IPA; The alternative to ethanol-based disinfectants
Ensuring employee health and safety is a top priority for employers. An essential part of this is choosing disinfectants that are not only effective, but also contribute to good working conditions. The alternative to ethanol-based disinfectants is Isopropyl alcohol, or IPA. Switching to IPA eliminates the need to keep legally required records. In this article, we will provide more information on this topic.
Hygienic process areaWhat is ethanol?
Ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol) is a commonly used substance in disinfectants because of its antimicrobial properties. However, its use comes with some challenges. Ethanol fumes can be irritating to the airways and skin and can cause headaches and dizziness. This can cause discomfort and health problems for workers who regularly work with these substances. In addition, long-term exposure to ethanol fumes through inhalation and/or skin exposure can lead to additional risk of breast and colon cancer and is harmful to reproduction.
CMR registration of ethanol
For the reasons mentioned above, ethanol is listed on the SZW (Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment) list as a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and reprotoxic. Therefore, when using ethanol, employers are legally obliged to keep a CMR registration on a personal level. This registration must be kept for 40 years.
Ethanol substitution requirement
In the Netherlands, there is a substitution obligation for CMR substances, which also applies to ethanol. A substitute disinfectant is IPA. There are exceptions in which case an employer does not have to replace ethanol:
- No health damage appears to occur as a result of exposure. Skin exposure or inhalation is not possible.
- The substitute is found to pose a greater risk.
In either case, of course, the employer should implement the necessary measures to prevent inhalation and skin contact.
IPA
Isopropyl alcohol (also known as isopropanol), or IPA for short, offers similar antimicrobial properties to ethanol IPA has a lower vapor pressure than ethanol, meaning it evaporates more slowly and, therefore, releases fewer fumes into the air. This benefits air quality.
No CMR registration for IPA
IPA is not listed on the SZW (Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment) list. Switching to IPA-based disinfectants therefore means that employers are no longer required to maintain a CMR registration at an individual level.
SynQ products with IPA
As manufacturer of SynQ, Synerlogic—of which In2Food is a part—aims to minimize the use of harmful substances. Therefore, we offer the following disinfectants with IPA:
- SynQ Hand Care Des
SynQ Hand Care Des is a hand disinfectant suitable for disinfecting hands and forearms. The product is gentle on the hands and does not contain ethanol. Download the product sheet.
- SynQ IPA Spray
SynQ IPA Spray is the successor of SynQ Spray Des. This disinfectant is suitable for the combating of bacteria and yeasts on small surfaces (alcohol-resistant). This makes it suitable for intermittent disinfection. The product has a so-called “no rinse approval” and does not need to be rinsed. The product does not contain ethanol. Safety Data Sheet.
Authorization number NL-0027652-0001
Authorization number BE2021-0025-00-00
Authorization number DE-0027646-00-0000-02-04
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