Disinfection in the household
On behalf of the Viennese Ombud office for Environmental Protection, the Klade Technical Office took a closer look at household products designated with disinfecting properties. The range of all-purpose cleaners, cleaning wipes and sponges, gels, soaps and sprays as well as detergents and dishwashing detergents found in supermarkets and drugstores was examined. For all products the manufacturer expressly claims a disinfecting effect.
The evaluation showed that organic acids, alcohols and peroxides are generally unproblematic, caution is only advised regarding their irritating or corrosive effect on the skin and eyes. Splashes should be avoided, or gloves should be worn during use, environmental risks are low due to biodegradability.
The use of kitchen sponges and towels with silver is problematic because it can release highly environmentally toxic silver ions. Silver does not decompose further and can accumulate in the sediment of natural waters. The use of hygiene rinser for laundry disinfection is particularly problematic. The biocidal active ingredients used belong to the quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) and are found in sewage sludge and sediments due to their poor degradability. Since QAC touch the clothing fibre during washing, wearing the clothing can lead to an indirect burden on the living environment. This is also worrying because these chemicals also show a certain skin-sensitizing potential. The application risks are offset by a questionable benefit: disinfection of laundry is only justified if it is already contaminated – for example by an existing (fungal) infection – and cannot be washed at 60°C.
Regarding the benefits of disinfection in the home, the vast majority of hygiene experts agree that unfounded routine disinfection is more harmful than beneficial to health. Disinfecting measures in the household only appear to be justified in very specific cases – for example, if a family member suffers from a highly contagious disease or for people with a severely weakened immune system, e.g. because of chemotherapy or due to their age.