India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued an advisory notice against the use of disinfectants, such as sodium hypochlorite, on humans as part of Covid-19 management.
In the notice, the ministry says the spraying of disinfectants over individuals to combat the coronavirus has "gained a lot of media attention and is also being reportedly used at local levels in certain districts/local bodies".
As a consequence it has had to field many questions about the "the efficacy (if any) of the use".
Several local and state governments in India have resorted to spraying people with disinfectant. The authorities have set up tunnels and booths at entrances to buildings and public places to do this.
The advisory note instead recommends that chemical disinfectants are only used on "frequently touched areas/surfaces by those who are suspected or confirmed to have Covid-19".
Precautionary measures, it adds, are to be adopted while using the products for cleaning – like wearing gloves during disinfection.
It also says:
- spraying of individuals or groups with disinfectants is NOT recommended under any circumstances;
- there is no scientific evidence to suggest that the use is effective at disinfecting clothing. External spraying of a person that has potentially contracted Covid-19 will not kill the virus, which has entered the body;
- spraying of chlorine can lead to eye and skin irritation and inhalation of sodium hypochlorite to irritation of the mucous membranes; and
- mass spraying of disinfectants may result in a false sense of security, leading the public to discontinue hand washing and social distancing practices.
Industry concern
The ministry advisory followed the domestic sodium hypochlorite manufacturers issuing a public statement, warning against the use of disinfectant on humans to tackle the pandemic.
"There is no regulatory framework for the use of sodium hypochlorite. But based on the experience of the industry and our discussions with health experts and input from WHO, we felt the need to issue a warning," Harjeet Kaur Anand, joint technical director of the Alkali Manufacturers’ Association of India (AMAI), told Chemical Watch.
"For sodium hypochlorite to be effective as a disinfectant, the recommended concentration is 0.5-1%. Even this low concentration can cause problems to human skin because this solution is only meant to be used for disinfecting surfaces and objects. If you were to dilute it further to make it safer for human skin, it would no longer be strong enough to kill the virus," Ms Anand added.
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