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ANTIMICROBIALSTOPIC FACT SHEET

What are antimicrobials?

Antimicrobial products kill or slow the spread o microorganisms. Micro-organisms include bacteria, viruses, protozoans, and ungi such as mold

and mildew.1 You may nd antimicrobial products in your home, work-

place, or school.

 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates antimicrobial  

 products as pesticides, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

regulates antimicrobial products as drugs/antiseptics. As pesticides, anti-

microbial products are used on objects such as countertops, toys, grocery

carts, and hospital equipment. As antiseptics, antimicrobial products are

used to treat or prevent diseases on people, pets, and other living things.

I a product shows “EPA” anywhere on the label, you know it’s a pesticide and NOT meant or use on the body

 This act sheet will ocus on antimicrobials used as pesticides.

I a product label claims to kill, control, repel, mitigate or reduce a pest, it is a pesticide regulated by the U.S

EPA.2 When manuacturers make this kind o claim on the label, they must also include:

application instructions that are eective at killing or controlling the pest, and•

rst aid instructions, in case o accidental exposure.•

NPIC fact sheets are designed to answer questions that are commonly asked by the general public about pesticides that are regulated by th

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This document is intended to be educational in nature and helpful to consumers for makin

decisions about pesticide use.

Pesticides Drugs & Antiseptics

Used on suraces, non-living things Used in or on living things

Example: wipes or the kitchen or bathroom Example: hand-sanitizing wipes

Regulated by the U.S. EPA Regulated by the U.S. FDA

MAY LOOK SIMILAR

READ THE LABEL

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Bleach is a common name or products that contain sodium hypochlorite. Bleach may be a pesticide, a cleaneror both.

What types of antimicrobial pesticides are there?

 There are two general categories or antimicrobial pesticides: those that address microbes in public health set

tings, and those that do not. “Public health products” are designed to handle inectious microbes. See Table 1.

 There are three types o public health antimicrobials: sterilizers, disinectants,

and sanitizers. See Table 2.

Sanitizers are the weakest public-health antimicrobials. They reduce bacteria

on suraces.1 Some sanitizers may be used on ood-contact suraces such as

countertops, cutting boards, or children’s high chairs. The label will indicate

how a sanitizer can be used. Some sanitizers can be used only or non-ood

contact suraces like toilet bowls and carpets, or air.5,6

Bleach as a pesticide Bleach as a cleaner

As a pesticide, bleach is used to disinect sur-aces. The label will include specic directions

about how to use the product eectively. There

will be an EPA registration number on the con-

tainer.

As a general-purpose cleaner or whiteningagent, bleach is used on household suraces

and laundry. In this case, it is not acting as a

pesticide so it does not require EPA registra-

tion.3,4 Pest-killing instructions will not be

included on the label.

MAY LOOK SIMILAR

READ THE LABEL

 Table 1. Sites o application or antimicrobial pesticides1

Non-public health settings Public health settings

Microbes that may cause objects to spoil or rot Microbes that may cause people to get sick 

cooling towers• bathrooms•

uel• kitchens•

wood textiles• homes•

paint• hospitals•

paper products• restaurants•

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ANTIMICROBIALSTOPIC FACT SHEET

NPIC is a cooperative agreement between Oregon State University and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(U.S. EPA). Data in NPIC documents are from selected authoritative and peer-reviewed literature. The informationin this publication does not in any way replace or supercede the restrictions, precautions, directions, or other

information on the pesticide label or any other regulatory requirements, nor does it necessarily reect the position

of the U.S. EPA.

Disinfectants kill or prevent the growth o bacteria and ungi. Some disinec-tants target specic viruses.5,7,8 Disinectants that kill microbes are called mi-

crobicides, but i they only stop microbial growth, without killing the microbe

they are called microbistats.9 Disinectants are the preerred public-health

antimicrobial or common suraces in medical settings. Disinectants are also

used in residential settings. Dierent products puriy swimming pools and

disinect household suraces such as linens, toilets, and bathtubs. Whether

disinectants are used in medical or residentials settings, or elsewhere, they

may not be used on suraces that come in contact with ood.

Sterilizers are the strongest type o public health antimicrobial product. In addi-tion to bacteria, algae, and ungi, they also control hard-to-kill spores.5 Many steril-

izers are restricted-use pesticides. These require applicator training and certica-

tion. Sterilizers are used in medical and research settings when the presence o 

microbes must be prevented as much as possible. In addition to chemical steril-

izers, high-pressure steam and ovens are also used to sterilize items.5

 

 Table 2. Three main types o public health antimicrobial pesticidesa

Sanitizer Disinfectant Sterilizer

Effective against 99.9% 100% 100%

bacteria• bacteria• bacteria•

ungi• ungi•

certain viruses• viruses•

spores•

Time required foreffectiveness

30 seconds - 5 minutes Generally 10 minutes Variable

Locations / Uses Household suraces Household suraces Medical instruments

Food contact suraces Medical settings Research supplies

Effect Limited microbicide Microbicide Microbicide

Irreversible microbistat

Formulations Sprays, liquids, gels,granules, etc.

Sprays, liquids, gels,granules, etc.

Liquids, gases

a This table contains generalized inormation.Always read the product label to determine where

and how a product should be used. 5,7,10,11

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For more information contact: NPIC

Oregon State University, 310 Weniger Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331-6502

Phone: 1-800-858-7378 Fax: 1-541-737-0761

Email: npic@ace.orst.edu Web: npic.orst.edu

What do I need to know?

Always ollow the label directions. The “Directions or Use” are specic, and the product may not

work i you don’t ollow them.

Never mix dierent anitmicrobial products.

Most antimicrobial products take time to work. Read the label to nd out how long the product must remain i

contact with the surace in order to sanitize, disinect or sterilize it.10 

Dirt, ood, slime, and other particles may reduce the eectiveness o antimicrobial products. 10

 Take steps to reduce your exposure to antimicrobial pesticides. Some products can be harmul when touched

inhaled.

References:

What are Antimicrobial Pesticides? . ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oo Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/ad_ino.htm Website. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

 Title 40, Part 152 - Pesticide Registration and Classication Procedures, Protection o the Environment; Code o Federal Regulation.

http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cr/waisidx_10/40cr152_10.html. (accessed Dec 2010), updated 2007.

 Anthrax Spore Decontamination Using Bleach (Sodium hypochlorite). ; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention,

Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/actsheets/chemicals/bleachactshe

htm. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

Label Review Manual – Chapter 2: What is a Pesticide? . ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and To

Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppead1/labeling/lrm/chap-02.pd. (accessed Dec 2010), updated

2006.

 Antimicrobial Pesticide Products. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce

Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/actsheets/antimic.htm#types. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

Pesticide Labeling Questions & Answers. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substance

Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/labels/label_review_aq.htm#subject. (accessed Dec 2010

updated Dec 2010.

Antimicrobial Products Registered or Use Against the H1N1 Flu and Other Infuenza A Viruses on Hard Suraces; U.S Environment.

Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/

oppad001/infuenza-disinectants.html, (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

Selected EPA-registered Disinfectants. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances,

Oce o Pesticide Programs. http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/chemregindex.htm (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

Gilbert, P.; McBain, A. J. Potential Impacts o Increased Use o Biocides in Consumer Products on Prevalence o Antibiotic Resistance.

Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 16, 2, 189-208.

Rutala, W. A.; Weber, D. J.0. Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities, 2008. U.S. Center or DiseaseControl, Healthcare Inection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/Disinection_

Sterilization/4_0ecacyDS.html. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.

Sanitizer Test for Inanimate Surfaces1. ; U.S Environmental Protection Agency, Oce o Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, O

o Pesticide Programs http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/dis_tss_docs/dis-10.htm. (accessed Dec 2010), updated Dec 2010.