COVID-19 pandemic: Database of EPA-approved disinfectants now exceeds 500 listings

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has again updated its list of registered disinfectants that can help prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 – extending the total number of disinfectant products on the agency’s sortable, searchable database to more than 500.

EPA has regularly added to the roster since publishing an initial list of 85 registered disinfectants approved for use against SARS-CoV-2 – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 – in March. Two months later, the agency developed a mobile app that allows users to search the online database.

“With more than 500 products now on our list of disinfectants, Americans have a wide range of options to choose from to help protect themselves and their families from COVID-19,” EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in an Oct. 21 press release, which notes that the list of wipes, sprays and other products has received more than 20 million views.

EPA states that coronaviruses – named for the crownlike spikes on their surfaces – are enveloped viruses and therefore “one of the easiest types” of viruses to eliminate with proper disinfectant use.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises using gloves when cleaning or disinfecting surfaces suspected of containing SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, EPA encourages consumers to follow directions for use on product labels and closely monitor a product’s contact time on the surface being treated.