Did You Know Disinfectants & Sanitizers Are Pesticides?

PEST ProgramPesticide Exposure Surveillance in Texas

Texas Department of State Health ServicesEnvironmental Epidemiology and

Disease Registries SectionP.O. Box 149347 — MC-1964

Austin, Texas 78714-93471-800-588-1248

http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox /pest.shtm

• Disinfectants:chemicalsthatareappliedtonon-livingobjectstodestroymicroorganisms(fungi,viruses,bacteria).Disinfectantsusedinhospitalsmaybeusedtodisinfectitemssuchasmedicalinstruments,floors,walls,bedlinens,andtoiletseats.Disinfectantsusedinthehomemaybeusedtodisinfectgeneralhouseholditemsaswellasswimmingpoolsanddrinkingwater.

• Sanitizers:reducethenumberofmicroorgan-ismsfromnon-livingsurfaceswithinaspecifiedamountoftimetolevelsconsideredsafeasdeterminedbypublichealthcodesorregulations.Sanitizersmaybeusedonbothfoodand non-foodcontactproducts.

• Sterilizers:chemicalsorprocesses(such assteam,heat,orpressure)thatcompletely

eliminatemicroorganisms(suchasfungi, viruses,bacteria,spores)fromasurface,equipment,orfood.

What are disinfectants, sanitizers and sterilizers?

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Can disinfectants, sanitizers and sterilizers be harmful?

Whilethesepesticidesprovidebenefits,theyalsocanbeharmfulifusedimproperly.Exposuretothesechemicalsgenerallyoccursitherbyaccidentorbyafailuretofollowthedirectionsonthelabel.

HerearesomeexamplesofthetypesofexposuresthathavebeenreportedtothePesticideExposureSurveillanceinTexasProgram:

• Accidentalingestionofpine-oilafter thebottlefellandsplashedontheface

• Mixedchlorineandammoniainasmallspacecausingtoxicfumes

• Accidentallysprayedco-workerinthe eyewithahospitaldisinfectant

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• Chestpain•Shortnessof

breath• Headache•Vomiting• Nausea•Wateryeyes•Flu-like symptoms

Evenifyouneverusepesticidesyourself,youstillcanbeexposedtothem–athome,school,work,orplay–justbybeinginanareathathasbeentreated.

How can someone be exposed to disinfectants, sanitizers and sterilizers?

What types of health effects are associated with these chemicals?

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Shorttermexposuretodisinfectants,sanitizersandsterilizerscanresultinthefollowinghealtheffects:

What steps can be taken to reduce risk?

Toreduceyourriskofexposuretothesechemicalsyoucan:

• Choosetherightproduct• Readtheproductlabel• Determinethecorrectamounttopurchase; useonlywhatisneeded• Usetheproductsafelyandcorrectly• Onlyusetheproductforitsintendeduse• Storeanddisposeoftheproductproperly• Ifanaccidentoccurs,suchasasplashinthe

eyes,mouth,orskin,callPoisonControl Networkat:1 (800) 222-1222• Whenpossible,stayawayfromapplicationareas• Don’tmixhouseholdproductstogether;thiscan

causefumesthatirritateorevendamagethelungs

• Don’tprepareproductsinenclosedareas wherethereisnoventilation• Don’tapplytoomuchoftheproduct• Don’tapplynearfoods• Don’tuseproductwithoutwearingproper personalprotectiveequipment

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The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)

Disinfectants,sanitizers,andsterilizersareclassifiedaspesticides,andtheFederalInsecticide,Fungicide,andRodenticideAct(FIFRA)requiresthattheyberegisteredwiththeEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).

Currently,therearemorethan5,000disinfectant,sanitizer,andsterilizerproductsregisteredwiththeEPAinformulationsconsistingofsprays,liquids,concentratedpowders,andgases;eachmaycontainoneormoreof275activeingredients.

• Poolcleaners• Maintenanceworkers• Janitors• Restaurantworkers• Individualsworkingnearapplicationareas• Healthcareworkers

What are occupations that might be at greater risk?

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Reporting Law

TheTexasOccupationalConditionReportingAct,HealthandSafetyCode,Chapter84,requiresthatthefollowingindividualsreportcasesofoccupationalpesticidepoisonings:

• Physicians

• HealthProfessionals

• LaboratoryDirectors

• Anypersonsinchargeofaclinicalor hospitallaboratory,bloodbank,mobile unitorotherfacilityinwhichalaboratory

examinationrevealsevidenceofthe reportabledisease.

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• Theexposedindividual’sname,address, phonenumber,birthdate,raceorethnicity, anddiagnosis• Laboratorytestresults• Occupationandemployerinformation, ifexposureiswork-related

How is this information used?

• Theinformationisusedtoidentifyincidents andprovideassistance.• Ongoingsurveillanceofoccupationalpesticide

exposuresenablesustoidentifypotentialpublichealthhazards.

• Theinformationisusedtomakerecommenda-tions,developtargetedpreventionefforts,andimplementstrategiestoreducetheriskof

occupationalexposuretopesticides.

– Reported Information is Confidential –

What Information should be reported to DSHS?

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How can I report?• CasescanbereporteddirectlytotheEnvironmentalandInjuryEpidemiologyandToxicologyUnit,

DSHS,bycallingourtoll-freenumber:1 (800) 588-1248.• Casereportscanbefaxedto:(512) 776-7222.• Casereportscanbemailedto: PEST Program Environmental and Injury Epidemiology and Toxicology Unit

PO Box 149347 MC1964 Austin, TX 78714-9347• Casesalsomaybereportedtolocalorregionalhealthdepartmentstaffwhocantransmitthe

informationdirectlytotheDSHScentraloffice.

Reportformforhealthcareproviders:http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox/pestrptfrm.pdf

Additional Sources of InformationTexasDepartmentofStateHealthServiceshttp://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox/pest.shtmNationalPesticideInformationCenter http://npic.orst.edu/EnvironmentalProtectionAgency http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/index.htm

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Who should report occupational pesticide exposures?• TexasPoisonControlNetwork(TPCN)• Otherstateagencies

• Regionalhealthdepartments •Individuals• Healthcareproviders,labs

ThemajorityofthesourcematerialforthisfactsheetwasadaptedfromtheEnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/ad_info.htmandhttp://www.epa.gov/oppad001/

PublicationNo.e09-1309909/2011