[p2tech] [Fwd: Re: Fw: Products for H1N1 mitigation: Could you give me your thoughts]

>From the available literature on the subject, it seems that choosing an
appropriate hand sanitizer depends on what type of environment you are going
to use them in.  Alcohol based sanitizers are probably the best product for
your needs, however they are only effective when the concentration is 60% or
higher.  This creates an issue of flammability and poses a danger to
children.  Thus, if you choose to use these products, it is recommended that
you do not store them near high temperatures or flames and out of the reach
of children.  Alcohol based sanitizers with at least 60% or higher alcohol
concentration is effective at killing most microbes and will not induce
antimicrobial resistance that is typical of other sanitizers.  However,
ethanol based sanitizers are better at destroying viruses than
isopropanolbased sanitizers but both are effective at killing
bacteria, fungi, and
viruses.  As for possible irritation to the skin, most alcohol based
sanitizers now have skin moisturizers added to them to prevent this and an
allergic reaction to the alcohol or other ingredients is rare.  The CDC has
stated that alcohol based hand sanitizers are effective at killing H1N1.  I
am not aware of the effectiveness of the wipes because the concentration of
alcohol is different than in a liquid.  As for the sustainable nature of
these products, websites are available that rate these products according to
their environmental impact as well as the safety of the chemicals within
them.  www.goodguide.com  <http://www.goodguide.com/> was one in particular
that I found.  Some of the products that you listed were on this site.  Out
of the ones that you have attached to the e-mail, the PURELL product is
rated the highest overall. Hope this helps.


On Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 9:31 AM, Janet Clark <janet at turi.org> wrote:

> Hi everyone,
>
> This is from my daughter, the doctor -- well she will be in a year or so.
>
> Janet Clark
>
> -------- Original Message --------
>
> I would think that anything with enough alcohol would kill it, as  would
> ordinary soap and water.  These are not terribly hardy viruses.
>
> The big thing to keep in mind with upper respiratory viruses is that  they
> can't get from your hands to your face on their own steam.   Touching your
> own eyes, nose, and mouth becomes a hazardous behavior  (we joke that the
> use of a facemask is that it keeps you from touching  your own face).
>
> Don't shake people's hands, don't share keyboards or phones.  And wash
>  prior to touching your own face.  Whitney
>
>  >> Date: Wed, 9 Sep 2009 16:41:02 -0500
>>> To: Gangmark.Carolyn at epamail.epa.gov, p2tech at great-lakes.net
>>> From: Georjean Adams <gla at ehsstrategies.com>
>>> Cc: rhonda.schulz at ecolab.com, Bell.Cathe at epamail.epa.gov
>>> Subject: Re: [p2tech] Fw: Products for H1N1 mitigation: Could you  give
>>> me
>>> your thoughts
>>> X-BeenThere: p2tech at mailman.great-lakes.net
>>> List-Id: <p2tech.mailman.great-lakes.net>
>>> List-Unsubscribe: <
>>> http://mailman.great-lakes.net/mailman/listinfo/p2tech
>>>
>>
>  Ecolab offers Asepti-Wipe II which is registered with EPA with an
>>>  Influenza A claim.
>>>
>>> Contact:
>>> RHONDA SCHULZ
>>> Associate Director, Product Registration & Compliance Law &  Regulatory
>>> Affairs ECOLAB 370 Wabasha Street North - EUC 9 St. Paul, MN  55102-1390
>>>
>>> T 651-293-4026
>>> F 651-225-3122
>>>
>>> rhonda.schulz at ecolab.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Georjean Adams
>>>
>>>
>>> At 7:59 AM -0700 9/9/09, Gangmark.Carolyn at epamail.epa.gov wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello P2 Tech Community.  My colleague Cathe Bell (message below) is
>>>> seeking feedback re disinfectant wipes to be used this fall to help
>>>> prevent cases of H1N1 in our EPA R10 office.  Since many of you have
>>>> expertise in this area and work in offices where similar decision
>>>>  making
>>>> is underway... thought that we might all benefit from the collective
>>>> wisdom.  Thoughts???   Thanks so much.
>>>>
>>>> Carolyn Gangmark
>>>> U.S. EPA Region 10
>>>> 1200 6th Ave. Suite 900 AWT-128
>>>> Seattle, WA  98101
>>>> Phone (206) 553-4072
>>>> FAX (206) 553-8509
>>>>
>>>> If we don't get climate right - nothing else matters.
>>>> ----- Forwarded by Carolyn Gangmark/R10/USEPA/US on 09/09/2009  07:51 AM
>>>> -----
>>>>
>>>>            Cathe
>>>>            Bell/R10/USEPA/U
>>>>             S                                                       To
>>>>
>>>>            09/08/2009  05:36                                        cc
>>>>            PM                       OARM-OA-SHEMD-SHEMPMGRS
>>>>                                                                Subject
>>>>                                     Products for H1N1 mitigation:
>>>>                                     Could you give me your thoughts
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Colleagues:
>>>>
>>>> I'd like both your personal and professional opinion about some
>>>> products that I am considering purchasing to help reduce the  impact of
>>>> H1N1 in our workplace this winter.  I've contacted you because I  value
>>>> your thinking on the subject.  I trust that your combined experience
>>>> will help me select products that are as powerful as we might  need, but
>>>> as benign as possible.
>>>>
>>>> Here is the situation:  to equip staff to reduce flu transmission  in
>>>> the
>>>> workplace, I'm going to follow a strategy which includes
>>>>     1.  flu shots:  both seasonal and H1N1
>>>>     2.  messages on ways to reduce disease transmission by personal
>>>> hygiene and practices, and
>>>>     3.  provision of sanitizers to be used in places where disease
>>>> transmission is more likely.
>>>>
>>>> I hesitate, for a number of reasons to bring additional chemicals  into
>>>> our workplace.  However, the guidance I'm receiving, both internal  to
>>>> R10 and from CDC, encourages me to consider these as components of  an
>>>> public health approach which will be  more effective than  "business as
>>>> usual."
>>>>
>>>> The elements are simple:  a limited amount of sanitizing wipes and  hand
>>>> sanitizers will be stationed around the floors to be used in areas  the
>>>> public frequents or staff congregates.  The wipes will also be made
>>>> available to IT staff to destroy microbes before they handle what is
>>>> likely to be contaminated equipment.
>>>>
>>>> I'd like your opinions on the wipe sanitizers, specifically.  I've
>>>> attached a sheet with the names and characteristics of some products
>>>> I've investigated.  I'd like to hear your opinions on whether and  how
>>>> to
>>>> station these, and, more importantly, arguments for selecting  specific
>>>> products.
>>>>
>>>> Now, I'm going to bias you (stop reading, review the information and
>>>> respond, if you'd like).  I'm inclined to opt for simple chemicals
>>>> rather that the various takes on benzalkonium chloride and complex
>>>> antimicrobials.  From what I've read, all of these products are  almost
>>>> equally effective.  The difference between the alcohol, chlorine,  and
>>>> hydrogen peroxide based sanitizers and some of the more complex
>>>> materials is that the latter's antimicrobial action may last a bit
>>>> longer, longer on the order of hours.  For our uses, I'm not sure  that
>>>> is critical.  There are three issues I'd like to weight toward:   a)
>>>> that
>>>> the wipes are not irritating, particularly to more sensitive  members of
>>>> our community, b) manufacturing of the product is relatively  simple and
>>>> sustainable, and c) the product does not contribute to antimicrobial
>>>> resistance.  Look at my list and know I'm open to your thoughts.
>>>>
>>>> Again, these wipes will be used to clean up after sneezing/ coughing, if
>>>> someone sick has been in an area, in offices where a sick person has
>>>> left within 48 hours and office materials must be accessed, in  public
>>>> greeting areas, and to the PC Hotline and administrative support  staff
>>>> to use when they handle staff equipment.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Note:  manufacturing bleach may involve mercury cells (to be  phased out
>>>> by 2020), a drawback. Or they may depend on membranes.
>>>>
>>>> (See attached file: wipes_product comparisons for comment.doc)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> SHEMPMGRS:  this is for your information only, so that you do not  need
>>>> to duplicate this work.  No comments are expected, although you  know
>>>> I'd
>>>> welcome your educated opinions!
>>>>
>>>>  From the Desk of
>>>>>
>>>> Cathe Bell
>>>> Safety, Health and Environmental Management
>>>> US EPA Region 10, M/S OMP-077
>>>> Seattle, WA 98101
>>>> Tel: 206-553-0308
>>>> BlackBerry: 206-399-9394            Fax: 206-553-0714
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> OMP wants to hear from you, click here to provide feedback.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Safety, Health and Environmental Management, R10 Intranet
>>>>
>>>> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>>>>
>>>> p2tech is hosted by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN):
>>>>
>>>> http://www.great-lakes.net
>>>>
>>>> To search the archive: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/p2tech/
>>>>
>>>> All views and opinions presented above are solely those of the  author
>>>> or attributed source and do not necessarily reflect those of GLIN or
>>>> the Great Lakes Commission.
>>>>
>>>> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>>>>
>>>> Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:wipes_product compa#1901923.doc
>>>>  (WDBN/«IC») (01901923)
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> EHS Strategies, Inc.
>>> - enabling organizations to meet their EHS vision
>>> http://ehsstrategies.com
>>> 651-204-3371
>>>
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>>>
>>> p2tech is hosted by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN):
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>>> All views and opinions presented above are solely those of the author
>>> or attributed source and do not necessarily reflect those of GLIN or
>>> the Great Lakes Commission.
>>>
>>> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  <wipes_product comparisons for comment 1.doc>
>>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
> p2tech is hosted by the Great Lakes Information Network (GLIN):
>
> http://www.great-lakes.net
>
> To search the archive: http://www.great-lakes.net/lists/p2tech/
>
> All views and opinions presented above are solely those of the author
> or attributed source and do not necessarily reflect those of GLIN or
> the Great Lakes Commission.
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>



-- 
Chad Wetzel
P2RIC
Nebraska Business Development Center
Roskens Hall
Room 308
University of Nebraska Omaha
chadwetzel2406 at gmail.com
402-880-6696 (Cell)
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