Speco Explains: Can Your Antimicrobial Product Be Used For Surfaces, Air And Hands?
The importance of holistic hygiene protection is what everyone needs especially during times like these. We need to be protected from all the dangerous germs and illnesses when we interact with the outside world; wherever we go, whatever we touch and breathe in. As such, can we really rely on a single product for all our hygiene needs?
Chemistry does not work that way. In fact, the world would be in a lot of trouble if it did. If one thing could do everything for us, we would be using the same miracle solution for cleaning our floors and washing our clothes. We do not see that happening as chemistry reacts differently to different surfaces; from hard surfaces to textiles to the human skin.
We have earlier covered in Speco Explains the effects of antimicrobial coatings on material surfaces were using the wrong product may result in your surfaces being corroded, discoloured or damaged. In this series, we will focus more on the effects of antimicrobial products on our health especially in the long run.
1) Can you really use it on your skin?
Explained: Most antimicrobial products work by destroying the cells wall of microbes. It does not differentiate between killing healthy cells or infectious organisms. Our body comprises of many living cells. Frequent use of an undiscerning product will result in your healthy cells being destroyed too. Common side effects include skin peeling, irritation among other more severe health effects depending on the product’s toxicity.
Before you buy: Ask for the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the Hazard Classification of the product. Usually, the Toxicology Information Section of the MSDS will also identify the Potential Health Effects if the product comes into contact with the Eyes, Skin, Ingestion, Inhalation.
What Speco does: In addition to our product having the highest level of safety with no potential health effects, we added moisturiser into Speco24 to protect your skin.
2) Can you really breathe it in?
Explained: If a product contains cytotoxic or carcinogenic ingredients, risk of exposure to such ingredients will cause negative health effects if you inhale it. Common side effects include dizziness, nausea and headaches among other more severe health effects depending on the product’s toxicity.
Before you buy: Ask for the Active Ingredient in the product. A quick online search will be able to show if the Active Ingredient is cytotoxic or carcinogenic (C&C). For a common list of C&C Active Ingredients (that Speco will never use), click here.
What Speco does: Speco’s active ingredient is certified non-cytotoxic and carcinogen free. We have also added airborne microbe active ingredients into Speco Air in order to deal with airborne microbe variants.
Antimicrobial products are the frontline defense to combat the pandemic and will be here to stay in this new normal. Before we buy a product, we should consider what will happen to us when we are exposed to it in the long term.
