Biocides & Potential Respiratory Health Outcomes

Commercial products used to kill or control the spread of harmful organisms by biological or chemical means are commonly called biocides. The term "biocide" can represent a broad range of products and uses including disinfectants, preservatives, antiseptics, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides.

Biocides are commercial products used to kill or control the spread of harmful microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Biocides include antiseptics and pesticides (e.g., disinfectants, preservatives, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides).

Studies have associated exposure to biocides with work-related asthma and other respiratory illnesses, especially in recent years. Occupations with high use of biocides include janitors, housekeepers, nurses, and healthcare technicians.

In May 2017, the Antimicrobials Division of the Office of Pesticide Programs at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nominated biocides to NTP for evaluation of the evidence for respiratory outcomes from occupational exposure to biocides commonly used for disinfection in occupational settings. Specifically, the EPA requested that NTP conduct a scoping review of the scientific literature for evidence of respiratory illness from occupational exposure to antimicrobial pesticides, with a specific focus on disinfectants on hard surfaces.

NTP focused the review on 10 common antimicrobial pesticide active ingredients that are regulated by EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (see table) and is now identifying relevant human, animal, and mechanistic studies involving inhalation of these 10 active ingredients and a range of potential respiratory effects (e.g., asthma, irritation, and sensitization).

The interactive evidence maps show studies identified on potential respiratory health effects from these biocides to help EPA understand the extent of the evidence and inform decision making on EPA's toxicology endpoints for risk assessments, evaluating risk mitigation, and the need for additional data. It also provides researchers and public health professionals a tool for exploring the evidence by major respiratory effect categories, evidence stream (i.e., human or animal studies), and either individual biocides or across multiple biocides collectively. Although these data were reviewed for quality assurance following the protocol, there was no formal peer review.