Posted By Adams777 A regular salesman to my transport section tried to sell the manager an aerosol which he claimed would kill the swine flu virus on contact. Now correct me if I'm wrong but I thought disinfectants killed bacteria but not viruses. Does anyone have an authorative view on the use of aerosols to kill viruses? I know the swine flu virus only remains virulent for about 15 minutes on hard and soft surfaces etc and is completely harmless inside 24 hours. I work across two schools so anything to help protect staff (over 400) and pupils (over 1300) would be immensely helpful. Adam

Posted By LMR On a more serious note risk assess then consider COSHH as you are adding gases to the air and have inhalation, ingestion problems in relation to the propellant in addition to the contents as people always overuse these sprays. It worries me that there are more and more of these sprays being put on the market with noone considering what is in them as part of COSHH or anything else.

Posted By Tabs Yes, many sprayed products kill viruses and bacteria. http://www.dettol.co.uk/sf_nursery.shtml Take a look at one such product (no, nothing to do with me at all). Many products are available in a pump-action trigger spray - no propellant gasses. Are they worth it? That's for you to decide.

Posted By LMR Tabs A point that should be considered is not just the propellant gasses being released but the actual spray itself which is more likely to be a danger to anyone with repsiratory problems. Any antiviral spray or anti-bacterial spray will contain sensitisers as part of their content. I am the lucky one I already know I have been sensitised... but anyone can become sensitised as a result of exposure at any time! (that is if you call having a life threatening condition lucky!)I remove myself from areas of risk from the onset; but try explaining that a spray to maybe avoid a virus that you may not catch has created a sensitivity more life threatening than the virus.

Posted By Tabs LMR - thanks for that additional info. I hope Adam re-reads this. I do have a follow-on question to you though, on some flights I use the cabin crew come down the aisle spraying for bugs (not bothered about proper definitions for the sake of this) ... would that be a threat to your health? If you have encountered that, how did the crew react? Sorry to hear about your condition, it must be a real challenge to avoid exposure in general.

Posted By LMR Yes sprays of that nature are an extreme risk to my life not my health... a sensitised reaction does not affect your health just the ability to live. I can no longer fly due to risks from people and perfume, i can no longer go shopping in many places due to shoe repairers, decorators, perfume counters I have to stay in my own motorhome as I cannot risk hotels or i have to call and make sure they are not decorating or use no bleach in the room for several days ....the list is endless..... I carry a ffp3 minimum face mask to put on to go to public toilets or supermarkets that have shoe repairers/dry cleaners within them... it scares the public and they think i am up to something no good! There is no part of my life that has not been affected by this. This was as a result of exposure at work to degreasants which dissolved the gloves we were wearing and the boss said carry on as it is not dissolving your skin but makes your hands soft!!!! and THAT is why i got into H&S to protect the me's of the future from bosses like him. Anyone can take the step beyond the headache on exposure to becoming sensitised and then your life is turned upside down. A sensitised reaction is not the same as asthmatic or allergic reactions. They may look the same but are not... and I have a fear of being put in ambulance and being treated wrongly as i have bronchiectasis as well. I am now taking up hobbies which have to be outdoors to avoid exposure; see me with the face mask if i have to use a fire extinguisher in the pits at a race circuit! Thank you for asking what effects this has - you can see it is totally life changing. As for a non-toxic etc spray ... it is something that is being added to the air so it may well be a mildly irritant to the lungs.

Posted By steven n Garyh, http://www.germwarfare.co.uk/ To be honest I know very little of the product, I only became aware of it due to my friends brother going on Dragons Den. This is the first time I have seen the website for the product.

Posted By LMR looking at the msds there are a lot of ethanols and ethers etc in most of these products.... so yes used in the air they would be a concern to anyone with respiratory conditions as most of the ingredients listed, certainly on the sprays, are known sensitisers. The best thing is personal hygiene, soap and water, paper towels, paper tissues and bins with lids and new bin liners each day! simple, inexpensive and effective! Honestly, the virus will go rampant round society and we can best protect ourselves by looking after ourselves and not spraying the world with some spray or other but using good old fashioned hot water and a soap!

Posted By steven n I would like to point out that I am in no way connected to the product I posted a link to in a previous reply. If anyone felt I was breaking AUG 3 I apologise.

Posted By Adams777 Hi all and thanks for all the information. I think it was LMR who hoped I had read other posts concerning aerosols and sensitisation. Obviously I have and needless to say after the salesman emailed me I politely said no. I had instigated additional soap in washrooms, hand gel dispensers in all work areas with packets of tissues and specific bins for disposal of tissues. Lastly all staff have been apprised of possible dermatitis from using the alcohol based gels. Did I see this mentioned in another post a few weeks ago? I think I did. Once again thanks for all the good and educative advice. Have a nice weekend Adam