Cleaning and Personal Care Products
| Uses | Cleaning products (soaps, disinfectants, detergents), shampoos, body washes and lotions, shaving creams, deodorants, facial cleansers, sunscreens, hand sanitizers, wipes, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, cosmetics, and over-the-counter medical products (skin antiseptics, saline solutions, throat lozenges, eye drops, ear drops, nasal sprays, spermicidal creams, burn and ulcer treatments, cold-sore and blister treatments) |
| Resources | US FDA Final Rule on Antimicrobial Washes – This FDA ruling bans 19 antimicrobials (including triclosan, triclocarban, and other halogenated aromatics as well as methylbenzethonium chloride) from consumer antibacterial soaps and body washes. The FDA provides the reasoning that these chemicals pose health risks and are no more effective than plain soap and water in preventing the spread of germs.
Viruses, Bacteria, and Mold – This resource by the Pesticide Research Institute provides guidance on safer cleaning methods that avoid halogenated aromatics, quats, nanosilver, and other harmful antimicrobials. Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database – You can search the database by ingredient to find a list of personal care products currently containing that ingredient. You can also search by product to see the list of ingredients in that product. |
Clothing and Linens
| Uses | Athletic apparel, outdoor apparel, sleepwear, underwear, socks, shoes, medical apparel, bedding, towels |
| Resources | Antibacterial Treatment of Clothes – Does it Really Have an Effect? – This report by the Swedish Chemical Agency illustrates that antimicrobials added to clothing fabric (including triclosan, triclocarban, and silver) wash away quickly, rendering them ineffective. Because antimicrobial treatment of fabric also poses health and environmental risks, the Agency recommends that textile manufacturers phase out the use of antimicrobials. |
Building Materials and Furnishings
| Uses | Wall finishes (primers, paint, enamel, grout, sealants), flooring (ceramic, vinyl, wood, bamboo, composite, carpet backing, waterborne finishes), surfaces (toilet seats, kitchen counters, door knobs), ceilings (acoustical ceiling components, ceiling panels), coatings (tiles, carpets, paints), adhesives (polyurethane adhesives), thermal insulation (foam insulation, cellulose insulation), roofing membranes, furniture textiles, curtains and blinds |
| Resources | Antimicrobials in Hospital Furnishings: Do They Help Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections? This Health Care Without Harm 2016 report concludes that adding antimicrobial properties to furnishings has not been shown to reduce healthcare-associated infections. It also points out that very limited data exists on the safety of antimicrobial technologies.
Do They Help Combat COVID-19? The 2020 addendum to the earlier report points out the lack of evidence regarding benefits of antimicrobial-impregnated surfaces in preventing SARSCoV-2 transmission relative to other Center for Disease Control recommended prevention measures. It also states that the risks associated with antimicrobial treatments continue to be poorly studied and may include adverse human and environmental health effects. Healthy Environments: Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials. This 2017 report by Healthy Building Network in partnership with Perkins+Will informs architects, designers, building owners, tenants, and contractors about the health and environmental impacts of antimicrobials commonly used in building materials. COVID-19 Statement. The 2020 update reaffirms previous analysis: “No evidence yet exists to demonstrate that products intended for use in interior spaces that incorporate antimicrobial additives actually result in healthier populations.” Blog: No silver bullet: A perspective on antimicrobials. Allsteel, an office furniture manufacturer’s blog post. |