrane-active agents.The disinfectant list is again dominated by quaternary ammonium based chemicals, with ethanol and membrane active anionic surfactants such as dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid also showing low contact times and higher potency, damaging and destroying the outer virus membrane of Covid. Other viruses may possess hardened outer-protein shells, and are more resistant to the action of disinfectants and if an agent works against them, it will be effective against SARS-Covid-19, at least in principle.Hydrogen peroxide-based products also are quite active against Covid-19 and related viruses, shown in this list with low contact times, but peroxides decompose in water over time, and checking expiration dates on peroxide products is warranted and they should be disposed of when expired.Cleaning and Disinfecting Surfaces: Do's and Don'tsFirst clean surfaces to be disinfected with soap and water, to remove dirt and microbial films, followed by the use EPA registered disinfectants on high-touch surfaces following directions on the product. Disinfection is warranted in high-touch areas, high traffic areas with touchable surfaces such as doorknobs and handles, in areas where someone is sick or in areas where those are known to have Covid-19.Safety Considerations When Using Disinfectants Using disinfectants can trigger an asthma attack in individuals, so take extra precautions avoiding areas when cleaning surfaces and the susceptible are present, and make sure there is plenty of ventilation and fresh air.If using fogging, fumigating, or electrostatic instruments and methods, follow all the directions and if a product isn't labelled for the use of such methods, the disinfectant may not work, and it may prove risky.Children should not handle disinfectants, and they should be kept out of their reach as they are toxic if over-exposed in air spaces and if ingested seek prompt medical attention.Follow the product label usage directions, using only Registered EPA products, do not apply to the skin, food, or pets, and do not dilute the products with other chemicals or water.If you suspect over-exposure or poisoning by a disinfectant call your local poison control center, all towns and states have them, or contact the National Capital Poison Center online or by phone at 1-800-222-1222. Calling 911 is also advised for an immediate and local response. For Further Information on the Science of Surface Disinfection see:The role of surface disinfection in infection prevention.GMS Hyg Infect Control. 2013 Apr 29;8(1):Doc10. doi: 10.3205/dgkh000210. PMID: 23967396; PMCID: PMC3746601.Virucidal Activity of World Health Organization-Recommended Formulations Against Enveloped Viruses, Including Zika, Ebola, and Emerging Coronaviruses.J Infect Dis. 2017 Mar 15;215(6):902-906. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jix046. PMID: 28453839; PMCID: PMC5407053.