Biocides. Efficacy. Criteria for its assessment and authorization

Abstract

Article 13 of Royal Decree 865/2003, 4 July, establishes hygienic-sanitary criteria for prevention and control of Legionellosis, provides for the use of disinfectants duly authorized by Public Health General Directorate, in the course of hygienic-sanitary maintenance operations.

In accordance with existing national laws among requirements necessary to effect said authorization are the due efficacy assay product, physic-chemical properties, data on toxicity and ecotoxicity and information on incompatibility with other chemicals used in installations, as well as materials constitutive of the latter.

Public Health General Directorate, General Subdirectorate of Environmental Health and Labour Health, studies and assesses the information provided by the applicant if appropriate the product is included in the Public Health General Directorate Official Register.

Up until 1st June 2006, 183 disinfectants products against Legionella are registered in the Public Health General Directorate. The said disinfectant products may be classified according to their action substances, and the way in which they act, into oxidants and non-oxidants all of them interacting the different with factors linked to Legionella proliferation. Nonetheless, efficacy of oxidant and non-oxidant biocides will depend on conditions such as: specific characteristics of the installation itself (dimensions, material, technology), usage and maintenance frequency, location, use of products that might interfere with the used biocide.

Although efficacy assays conducted to register these biocides rest mostly on laboratory studies, their “in vivo” efficacy should not be questioned without considering the above listed factors.