With new variant strains of SARS-CoV-2 emerging in the United States, the public is left frantic with fear. Some of you may be wondering if current cleaning and disinfecting protocols will continue to be as effective. Thankfully, the EPA has just recently reported that the disinfectants available on List N are capable of killing these newer strains.
The EPA, also known as the Environmental Protection Agency, is a federal government agency committed to protecting human health and the environment. As part of their mission, the EPA reviews the safety of chemicals available in the marketplace, which ties into the current pandemic1. In this blog post, we’ll be going over important information regarding disinfectants and the EPA’s List N.
According to the EPA, products used to kill viruses and bacteria on surfaces are registered as antimicrobial pesticides. Two commonly used antimicrobial pesticides are sanitizers and disinfectants. Sanitizers are regulated by a different federal agency, also known as the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA.
Surface disinfectant products go through more testing and must pass a higher clearance as opposed to surface sanitizing products. No surface sanitizing products have approved virus claims, and therefore do not make it onto the EPA’s List N2.
What is the EPA’s List N
In March 2020, the EPA compiled List N― a list of disinfectants containing certain chemicals approved for use against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. This list has since been made available to the public.
List N was created to guide the public in buying the proper disinfectants to effectively kill SARS-CoV-2. As of right now, there are over 500 approved disinfectant products available for use3.
What Types of Disinfectants does the EPA Approve to be on List N
For a disinfectant to become approved on List N, the EPA states that they must:
- Demonstrate efficacy against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2;
- Demonstrate efficacy against a pathogen that is harder to kill than SARS-CoV-2; or
- Demonstrate efficacy against a different human coronavirus similar to SARS-CoV-24
For information regarding the differences between types of disinfectants, check out our free resource by clicking here.
Why is This List Important for People to Know About
List N is important because it contains scientific data to back up the disinfectants on the list. The available information on List N includes active ingredients, contact time, surface type, use site, and most importantly― why that disinfectant made it onto the list. These details can then be used to help the public choose the appropriate disinfectant.
What Disinfectants Do We Actively Use From List N
Commercial Cleaning Corporation actively uses the following disinfectants from the EPA’s List N.
For disinfection cases:
- EPA #1839-220 (SC-RTU Disinfectant Cleaner)
- EPA #82972-1 (Vital Oxide)
- EPA #67619-37 (Clorox Healthcare® VersaSure® Wipes)
For regular disinfecting while cleaning:
- EPA #1839-83 (Detergent Disinfectant Pump Spray)
The ones handling these powerful disinfectants are our cleaning technicians, who are trained by a BSCAI COVID-19 disinfection certified technician. Proper training allows us to provide the most professional and knowledgeable disinfection services to a variety of industries, such as corporate offices, medical and healthcare facilities, K-12 schools and universities, and more.
If you are concerned about a COVID-19 outbreak at your facility, Commercial Cleaning Corporation offers same-day electrostatic disinfection services to kill SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Click here now to contact us.
Sources
- https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do
- https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/whats-difference-between-products-disinfect-sanitize-and-clean-surfaces
- https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epas-list-approved-sars-cov-2-surface-disinfectant-products-passes-500
- https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/how-does-epa-know-products-list-n-work-sars-cov-2