P17
‘WOULD YOU LIKE WATER WITH THAT?’ SYMPTOMS AFTER EXPOSURE TO A SODIUM TROCLOSENE BASED DISINFECTANT
N. M. Kelly, A. S. Varghese, D. N. Natin
Mater Misercordiae University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Background:
Good practice dictates that a chemical should be eliminated or substituted for a less hazardous product and that exposures should be reduced to the least acceptable level. Controls must suit the hazards a chemical presents; the safety data sheet should inform this (1,2).
We present a commentary on safety data sheets, following an unsatisfactory experience with a disinfectant in the workplace.
Case presentation:
NaDCC (sodium dicholorocyanurate or sodium troclosene), is a substance commonly used to disinfect water. It is used increasingly in industry and healthcare settings to treat pipe works or drains. NaDCC is supplied as a tablet, allowing for an extended shelf life versus other common bleach products (3).
When water is added, NaDCC is rapidly hydrolysed, releasing free active chlorine (FAC) (HOCl). For the sake of simplicity, the overall hydrolysis reaction can be considered as:
C3N3O3Cl2Na + 2H2O <=> C3N3O3H2Na + 2HOCl
producing sodium cyanurate and hypochlorous acid (3).
A hospital elected to apply NaDCC to drains as a preventative measure against biofilm accumulation. Five employees were referred to the Department of Occupational Medicine, having complained of stinging in the eyes, sore nose & throat and shortness of breath after exposure to the mixture.
Conclusion:
Safety data sheets obtained in this case were assessed as deficient in that they focused on hazard assessment of the tablet (manufactured) form of the product, rather than providing useful information on the hazards on the end-user form, namely the liquid form after dissolution in water, as per the manufacturer’s instructions (4, 5).
References:
- Health & Safety Executive (2012) Working with substances hazardous to health: A brief guide to COSHH. Available from: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2024].
- Health & Safety Executive (2002) SR2: Diluting chemical concentrates. Available from: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/guidance/sr02.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2024].
- World Health Organisation (2008) Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate in Drinking-water. Available from: https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/wash-documents/wash-chemicals/sodium-dichloroisocyanurate-2add-feb2008.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2024].
- Health & Safety Executive (2022) Research on Hospital cleaners’ use of Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE). Available from: https://www.hse.gov.uk/research/insight/hospital-cleaners-rpe.pdf [Accessed 16 February 2024].
- Health & Safety Authority (2023) Safety Data Sheets: Questions and Answers. Available from: https://www.hsa.ie/eng/Your_Industry/Chemicals/Legislation_Enforcement/REACH/Safety_Data_Sheets/Questions_and_Answers/ [Accessed 16 February 2024]
