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Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets |  |
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Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic AcidThe following fact sheet is part of a series relating to chemicals that may be used in Federal Anthrax decontamination efforts. Both hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid are known as peroxy compounds. Peroxy compounds are microbicides that, when mixed with water, will kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These compounds are effective on hard surfaces, including equipment, and are applied in various locations, from hospitals and medical institutions to commercial, industrial, and residential locations.
What is Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid? Hydrogen Peroxide is an oxidizing agent. Hydrogen peroxide is
widely used as a disinfectant because of its reactive properties. In the
home, hydrogen peroxide can be found in diluted form (3% to 10%), whereas
industrial uses involve concentrated solutions (30% or greater). Diluted
forms of hydrogen peroxide are often used as cleansers for human cuts
and scrapes. Peroxyacetic Acid, like hydrogen peroxide, is an oxidizing agent. Formulated as a liquid, peroxyacetic acid is used as a disinfectant and sanitizer, and is usually applied as a spray, or as a mop-on solution.
Antimicrobial pesticides are substances used to control harmful microorganisms including bacteria, viruses and fungi on inanimate objects and surfaces primarily in indoor environments. Types of antimicrobial products have traditionally included sanitizers, disinfectants, and sterilants. A "sanitizer" is a substance that significantly reduces the bacterial population in the inanimate environment, but does not destroy or eliminate all bacteria or other microorganisms. A "disinfectant" is a substance that destroys or eliminates a specific species of infectious or other public health microorganism, but not necessarily bacterial spores, in the inanimate environment. A "sterilant" is a substance that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life in the inanimate environment, including all forms of vegetative bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi, fungal spores, and viruses.
EPA's Registration of Pesticides Before a pesticide can be marketed and used in the United States, EPA must evaluate the pesticide to ensure that it meets federal safety standards for human health and the environment. Such evaluation is particularly important for antimicrobial pesticides (sanitizers, disinfectants, and sterilants ) used to reduce or eliminate microbial contamination. Once EPA determines that a pesticide meets federal safety standards, the Agency grants a license or "registration" permitting its distribution, sale, and use according to approved label instructions. Before EPA grants registration for a pesticide product, the Agency will review efficacy and safety data to ensure that, when used according to the specific instructions of the label, the product is effective and does not pose any unreasonable adverse effect on human health or the environment. The label provides specific safety precautions and use directions for handling or using the product. EPA has concluded that hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid products registered to date have met federal standards for human health and environmental safety.
Registered Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid EPA first registered hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid as antimicrobial pesticides in 1977 and 1985, respectively. Both compounds are approved only for indoor use on hard surfaces. Use sites include agricultural premises, food establishments, medical facilities, and home bathrooms. Hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid are also registered for use in dairy/cheese processing plants, on food processing equipment and in pasteurizers in breweries, wineries, and beverage plants.
FIFRA Section 18 Emergency Exemptions Under Section 18 of FIFRA, the EPA "may exempt any federal or state agency from any provision of this Act if the Administrator determines that emergency conditions exist which require such exemption." Normally, a federal or state agency would submit an application for a FIFRA emergency exemption to EPA for review and approval. If the EPA approves the request, it would issue either a specific or a public health exemption, as appropriate. However, if the emergency is of such urgency that a federal or state agency does not have enough time to submit an application for exemption and wait for EPA's approval, then the federal or state agency may issue a crisis exemption, which is effective for 15 days. In order for the crisis exemption to be extended beyond 15 days, the federal or state agency must submit an application for exemption to EPA. To handle all anthrax contamination cases as quickly as possible, the Agency has decided to issue all crisis exemptions itself. To obtain a crisis exemption from EPA for the unregistered use of a pesticide against anthrax, a state or federal agency must submit a written request describing the antimicrobial product(s) to be used; how, when and where they will be used; the data demonstrating efficacy of the product for the intended purpose; and how human health and safety will be protected. Before issuing the exemption, EPA will perform a multi-disciplinary risk assessment of the requested use, relying on data supplied for the pesticide. If, during this review, EPA notes any adverse human health or environmental concerns, EPA may deny the exemption request. If, however, EPA believes that the proposed use of an antimicrobial product will be effective and will protect human health and the environment, EPA will issue a crisis exemption. Moreover, if EPA determines that use of the product is needed beyond the 15-day use period, EPA will complete an application for a public health exemption on behalf of the requesting entity, which allows the crisis exemption to continue in effect until it is either withdrawn or EPA issues a public health exemption.
Determination of Safety and Efficacy for Crisis Exemptions for Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid EPA has reviewed data related to safety and effectiveness before issuing a crisis exemption for hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid to be used specifically for anthrax decontamination. Available data using the AOAC Sporicidal Activity Test suggest that hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid will reduce bacterial spore populations under specific conditions including surface type, concentration and contact time. More information regarding the AOAC analytical methods are available on the Web at: www.epa.gov/oppad001/dis_tss_docs/dis-09.htm. Based on this review, EPA issued crisis exemptions for the limited sale, distribution, and use of four registered products containing both hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid ["Oxonia Active" (EPA Registration Number 1677-129), "KX-6049" (EPA Registration Number 1677-158), Actril Cold Sterilant (EPA Registration Number 52252-7) and Spor-Klenz Ready to Use (EPA Registration Number 52252-7-1043)] for use against anthrax spores. EPA also issued a crisis exemption for the product Virex STF, which contains only hydrogen peroxide. EPA has determined that the public health threat posed by the anthrax incidents constitutes a public health emergency of such immediacy that normal processing and review of a conventional public health exemption under FIFRA is neither prudent nor practical. Under this crisis exemption, only these specific products may be sold or distributed to employees of EPA, other federal, state, or local government agencies, and the U.S. Postal Service for use in anthrax decontamination.
Use of Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid in Anthrax Decontamination Under the Crisis Exemption Applications of the five pesticide products mentioned above under the crisis exemption will be limited to specific buildings or treatment sites identified by EPA or other federal, state, or local governmental authorities, or the United States Postal Service. Applications must be conducted according to use instructions from federal, state, or local emergency response personnel following a plan that includes the following steps:
These steps apply to facilities where the treated surfaces will be reused or the facility will be re-occupied. These steps do not necessarily apply to wastes or debris intended for disposal.
Applying Hydrogen Peroxide and Peroxyacetic Acid Based on review of available data, EPA believes that registered hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid can be used in a facility decontamination procedure that includes sampling, cleaning, treating, and re-sampling, followed by additional treatment if necessary. Facility decontamination using registered hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid must be followed by post-treatment environmental sampling to confirm that the treated areas are free from anthrax spores (e.g., showing no growth when samples are cultured in the laboratory). When hydrogen peroxide and peroxyacetic acid are to be applied in the context of a facility decontamination plan, the conditions of application must be followed as described below. These conditions do not necessarily apply to personal protective equipment and other debris that will be further treated offsite. Conditions of Application for Oxonia Active and KX-6049:
Conditions of application for Actril Cold Sterilant and Spor-Klenz Ready to Use:
Conditions of Application for Virex STF:
More Information on Antimicrobial Pesticides If you have further questions about the federal pesticide program:
Tel: 703-305-5017 Fax: 703-305-5558 E-mail: opp-web-comments@epa.gov
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