[intro]

• Properties
• Risks
• Compliance requirements
• Alternatives
• Disposal of sterilant and disinfectant wastes
• More resources

essential property of sterilants and disinfectants is biotoxicity -- can't get around it

rely on fact that they kill bugs faster than they kill us

distinction between sterilants and disinfectants - http://www.sustainablehospitals.org/cgi-bin/DB_Report.cgi?px=W&rpt=Cat&id=28

common sterilants and disinfectants of concern:

• ethylene oxide (EtO)
• glutaraldehyde
• ?

EtO:

• acute effects
• long term damage
• carcinogen, probable teratogen
• reactivity and flammability

Glut:

• contact dermatitis
• allergic reactions
• respiratory effects

EtO:

• OSHA PEL: 1ppm, 8 hr TWA; 5 ppm, 15 min short term TWA
• state and local regs
• other?

Glut:

• recommendations from NIOSH -- don't seem to be PELs

Summarize benefits and risks of alternatives:

• hydrogen peroxide (including Sterrad unit)
• peracetic acid
• ortho-phthalaldehyde (OPA)
• chloroxy compounds
• others?

Neither EtO nor glutaraldehyde are RCRA listed.  Any hazwaste implications?  Is EtO a characteristic hazardous waste?

Wastewater restrictions?

Other restrictions?

EPA fact sheet:  http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/wpie/Healthcare/EPAEtOGlut.pdf

Sustainable Hospitals:

• Glutaraldehyde control http://www.sustainablehospitals.org/HTMLSrc/IP_Glutcontrol.html

California Department of Health Services EtO fact sheet http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ohb/HESIS/eto.htm

OSHA

• EtO fact sheet: http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/ethylene-oxide-factsheet.pdf
• Glut fact sheet:  http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/hospital/hazards/glutaraldehyde/glut.html