Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread of microorganisms. Microorganisms
include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and fungi such as mold
and mildew.1
You may find antimicrobial products in your home, workplace,
or school.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates antimicrobial
products as pesticides, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
regulates antimicrobial products as drugs/antiseptics. As pesticides, antimicrobial
products are used on objects such as countertops, toys, grocery
carts, and hospital equipment. As antiseptics, antimicrobial products are
used to treat or prevent diseases on people, pets, and other living things.
If a product shows "EPA" anywhere on the label, you know it's a pesticide and NOT meant for use on the body.
This fact sheet will focus on antimicrobials used as pesticides.
If a product label claims to kill, control, repel, mitigate or reduce
a
pest, it is a pesticide regulated by the
U.S.
EPA.2
When manufacturers
make this kind of claim on the label,
they
must
also include:
application instructions that are effective at killing or controlling the pest, and
first aid instructions, in case of accidental exposure.
Pesticides Used on surfaces, non-living things
Example: wipes for the kitchen or bathroom
Regulated by the U.S. EPA
Drugs & Antiseptics Used in or on living things
Example: hand-sanitizing wipes
Regulated by the U.S. FDA
Bleach is a common name for products that contain sodium hypochlorite. Bleach may be
a
pesticide, a cleaner,
or both.
Bleach as a pesticide
As a pesticide, bleach is used to disinfect surfaces.
The label will include specific directions
about how to use the product effectively. There
will be an EPA registration number on the container.
Bleach as a cleaner
As a general-purpose cleaner or whitening
agent, bleach is used on household surfaces
and laundry. In this case, it is not acting as a
pesticide so it does not require EPA registration.3,4
Pest-killing instructions will not be
included on the label.
What types of antimicrobial pesticides are there?
There are two general categories for antimicrobial pesticides: those that address
microbes in public health
settings,
and those that do not. "Public health products" are designed to handle infectious microbes. See Table 1.
Table 1. Sites of application for antimicrobial pesticides1
Non-public health settings
Public health settings
Microbes that may cause objects to spoil or rot
Microbes that may cause people to get sick
cooling towers
fuel
wood textiles
paint
paper products
bathrooms
kitchens
homes
hospitals
restaurants
There are three types of public health antimicrobials: sterilizers, disinfectants,
and sanitizers. See Table 2.
Sanitizers are the weakest public-health antimicrobials. They reduce bacteria
on surfaces.1 Some sanitizers may be
used on food-contact surfaces
such
as
countertops, cutting boards, or children's high chairs. The label will indicate
how a sanitizer can be used. Some sanitizers can be used only for non-food
contact surfaces like toilet bowls and carpets, or air.5,6
Disinfectants kill or prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Some disinfectants
target specific viruses.5,6,7
Disinfectants that kill microbes are
called
microbicides,
but if they only stop microbial growth, without killing the microbe,
they are called microbistats.9 Disinfectants are the preferred public-health
antimicrobial for common surfaces in medical settings. Disinfectants are also
used in residential settings. Different products purify swimming pools and
disinfect household surfaces such as linens, toilets, and bathtubs. Whether
disinfectants are used in medical or residentials settings, or elsewhere, they
may not be used on surfaces that come in contact with food.
Sterilizers are the strongest type of public health antimicrobial product. In
addition
to bacteria, algae, and fungi, they also control hard-to-kill spores.5
Many
sterilizers
are restricted-use pesticides. These require applicator training and certification.
Sterilizers are used in medical and research settings when the presence of
microbes must be prevented as much as possible. In addition to chemical sterilizers,
high-pressure steam and ovens are also used to sterilize items.5
Table 2. Three main types of public health antimicrobial pesticidesa
Sanitizer
Disinfectant
Sterilizer
Effective against
99.9%
bacteria
100%
bacteria
fungi
certain viruses
100%
bacteria
fungi
viruses
spores
Time required for effectiveness
30 seconds - 5 minutes
Generally 10 minutes
Variable
Locations / Uses
Household surfaces
Food contact surfaces
Household surfaces
Medical settings
Medical instruments
Research supplies
Effect
Limited microbicide
Microbicide
Irreversible microbistat
Microbicide
Formulations
Sprays, liquids, gels, granules, etc.
Sprays, liquids, gels, granules, etc.
Liquid, gases
aThis table contains generalized
information. Always read the product
label
to determine where
and how a product should be used.5,7,10,11
What do I need to know?
Always follow the label
directions. The
"Directions for Use" are
specific, and the product may not
work if you don't follow them.
Never mix different antimicrobial products.
Most antimicrobial products take time to work. Read the label to find out how long the product
must
remain
in
contact with the surface in order to sanitize, disinfect or sterilize it.10
Dirt, food, slime, and other particles may reduce the effectiveness of antimicrobial
products.10
Take steps to reduce your exposure to antimicrobial pesticides. Some products can be harmful
when
touched or
inhaled.
References:
What are Antimicrobial Pesticides?; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office
of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2010.
Pesticide Registration and Classification Procedures, Protection of the Environment; Code of
Federal
Regulations, Part 152, Title 40, 2010.
Anthrax Spore Decontamination Using Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite); U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs. U.S. Government Printing Office:
Washington,
DC, 2010.
Label Review Manual - Chapter 2: What is a Pesticide?; U.S Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of
Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic
Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2006.
Antimicrobial Pesticide Products; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office of
Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2010.
Pesticide Labeling Questions & Answers; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,
Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, accessed Dec 2010.
updated Dec 2010.
Antimicrobial Products Registered for Use Against the H1N1 Flu and Other Influenza A Viruses on Hard
Surfaces; U.S Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office of Pesticide Programs,
U.S. Government
Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2010.
Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,
Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2010.
Gilbert, P.; McBain, A. J. Potential Impacts of Increased Use of Biocides in Consumer Products on
Prevalence
of Antibiotic Resistance.
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 16, 2, 189-208.
Rutala, W. A.; Weber, D. J. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities,
2008. U.S. Center for Disease
Control, Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/pdf/guidelines/disinfection-guidelines.pdf
(accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.
Sanitizer Test for Inanimate Surfaces; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Prevention,
Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Office
of Pesticide Programs, U.S. Government Printing Office: Washington, DC, 2010.
NPIC fact sheets are designed to answer questions
that
are
commonly
asked by the general public about pesticides that are regulated by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This document is
intended to be educational in nature and helpful to consumers for
making decisions about pesticide use.
