Chemical Handling Issues Associated with Disinfectants

1
Chemical Handling Issues Associated with
Disinfectants

• MABioN Conference
• July 17, 2006
• Jill Tobler, CIH
• Procter Gamble Company

2
Selection of Disinfectants

• Effectiveness against the potential pathogenic
  agent
• Environment it will be used in
• Impact on equipment
• Impact on surfaces
• Clean or Dirty situation
• Cost
• Safety to people

3
Disinfectant Categories

• Liquid Chemicals
• Vapors/Gases
• Heat
• Radiation
• Non-ionizing
• Ionizing

4
Typical Chemicals for Disinfectants

• Some Examples of Typical Chemical Disinfectants

• Glutaraldehyde
• Formaldehyde
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Chlorhexidine
• Ethylene Oxide
• Ozone

• Sodium Hypochlorite
• Iodine
• Ethanol
• Phenolics
• Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

5
Chemical Hazard Considerations

• How toxic is the material?
• How will you be using the material?
• What concentration of the material do you have to
  work with?
• What are the ways it can enter your body?
• Individual susceptabilities/senstivities?
• Regulatory drivers that require more chemical
  management of the material?

6
Toxicity of the Chemical

• Measures of Toxicity
• LD50
• LC50
• Measures of Exposure Limits
• 8-hour TWA (Time Weighted Average)
• STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit)
• Ceiling Limit

7
Toxicity of the Chemical

• Acute Effects
• Relatively Larger Doses, Short Duration,
  Immediate Effects
• Examples Corrosivity, Irritation (Sodium
  Hypochlorite, Quats, Hydrogen Peroxide,
  Chlorhexidine, Iodine, Ozone)
• Chronic Effects
• Relatively Smaller Doses, Repeated Exposures,
  Delayed Effects
• Examples Carcinogenic (Formaldehyde, Ethylene
  Oxide), Mutagenic (Ethylene Oxide), Teratogenic
  (Ethylene Oxide), Other Target Organs
• Iodine (Thyroid, Kidneys)
• Ethylene Oxide (Lungs, Nerves)
• Glutaraldehyde (CNS, Heart)

8
Chemical Toxicity vs. Hazard

• Toxicity vs Hazard
• Toxicity - Ability to cause an undesired effect
  in biological system
• Hazard - Likelihood of undesired effects under
  conditions of use

9
How Will You Use the Chemical Disinfectant?

• Do you need to dilute a concentrated stock
  solution? Or is it pre-diluted?
• Is it a gas or vapor?
• (EtO, Ozone, VHP)
• Is it wiped on the surfaces or sprayed?
  Fumigated?
• Is it used on the benchtop or in a Biosafety
  Cabinet or Fume Hood? Is it contained well enough?

10
How Can it Enter Your Body?

• Is the disinfectant absorbed
• easily through the skin?
• Nitrile gloves or Latex gloves
• OK for protection?
• Examples that are absorbed through the skin
  Chlorhexidine, Formalin, Glutaraldehyde, Ethylene
  Oxide, Iodine
• Is it aerosolized or in gas/vapor form for
  increased likelihood of inhalation?

11
Controls to Minimize Exposure

• Engineering Controls
• Substitute to a less toxic disinfectant if
  possible
• Work in a vented BSC/Fume Hood when possible or
  other containment device.

12
Controls to Minimize Exposure

• Personal Protective Equipment
• Wear Gloves lab coat to prevent skin exposure
• Wear Respiratory Protection with appropriate
  cartridges to prevent inhalation exposure where
  needed.
• Wear goggles/safety glasses where exposure to
  mucous membranes might cause a health effect.

13
Individual Sensitivities

• Is the Disinfectant a sensitizer?
• Iodine (Lung/Skin Sensitizer)
• Glutaraldehyde (Lung/Skin Sensitizer)
• Ethylene Oxide (Skin Sensitizer)
• Formaldehyde (Lung Sensitizer)
• Chlorhexidine (Photosensitizer)

14
Regulatory Drivers?

• Chemicals that require more chemical management
  per OSHA standard include
• Formaldehyde
• Ethylene Oxide
• May require periodic air monitoring, training,
  medical surveillance, controls

15
Regulatory Drivers

• Other regulations that should be considered
  include
• Storage
• Peroxides (Hydrogen Peroxide)
• Flammables (Ethanol, Formalin, Phenolics)
• Disposal
• Very toxic to aquatic organisms
• Glutaraldehyde, Chlorhexidine, Benzalkonium
  Chloride, Iodine

16
Summary of Chemical Considerations

• Be sure to review the safety information of the
  disinfectants you will be using.
• If you have an Industrial Hygienist available to
  you to review the safety information with, use
  them!
• Review how you plan to use the disinfectant and
  identify ways to minimize inhalation and
  skin/mucous membrane exposure during your review.
• If a safer disinfectant for you is available and
  is feasible to use for your situation, use it!