1 Authors: Alicia Culver (Responsible Purchasing Network) Chris Geiger, Ph.D. (Department of the Environment) Deanna Simon (Green Purchasing Institute) f Acknowledgements This report is the product of more than two years of effort by San Francisco Department of the Environment staff and consultants – primarily the Green Purchasing Institute - as well as a number of very helpful reviewers. Special thanks are due to SFE consultant Susan Kegley, who completed a series of background studies on various disinfectant active ingredients that fed into this report. Justine Weinberg of the Occupational Health Branch at the California Department of Public Health was especially thorough in her comments and helpful throughout the writing phase. Consultants Ann Blake and Kelly Moran also provided valuable comments. Luz Agana and Karen Cohn of the Environmental Health Section of San Francisco’s Department of Public Health have contributed their research findings and comments related to their recent project assessing alternatives to chlorine bleach for sanitizing surfaces in child care centers. Finally, Bridget Williams and Cal Baier-Anderson of the U.S. Environmental Production Agency (U.S. EPA) Design for the Environment Program provided valuable feedback based on DfE’s own reviews of disinfectant products. Cover photo: Scanning electron micrograph of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and a dead human neutrophil, courtesy of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 2 Table of Contents Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................... 2 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Definitions ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Non­Food­Contact Surface Sanitizers .................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Surface Disinfectants ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Other definitions .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Methods ....................................................................................................................................................... 7 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Information Sources ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Evaluation and Coding Methods........................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Active Ingredient Summary ................................................................................................................... 12 Summary of Active Ingredients Rejected During Screening ............................................................................................................... 13 Chlorine Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) ............................................................................................................................................................ 14 Ortho-Phenylphenol (OPP) .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Peroxyacetic Acid (PAA) (Usually in combination with hydrogen peroxide) .................................................................................... 16 Pine Oil .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Quaternary Ammonium Chloride Compounds (“Quats”) ........................................................................................................................... 18 Thymol............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Electrolyzed Water Devices ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Safer Sanitizers and Disinfectants ........................................................................................................ 23 Caprylic Acid ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Citric Acid ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Lactic Acid ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Silver................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Promising Devices .................................................................................................................................. 31 Microfiber Cloths and Mops ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 Steam cleaning .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 Surface Compatibility ............................................................................................................................. 32 Chemical Compatibility ........................................................................................................................... 33 Special Scenarios .................................................................................................................................... 33 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 34 Safer Active Ingredients ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Efficacy .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 34 Future Challenges ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 Appendix A: List of Sample Safer Disinfecting and Sanitizing Products ....................................... 35 Recommended Disinfectants ............................................................................................................................................................................... 35 Recommended Non-food Contact Surface Sanitizers ........................................................................................................................... 37 Appendix B: Sample Disinfectants for Special Situations ............................................................... 40 Products Effective Against Athlete’s Foot Fungus ................................................................................................................................... 40 Disinfectants Effective Against Bloodborne Pathogens (HIV and HBV In California) ........................................................... 41 Disinfectants Effective Against Norovirus ..................................................................................................................................................... 42 Appendix C: Best Practices for Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting Surfaces ........................