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BIOPROTECT STOP SALE
Apr 9 2021
EPA orders Philadelphia company to stop making inaccurate health claims about pesticide

03/31/2021 Contact Information:  EPA Region 3 Press Office

PHILADELPHIA (March 31, 2021) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered ViaClean Technologies, operating in Philadelphia, to stop marketing the pesticide BioProtect RTU with claims that it is effective against surfaces from public health related pathogens such as the coronavirus.

Although the product is registered to inhibit the growth of “non-public health” microorganisms, it is not registered to address “public health” pathogens. EPA is concerned that customers may have used this product as protection from a virus – such as the coronavirus — in lieu of other EPA-approved disinfection methods.

“Improperly marketed pesticides, especially during a pandemic, may cause injury to consumers,” said Acting EPA Mid-Atlantic Region Administrator Diana Esher. “EPA remains vigilant and will continue to protect the health and safety of Americans from products that have false or misleading public health claims.”

ViaClean provided two BioProtect RTU fact sheets containing public health claims to at least one customer, including the statement that the pesticide can be used to kill “germs.”

Some online distributors, cleaning services, and end-recipients of BioProtect RTU were also making unsubstantiated claims that this product is effective against pathogens, germs, disease-causing bacteria, viruses, and/or the novel coronavirus for up to 90 days.

EPA issued a Stop Sale, Use or Removal Order to prevent BioProtectRTU from continuing to sell this product with public health claims that have not been substantiated through the pesticide registration process.

Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), products that claim to kill or repel bacteria or germs, including disinfectants, are considered pesticides and must be registered with the EPA. Public health claims can only be made regarding products that have been properly tested and are registered with the EPA.

EPA has released an expanded list of EPA-registered disinfectant products that have qualified for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. List-N contains over 460 additional products—including products that went through the expedited review process for emerging viral pathogens.

To view the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products, visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

For more information on EPA resources on the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus

For more information on pesticides, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides   

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DISCLAIMER:

ESG Safe staff searched the internet to learn more about the referenced products. Since the specific literature in question is unknown, it’s hard to discern whether any literature on the web now is related to the stop order. The image shown contains content that was publicly obtained from an internet reseller. It has the word germs but there’s now way to know if it contributed to the violation. Note, disinfectants are regulated by the EPA under the category pesticides as there is no specific category for disinfectants.

Products distributed by ESG Safe always meet government requirements and are verifiable on various agency web sites.

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Apr 9 2021
Can air purification technologies kill Covid? C&EN magazine reports.

Great article in C&EN magazine about the growth of air purification systems, the science behind it and why we should address air quality, not just masks and surface cleaning. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are the most common approach used to capture airborne SARS-CoV-2, but it’s technology dates back to WW II. Ion solutions are a huge market with varied claims and effectiveness.

Some air purification systems use bipolar ionization, in which high-voltage electrodes create a blizzard of positive and negative ions from molecules in air, such as oxygen and water. Some manufacturers claim that these ions attach to viral particles in the air and weigh them down until they fall to a surface; others claim that the ions react with the virus’s surface proteins, preventing it from infecting cells.

Can needlepoint bipolar Ionization (NBPI) improve indoor air quality?

The experts say it’s critical to not use any solution that generates ozone as even a little bit can have an impact on mobridity. They conclude that air quality is probably improved with some systems, but will not support statements on their reducing risk of SARS Covid-19. For now, the ASHRAE, whose mission is to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and their allied fields, says that “convincing scientifically-rigorous, peer-reviewed studies do not currently exist on this emerging technology”. Just like Covid treatment for people, we may never have convincing scientifically-rigorous, peer-reviewed studies in the near future. The evidence of cleaner air can be measured and can be visualized by air duct particulate levels with before and after testing.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers EPA approved HVAC solutions. ESG Safe businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

ESG Safe is working closely with HVAC industry experts and only offers products that meet their standards of safety and efficacy, in addition to government certifications. One of our lead products is potentially a game changer for maintenance and air quality for commercial, institutional and residential needs. Contact us for the latest products.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

Resources: https://cen.acs.org/biological-chemistry/infectious-disease/air-purification-technologies-tackle-COVID/99/i9

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yacht resale
Apr 6 2021
Increase yacht resale value by eliminating odors

When stepping inside a used yacht, one of the first senses we notice is smell. Is it good or bad? It’s often a major part of a decision to purchase and at what price. You’ll increase yacht resale prices by eliminating odors. Our biocide neutralizes odors, plus sanitizes air, surfaces and water, making it a strong value multi-purpose product that takes up little space on a yacht for storage.

Masking odors doesn’t work. People are smart enough to know that something is being covered up. Is there a musty or mold smell? Or does it smell like disinfectant and an air freshener trying to create a better odor? Our biocide can be used to kill mold, mildew, fungicide, slimicide and everything else, plus is carpet safe to kill pet odors. Eliminate the cause of the odor problem and neutralize odors in one product. Mop, fog, spray, or add to pools, water, and bilge.

Example uses from one product:

  1. Fog interior air and surfaces for turnover of staff and guests to protect against Covid-19 and other viruses.
  2. Spray exterior surfaces to disinfect and kill mold.
  3. Refresh, deodorize and sanitize HVAC ducts and systems.
  4. Mop floors and decks, sanitizing everything.
  5. Manual spray tight surface areas such as handles.
  6. Clean pots, pans, ventilation hoods to remove grime.
  7. Rinse vegetables to remove bacteria and extend shelf life.
  8. Eliminate chlorine and other undesirable chemicals in hot tub that can discolor chemically treated hair; clean pipes to extend life and reduce maintenance.
  9. Continually refresh air conditioning systems 24/7.
  10. Disinfect, clean, deodorize carpets, beds, chairs.
  11. Disinfect, clean, deodorize laundry room and washer, leaving inner and outer drum fresh.
  12. Kill odor causing bacteria in trash bags.
  13. Wastewater treatment and pipe cleaning.

TIP: All disinfectants require a ‘set time’ for sanitizing to work. For example, a product that has Covid kill time of 5 minutes must sit on the surface for 5 minutes before wiping.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. All products carry the certifications and compliance requirements you need, from FDA Organic to EPA registered. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

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epa disinfectant FN NANO illegal
Apr 1 2021
U.S. EPA orders Nevada and California companies to stop selling illegal disinfectants

SAN FRANCISO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Macoma, LLC and FN Nano, Inc., located in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, as well as JT Construction Group, Inc. and BZ Nano, located in Glendale, California, to stop selling the unregistered disinfectant FN Nano Photocatalytic coatings, aka FN Coatings, FN NANO2 Photocatalytic Film. This product is an unregistered disinfectant pesticide being sold in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Such practices are particularly problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic, and EPA will continue to take enforcement actions such as this ‘Stop Sale’ order to protect public health.

EPA has issued the ‘Stop Sale’ order to prevent the companies from continuing to distribute or offer for sale these unregistered disinfectants. The products have been available for sale on their websites and are marketed for use in medical facilities, schools, offices, and homes.

“Effective disinfectants are vital to our communities in a pandemic.,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement Director Amy Miller. “If disinfectants are not registered, not effective, or make false claims, EPA will take action.”

Public health claims for pesticide products, including disinfectants, can only be made following proper testing and registration with the EPA. The agency will not register a pesticide until it has been determined the product will not pose an unreasonable risk to human health when used according to the label directions. Unregistered products can be harmful to human health, cause adverse effects, and may not be effective against the spread of germs.

To view the most up-to-date list of EPA-registered disinfectant products, visit https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2

Press release source: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-epa-orders-nevada-and-california-companies-stop-selling-illegal-disinfectants

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ESG Safe staff searched the internet to see if the products are still being marketed and sold. The answer is yes. No information regarding a response or whether they are currently seeking to get their products registered for sale in the US was found as of April 9, 2021. Products distributed by ESG Safe always meet government requirements and are verifiable on various agency web sites.

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warning disinfectant poison
Mar 8 2021
Are disinfectants safe? Are regulations adequate?

The Sars Cov2 Coronavirus pandemic has catapulted massive growth in disinfectant and sanitizing products. But are they healthy for humans? A brief look at regulations will shake your confidence.

Are current disinfectants safe? Some are, some might not be. Especially worrisome is the sheer amount of growing chemical exposure through compounding of numerous touch points via air, food, and surfaces. A recent study revealed the chemical load is even heavier in household dust, which we breath, since Covid. Disinfectants are largely regulated by the EPA, but:

  • There is no specific EPA “disinfectant” category for regulation.
  • The Toxic Substances Control (TSCA) Act of 1976 provides EPA with authority to require reporting, record-keeping and testing requirements, and restrictions relating to chemical substances and/or mixtures. When the TSCA was enacted, it grandfathered in thousands of unevaluated chemicals that were in commerce at the time.
  • Disinfectants are regulated under pesticides. Think about the implications of that. We’re putting pesticides on everything due to new Covid related cleaning standards.
  • Pesticides were excluded from TSCA.

The Chemical Safety Act of the 21st Century, signed with bipartisan support during the Obama administration, addresses shortcomings in older regulation and oversight, but the government works slowing and lobbyists are sure to win delays.The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) manages programs under the TSCA and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Under these laws, the EPA evaluates new and existing chemicals and their risks, and finds ways to prevent or reduce pollution before it gets into the environment.

The EPA Safer Choice program is supposed to help consumers and businesses choose safer products for their family, pets, and environment, without sacrificing quality. Every ingredient must meet their safety criteria for both human health and the environment, including carcinogenicity, reproductive/developmental toxicity, toxicity to aquatic life, and persistence in the environment. More than 2,000 products currently qualify. Additionally, many government entities require use of Safer Choice products. There’s a huge incentive for manufacturers to get their products on the list.

CASE 1: Have you tried a single prepackaged wipe on an airplane? When I opened mine, I immediately winced from the odor and held my breath to avoid inhaling further. Ethyl alcohol, or more specifically Alcohols, C12-18, ethers with polyethylene glycol mono-Bu ether, is the primary ingredient in popular hand sanitizers on the EPA Safer Choice list. In short, these are on the list because they’re OK if they can degrade within 10-28 days, depending on the rate of biodegradation. All said and done, these products may be safer than some other alternatives, but how safe they are for us or the environment in the concentrations that are occurring today is another question.

CASE 2: I randomly picked an all purpose cleaner from the EPA Safer Choice list to see what ingredients were in it and how safe they are. The two active ingredients in my selection were Ethoxylated Nonylphenol (NP/NPEs) and Tetrasodium Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetate. We all know that when words start to look like that, it’s probably not good for us.

  • The EPA is proposing a Significant New Use Rule (since 2014), also known as a SNUR, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The rule would require manufacturers to provide at least 90 days notice to EPA before commencing or resuming any significant new use of the 15 NP/NPEs that are no longer used in commerce.
  • Per the EPA web site here, consumers can avoid products with NP/NPEs by looking for products with EPA’s Safer Choice Label on the shelves of major retailers. Will general purpose cleaners using NP/NPEs get the boot from the EPA’s Safer Choice list ? If so, when?
  • The EPA has been talking about banning NP/NPEs for over a decade. The EU has almost eliminated them.

About half of the EPA List N: Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) covid killing disinfectants list quaternary ammonium as the active ingredient. Quaternary ammonium, or Quats for short, have been in use for over 70 years. Because quats were on the market when the 1976 TSCA was passed, they were allowed to stay on the market without being evaluated for safety. Many in the chemical community are questioning their safety, especially given the rise in use since the Covid pandemic begin.

Disclaimer: The author is not a chemist. Due to the complicated subject matter, readers may want to further educate themselves about chemicals in disinfectants using a variety of government and non-government sources.

Resources:

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers businesses sanitizing, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with corporate environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

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covid disinfectant wholesale
Feb 17 2021
Looking for a cheaper wholesale Covid Disinfectant than Clorox, Bioesque and others?

Wholesale disinfectants are usually not cheap because they are mostly sold in single use, ready to use (RTU) containers. RTU’s are expensive to ship even if you’re getting them at cost. Water and fossil fuels to make the containers, and fuel to ship them all adds up. Not to mention with skyrocketing cleaning needs, they’re landfills at an unsustainable pace.

There is another solution we think is better for the planet and better for humans, sustainability, equipment maintenance, HVAC maintenance, , water supply, agriculture and food prep. Clorox ® , Renown ®, Bioesque ® (EPA List N Thymol ®), and other RTU’s all do what they are supposed to, mainly clean and disinfect. Ours has more uses, and uses less space. With all the certifications you expect from ESG Safe products and services. Stop filling landfills and contact us for more information.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers cleaning, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

Christine 0 Comments
Feb 9 2021
EPA orders Amazon to halt illegal pesticides sales

The Seattle office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it has issued a “stop sale” order to Amazon.com to prevent sales on the platform of potentially dangerous or ineffective unregistered pesticides and pesticide devices making illegal and misleading claims, including multiple products that claimed to protect against viruses.

This action adds 70 products to a June 6, 2020 EPA order which contained over 30 illegal products. 

“Unregistered pesticides in the e-commerce marketplace pose a significant and immediate health risk to consumers, children, pets, and others exposed to the products,” says Ed Kowalski, director of the Enforcement Compliance Assurance Division in EPA’s Region 10 office in Seattle.

This is the third pesticide stop-sale order issued by the agency to Amazon in the last three years. Beyond the stop-sales EPA has mounted other efforts to stop fraudulent products, such as partnering with U.S. Customs and Border Protection to stop multiple imports of millions of illegal disinfectant products imported by or for sale on Amazon. EPA has also provided guidance to e-commerce companies on multiple occasions about their requirements to ensure their disinfectant products are legal and safe.

The agency advises consumers who have purchased an unregistered pesticide product or a misbranded pesticidal device to safely dispose of it in accordance with local, state, and federal laws. This is especially important for consumers seeking to protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. EPA recommends that consumers only purchase products on EPA’s “List N of Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19).”  EPA expects all products on this list to kill the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to the label directions. 

Under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, pesticides and disinfectants intended for sale in the U.S. must be evaluated for safety and efficacy by EPA and bear approved labeling with an EPA registration number (e.g. “EPA Reg. No. 1234-56”) and an EPA establishment number (e.g., “EPA Est. No. 12345-AA-1” (domestic) or “EPA Est. No. 12345-AAA1” (foreign)). In contrast, pesticidal devices must bear an EPA establishment number and conform to certain other requirements, but they are not evaluated for safety and efficacy by EPA before marketing.

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coronavirus gallon compare ready to use
Jan 20 2021
Coronavirus disinfectant Ready to Use 1 gallon jugs- environmental disaster?

Plastic gallon liquid containers contribute to climate change by generating heat-trapping gases at every stage of their life cycle.

Plastics originate as fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases from cradle to grave, according to a May 2019 report called “Plastic & Climate: The Hidden Costs of a Plastic Planet,” released by the Center for International Environmental Law, a nonprofit environmental law organization.
What goes into making a plastic jug?

Fossil fuels. Oil, gas, and coal are pulled from the earth through fracking. Then they transported to factories via pipelines, trains, and trucks using more fossil fuels. The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) estimates 12.5 to 13.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide are emitted every year while extracting and transporting natural gas to create raw materials for plastics in the United States.

What is an alternative Coronavirus killer with reduced environmental impact?

The best solution is a disinfectant that is manufactured with minimal environmental impact for both the product as well as packaging. First, that means a dilutable product. Based on my calculation, a little less than half of List N (232 of 521) products are dilutable. If you eliminate Quaternary ammonium (131), there’s about 101 left to compare. Second, a solid that’s dilutable is going to have significantly lower impact on packaging, shipping and climate. By my estimate, that’s less than 5 products, or less than 1% of approved products.

Reference:

Comparing ready to use one gallon jugs vs our most widely recommended dilutable disinfectant, our cost effective product disinfects, sterilizes, deodorizes, and purifies surfaces, water, and air while minimizing environmental impact. That’s not true of all products on the EPA List N, which the EPA expects to kill the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to the label directions.

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers cleaning, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

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coronavirus bug
Jan 19 2021
CDC UPDATE: Can Covid-19 Be Transmitted HVAC Via Ventilation Systems

The risk of spreading the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) through ventilation systems is not well-known at this time. Viral RNA has reportedly been found on return air grilles, in return air ducts, and on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filters, but detecting viral RNA alone does not imply that the captured virus was capable of transmitting disease. One research group reported that the use of a new air-sampling method allowed them to find viable viral particles within a COVID-19 patient’s hospital room with good ventilation, filtration and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection (at distances as far as 16 feet from the patient). However, the concentration of viable virus detected was believed to be too low to cause disease transmission. There may be some implications for HVAC systems associated with these findings, but it is too early to conclude that with certainty. While airflows within a particular space may help spread disease among people in that space, there is no evidence to date that viable virus has been transmitted through an HVAC system to result in disease transmission to people in other spaces served by the same system.

Healthcare facilities have ventilation requirements in place to help prevent and control infectious diseases that are associated with healthcare environments. For more information, see the CDC Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health-Care Facilities.

Non-healthcare (businesses and schools) building owners and managers should maintain building ventilation systems according to state/local building codes and applicable guidelines. Ensuring appropriate outdoor air and ventilation rates is a practical step building owners and managers can take to ensure good indoor air quality.

Source: CDC Updated Dec. 21, 2020 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/ventilation.html

Christine 0 Comments
classroom disinfecting
Jan 15 2021
Cleaning classrooms safely

Especially in elementary schools, teachers ask parents to bring supplies at the start of a semester. Wipes, kleenex and paper towels used to top the list when my kids were that age. But the wipes parents are donating can be all different brands and efficiency. If a wipe kills Covid in 4 to 10 minutes, is that good enough? I don’t think so.

We need to protect kids from the spread of colds, Covid and all viruses. The chemicals to do that need to be chosen carefully. Reducing chemical toxic exposure in classroom cleaning is proven to result in better test scores. Chronic exposures to common environmental factors in school buildings,
like indoor air pollution, mold, and pesticides impact performance and health. The U.S. EPA (2011) has estimated that more than 60,000 schools (i.e., 46% of U.S. public schools) have environmental conditions that contribute to poor Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ).

Regulations and common sense:

  1. Only custodians or other trained staff should use disinfectants.
  2. Disinfect only when necessary, such as when required by the health department, health code, or regulations.
  3. Avoid ingredients that are not safe for asthma, like bleach, ammonia, quaternary ammonium “quats” compounds (benzalkonium chlorides), and acetic acid (found in vinegar). Examples include Lysol® Disinfectant Spray, Multi-surface Cleaner, and wipes; Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and Clorox Total 360® Disinfecting Cleaner.
  4. Follow the label exactly for a disinfectant to work properly. Using a disinfectant for less time than specified on the label exposes school staff and students to chemicals in the product but may not disinfect the surface. By law, you must keep disinfectants out of students’ reach. Disinfectants should never be used by children or to clean skin, including hands.

ESG Safe recommended disinfectants are safer and more chemically efficient than most products on the EPA List N disinfectants for killing Covid. More than half of products on the EPA List N contain quats. We don’t sell any of them.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/OHB/WRAPP/Pages/Disinfectants-Schools.aspx

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/quaternary-ammonium-compounds

About ESG Safe: ESG Safe offers cleaning, environmental improvement and PPE solutions compatible with environmental social governance goals, while improving public safety and our planet. ESG Safe’s lead disinfectant has a Covid kill rate of 60 seconds and is safe for all commercial and residential needs. ESG Safe is a Women Business Enterprise, Small Business Enterprise.

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