Question: I had my ducts cleaned and treated. Is that possibly the source of my burning eyes? Is Sporicidin safe for duct cleaning?
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A: Reactions after duct cleaning can be caused by mold spores, allergens or dust being stirred up, as well as exposure to cleaning or disinfecting chemicals. Without knowing more details such as what cleaning process was employed or what chemicals were used, it would be unproductive to speculate.
Sporicidin Disinfecting Solution (US EPA registration number 8383-3) is an EPA registered disinfectant commonly used by NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) certified duct cleaning professionals to clean and deodorize household and commercial HVAC ducts. Professionals often select Sporicidin Disinfecting Solution for one or more of three reasons:
1. The active ingredients in this product, phenol and sodium phenate (a buffered phenol), have a track record for safety. Interestingly, these active ingredients have been used in a throat spray product named Chloraseptic® for more than 5 decades (Chloraseptic® is a trademark of Prestige Brands Inc.)
2. The EPA categorizes disinfectants according to what precautions must be taken when these chemicals are used. Sporicidin has been categorized a Level IV (the safest category) disinfectant for every human exposure test except for eye exposure, where it has been ranked a Level III. Because of the relative safety of this product, you’ll find the precautionary statement “Keep out of reach of children” on the Sporicidin label. Other disinfectants will list precautionary statements indicative of their more hazardous properties, such as “Danger” (Category I) or “Warning” (Category II).
3. Sporicidin Disinfecting Solution is more environmentally friendly than some other disinfectants. Under conditions found in most homes and offices, active ingredient residues evaporate at a rate of roughly 50% in a 24 hour period. This means that after 1 week, less than 0.1 grams of active ingredient would be left in a 2000 square foot home if the duct cleaners applied 4 ounces of Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution. If accidentally spilled on the ground, Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution generally breaks down in less than a week. Sunlight readily breaks down phenol and some studies have shown that Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution does not harm fish or other small animals.
When properly used, Sporicidin is apparently effective for deodorizing and cleaning ductwork and, according to the manufacturer, is used in tens of thousands of applications each year in North America.
Recognizing that in any given crowd a handful of people are sensitive to chemicals, duct cleaners and other restoration professionals who apply chemicals in homes and commercial buildings have been trained to leave a rag or paper towel that has been saturated with the cleaner or disinfectant in a lavatory sink or in a bucket in a room or enclosed space that has an exhaust fan or window directly to the outdoors. This “previewing” of the building occupants by giving them an opportunity to be exposed to the disinfectant in a controlled environment before the widespread application of the product can help to avoid a home owner or office worker having an adverse allergic reaction later.
Reference: Stephen Leung, Director of Development, Contec, Inc., Sporicidin Division
(Note: The information presented in this article is current and accurate to the best of our knowledge. As more information becomes available, we will provide updates.)
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