Biocides: Essential Tools to Prevent Harmful Microbial Growth
Antimicrobial Safety
Biocides: Essential Tools to Prevent Harmful Microbial Growth
Even though we can’t see them with the naked eye, microbes are everywhere. In most cases, these tiny microorganisms are harmless and even beneficial. But some of these microbes are bacteria, fungi, and viruses that pose a risk to our health.
Biocides, also known as “antimicrobials” or “antimicrobial pesticides”, play a crucial role in controlling and stopping the spread of harmful microbes. For example, these specialized substances help hospitals prevent the dangerous spread of disease, help restaurants and food processers keep harmful pathogens out of our food, and ensure the safety of our drinking water.
» Learn more about the many ways biocides protect our health
But the benefits of biocides don’t stop there. Antimicrobials also are essential preservatives—they protect a vast array of products from pharmaceuticals to furniture to building materials from destructive microorganisms. » Learn more about the preservative power of biocides
Additionally, biocides are essential in ensuring countless manufacturing and industrial processes are not compromised by microorganism growth. Biocides play a key role in livestock production, oil and gas extraction, marine shipping, and many other industrial processes. » Learn more about how biocides are used in industrial processes
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Antimicrobial Safety
Antimicrobials are strictly regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) depending on their intended uses. For example, the Federal Insecticide and Fungicide Registration Act (FIFRA) requires public health antimicrobials producers to demonstrate to EPA their products are effective and no adverse effects are expected if products are used according to label directions. Other federal laws regulating antimicrobials include the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and Food Quality Protection Act.
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