FEDERAL COUNCIL OF CHEMISTRY POSITIONS ON DISINFECTION TUNNELS
\nMay 4, 2020
\nThe Federal Council of Chemistry and the Regional Council of Chemists took a position last Wednesday (29\/04), regarding the effectiveness of tunnels and disinfection chambers. The news highlights that \u201cthere are no scientific studies that prove the effectiveness of using this type of disinfection or hygiene to eliminate microorganisms that may eventually be deposited on clothes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Check out the full position:<\/p>\n
Regarding news about the installation of equipment, on public roads, supposedly intended to eliminate viral loads, including that of Covid-19, that people would have on their clothes, notably those who have just used public transport, the CFQ\/ CRQs and the Brazilian Association of Hygiene, Cleaning and Sanitizing Products (ABIPLA) clarify that:<\/p>\n
There are no scientific studies that prove the effectiveness of using this type of disinfection or cleaning to eliminate microorganisms that may eventually be deposited on clothes.<\/p>\n
According to Technical Note 34\/2020, from the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa), \u201cin relation to the use of disinfection systems through a tunnel where disinfectant products are sprayed directly on people, there is no proof that this measure is effective against the coronavirus pandemic. There is no scientific literature or recommendation from international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, on this practice\u201d.<\/p>\n
Such systems unnecessarily subject people to the adverse effects of the applied products, completes the note. No disinfectant should be used for the decontamination of people, as these products are not considered topical antiseptics. Disinfectants are chemical products technically classified as sanitizing and, as such, must be applied exclusively to inanimate surfaces.<\/p>\n
In order for a chemical product to be applied to the skin, it must be classified, according to current legislation, in the ANVISA classification as a personal hygiene, cosmetic and perfume product. This is the case with hand sanitizer. There are also products classified as medicines, which also follow specific regulations.<\/p>\n
Em meados do m\u00eas de abril, uma joint venture \u2013 formada por tr\u00eas empresas dos setores qu\u00edmico, estruturas em lona e equipamentos para pintura \u2013 apresentou um sistema destinado a \u201cdescontaminar pessoas\u201d a partir da nebuliza\u00e7\u00e3o de quatern\u00e1rio de am\u00f4nia de quinta gera\u00e7\u00e3o (mesma classe de composto a qual pertence o cloreto de benzalc\u00f4nio), que \u00e9 um tipo de desinfetante. Segundo se noticiou, a solu\u00e7\u00e3o seria capaz de eliminar bact\u00e9rias, fungos e v\u00edrus, inclusive o do coronav\u00edrus, de roupas, pertences pessoais e cal\u00e7ados.
\nRepresentantes da joint venture disseram at\u00e9 ter laudos de um laborat\u00f3rio independente comprovando a efic\u00e1cia da solu\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>\n
Contudo, segundo a Anvisa, a aplica\u00e7\u00e3o de qualquer saneante em pessoas por meio de dispositivos de nebuliza\u00e7\u00e3o ou de aspers\u00e3o, instalados em vias p\u00fablicas ou entradas de empresas, \u00e9 uma pr\u00e1tica que pode causar graves danos \u00e0 sa\u00fade, como irrita\u00e7\u00e3o da pele e das vias a\u00e9reas. O laborat\u00f3rio citado pela joint venture confirmou ter sido contratado, mas explicou que seus ensaios se limitaram a verificar a efici\u00eancia do saneante empregado pelo sistema na elimina\u00e7\u00e3o das bact\u00e9rias causadoras de pneumonia, infec\u00e7\u00e3o intestinal e infec\u00e7\u00e3o generalizada.
\nAl\u00e9m de o estudo n\u00e3o ter inclu\u00eddo nenhum tipo de v\u00edrus, para que as bact\u00e9rias pudessem ser eliminadas foi necess\u00e1rio que um tubo contaminado fosse exposto ao agente saneante, dilu\u00eddo em 5%, por dez minutos, que \u00e9 um tempo bem superior ao que uma pessoa fica exposta na cabine ou t\u00fanel de nebuliza\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/p>\n
There are also news of companies that would be using sodium hypochlorite and other products with active chlorine in their \u201cdecontamination of people\u201d in concentrations of up to 0.05% (500 ppm). They claim that this concentration is harmless to human beings, as it would be the same concentration used in the treatment of swimming pool water. The information, however, is in disagreement with current legislation: in the State of S. Paulo, according to Decree No. 13,166, of 01\/23\/1979, the residual chlorine content in swimming pool water must be from 0.5 to 0.8 mg\/L (0.5 to 0.8 ppm). Just to cite another example, the Normative Instruction of the Center for Sanitary Surveillance of the Federal District defines that this concentration must vary between 0.5 to 1.5 mg\/L, or 0.5 to 1.5 ppm.<\/p>\n
As can be seen, the content of 500 ppm is far above the safe dose recommended by legislation. At this concentration, the mists formed by nebulization or sprinkler equipment have a high potential to cause damage to health, as emphasized in communiqu\u00e9 No. ), which deals with the cleaning and disinfection of public spaces to prevent risks associated with Covid-19 and the care that must be given to workers who operate such equipment. Item 8 of this instruction says that:<\/p>\n
Sodium hypochlorite, like other disinfectants, is a chemical agent that is dangerous to health if used in inadequate concentrations or in a manner different from that recommended in safety standards. The product is a potent oxidant, capable of generating toxic gases and causing damage to health \u2013 even more so if mixed with other compounds \u2013, such as irritation and burns to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. Its use requires safety measures for the applicator and care not to expose people who may be present in the vicinity of the areas subject to the procedure.<\/p>\n
The same CVS-SP, through the statement CVS-SAMA\/DVST\/DITEP 13, of 04\/17\/2020, reinforced that although the use of these equipment and products to decontaminate people is announced as a complementary initiative to combat Covid-19, "We have not identified a more robust body of evidence that demonstrates its effectiveness and, therefore, justifies it as a strategy for reducing viral load in people and their belongings." In addition, he warned that \u201cas there are no regulations or protocols established for such initiatives, the formulas and conditions of application of the product can be multiple, thus implying different results not only in terms of effectiveness, but also in terms of health risks\u201d .<\/p>\n
In view of the lack of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of the aforementioned disinfection systems and the health risks that the population can be subjected to, the CFQ\/CRQs System informs that it is calling on the Technical Officers of the chemical companies involved to provide clarification on the studies they have developed. before sanctioning the reported solutions.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, it recommends that the population not be exposed to such \u201cdisinfection\u201d devices and suggests that companies and the public authorities postpone investments in the acquisition of such equipment until there is proof of its effectiveness. The false sense of security that such devices eventually provide can lead people to relax in the basic and already established procedures to reduce the risk of contamination by Covid-19: wearing a mask, correctly and frequently sanitizing their hands with soap and water (or alcohol gel). ) and avoid social gatherings.<\/p>\n
Jose de Ribamar Oliveira Filho
\nPresident of CFQ
\nHans Viertler
\nPresident of CRQ-IV<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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