did you know disinfectants & sanitizers are pesticides?
TRANSCRIPT
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?
1
Can disinfectants, sanitizers and sterilizers be harmful?
Whilethesepesticidesprovidebenefits,theyalsocanbeharmfulifusedimproperly.Exposuretothesechemicalsgenerallyoccursitherbyaccidentorbyafailuretofollowthedirectionsonthelabel.
HerearesomeexamplesofthetypesofexposuresthathavebeenreportedtothePesticideExposureSurveillanceinTexasProgram:
• Accidentalingestionofpine-oilafter thebottlefellandsplashedontheface
• Mixedchlorineandammoniainasmallspacecausingtoxicfumes
• Accidentallysprayedco-workerinthe eyewithahospitaldisinfectant
2
• 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?
3
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
4
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?
5
Reporting Law
TheTexasOccupationalConditionReportingAct,HealthandSafetyCode,Chapter84,requiresthatthefollowingindividualsreportcasesofoccupationalpesticidepoisonings:
• Physicians
• HealthProfessionals
• LaboratoryDirectors
• Anypersonsinchargeofaclinicalor hospitallaboratory,bloodbank,mobile unitorotherfacilityinwhichalaboratory
examinationrevealsevidenceofthe reportabledisease.
6
• 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?
7
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
8
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