Canadian Government to Ban or Restrict Toxic Chemicals

On Dec. 8, 2006, the Canadian government announced a strategy to clean up dangerous chemicals in the environment. A component of the strategy was the phase-out of “legacy chemicals” – those substances that don’t dissipate or that have detrimental chronic health impacts. The list of chemicals facing regulation or outright banning includes many proven harmful to animals and suspected to be harmful to human health, includes a chemical commonly used in cleaners and disinfectants.

 

One Chemical of Note

“2-Butoxyethanol” is commonly known as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether but has a number of other pseudonyms including Butoxyethanol, Butyl cellosolve, Butyl Oxitol, Ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether, Monobutyl ethylene glycol ether and n-Butoxyethanol. This seemingly ubiquitous chemical is the primary ingredient of such products as white board cleaners, latex paints, cosmetics, dry cleaning solutions, firefighting foam, leather protectors, oil spill dispersants, and many other products including a great many commercial and industrial cleaning products. 

Notably, 2-Butoxyethanol is usually found in those disinfectant formulations that combine quaternary ammonium chlorides (a.k.a. quats) and alcohol, often called “fifth generation quats.” 2-Butoxyethanol is readily absorbed following inhalation, oral or dermal exposure, has moderate acute toxicity and is irritating to the eyes and skin. A risk assessment concluded that chronic exposure could alter blood in ways associated with haemolytic anemia.

 

Safe and Sustainable

We believe in the need for ongoing research into safe and sustainable cleaning and disinfection products. Significant research went into the selection of chemicals used to create Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP) and Stabilized Hydrogen Peroxide (SHP) solutions. Based on this research and subsequent testing conducted on the final products, we feel that when compared to other products on the market Virox Technology’s AHP  SHP products are some of the safest to be found. 

AHP and SHP solutions are formulated through a synergy between hydrogen peroxide, surfactants (detergents), wetting agents (reduces surface tension of a liquid allowing it to more easily penetrate soils), and chelating agents (reduces the impact of hard water). The ingredients are listed on the EPA and Health Canada “Inert” lists, and the FDA “Generally Regarded as Safe” list. Where possible, the chemicals used to manufacture AHP or SHP solutions have CFR 21 (Code of Federal Regulations) clearance as direct or indirect food additives. In the ready-to-use or use-dilution form, AHP and SHP have proven to be non-toxic, and not an eye nor skin irritant (data available upon request), they are also free of volative organic compounds (VOCs), fragrances and dyes (for the specific reason that they components are commonly found to cause health risks).

 

With the introduction of the Government of Canada’s stronger stance on chemicals, health care facilities currently using quats, phenols, ortho-phthalaldehydes or glutaraldehydes will likely feel pressure in coming months to review the disinfectants and chemicals that they use and investigate safer sustainable alternatives to legacy chemicals.