EPA Releases New Guidance on Electrostatic Spraying of Chemical Disinfectants to Protect Against SARS-CoV-2
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released relevant guidance information on electrostatic spraying for disinfectant products. This is a part of the Agency’s continued efforts to promote the safety of Americans and ensure that they are able to disinfect their indoor surroundings and better protect themselves against SARS- CoV-2, the virus responsible for causing COVID-19. In this blog post, we review the release of this important information and discuss its significance.
Electrostatic Spraying
Electrostatic spraying represents a means of applying disinfecting substances to various surfaces. In electrostatic spraying, a positive charge is imparted to a disinfectant as it travels through the sprayer’s nozzle. Positively charged spray droplets are attracted to negatively charged surfaces and aggressively adhere to them. Already covered surfaces will tend to repel the droplets, enabling an effective, uniform covering of disinfectant. This allows for a surface treatment that is fast and efficient, more so than many other methods of disinfecting.
About the Guidance
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to disinfect contaminated areas and objects is critical. As electrostatic spraying methods have been shown to be effective in the application of disinfectants, their role in helping to prevent the spread of the virus is an increasingly important one.
The new guidance includes a discussion of information required for the expedited review of requests related to electrostatic spraying directions and their addition to disinfectant labels. This applies to disinfectants that are currently registered, such as ones listed on the Agency’s List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID- 19). It also applies to new disinfectants.
EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler recently commented on the importance of this, noting “Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces continues to be an effective way to reduce the spread of the virus”. He further noted “With this guidance, EPA is ensuring offices, schools, and local governments have access to as many effective and approved surface disinfectant products as possible—including those designed to disinfect large indoor spaces”.
Accessing More Information
EPA guidance information can be an invaluable resource for a wide range of professionals, including chemical safety professionals of all types. More information regarding the recently released guidance information may be found on the EPA website as it becomes available. Additionally, you can visit the ToxPlanet website and blog regularly for information on new developments. Also, be sure to contact us and register for a Free Trial to learn how our robust suite of solutions can help address your chemical hazard information needs.
