Considerations on Directive 98/8 of the European Commission - the biocide directive.

Nowadays, versatile human activity requires the development of technologies in the chemical and biological industries that ultimately enable an increase in human activity, and help create the living conditions in the domain of human civilization. Increasing this activity very frequently requires the implementation of new technologies concerning the active elimination of numerous threats and obstacles which are found in the human and natural environment. The concept of so-called biocidal products has been introduced into the European legislation as long as ten years ago, defining them as various types of 'chemical substances or microorganisms which can deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling eff ect on any harmful organism, by chemical or biological means'. They can be added to other materials (typically liquids) to protect them against biological infestation and growth. Biocidal products - due to their specificity, toxicity and composition - create a serious risk for human and animal life and health, as well as for the natural environment, it is therefore fully justified to have legal regulations concerning such biocides. Because biocidal products are intended to kill living organisms, and as such, many biocidal products pose a significant risk to human health and welfare, and have significant adverse eff ects on the natural environment. Great care is required when handling biocides and appropriate protective clothing and equipment should be used. Currently, Directive 98/8/EC is a comprehensive set of legal regulations concerning biocidal products, their specificity, principles relating to their placing on the market, and guidelines for their control. It is worth emphasizing that Directive 98/8/EC implements the clampdown on poisoning cases with biocides, the duty of which was passed to the so-called Centres of Consultation and Toxicological Information. These centres provide round-the-clock (24-hour) medical consultation and assistance in cases of poisonings with these products. The presented study constitutes an in-depth presentation and analysis of the European law concerning biocides and the current regulations applying to them.

[1]  J. V. Hemmen Biocides Steering Group on human exposure assessment: a preliminary report. , 1999 .

[2]  W A Rutala,et al.  Surface disinfection: should we do it? , 2001, The Journal of hospital infection.

[3]  H. Schweizer Triclosan: a widely used biocide and its link to antibiotics. , 2001, FEMS microbiology letters.

[4]  A. Fraise Decontamination of the Environment and Medical Equipment in Hospitals , 2012 .

[5]  P Haastrup,et al.  Regulatory requirements for biocides on the market in the European Union according to Directive 98/8/EC. , 1999, Journal of hazardous materials.

[6]  A. D. Russell,et al.  Principles and practice of disinfection, preservation and sterilization. Second edition. , 1992 .

[7]  B. Collins,et al.  Varieties of aseptic practice in hospial wards. , 1969, Lancet.

[8]  G. de Luca,et al.  Comparative study on the efficiency of peracetic acid and chlorine dioxide at low doses in the disinfection of urban wastewaters. , 2008, Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM.

[9]  D. Nelson Infection control during gastrointestinal endoscopy. , 2003, The Journal of laboratory and clinical medicine.

[10]  J. Maillard,et al.  Antimicrobial activity of chlorhexidine diacetate and benzalkonium chloride against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and its response to biocide residues , 2005, Journal of applied microbiology.

[11]  J. Maillard Antimicrobial biocides in the healthcare environment: efficacy, usage, policies, and perceived problems , 2005, Therapeutics and clinical risk management.

[12]  Bozenna Jakimiak,et al.  [The principle of registration, evaluation and testing of disinfecting preparations]. , 2008, Przeglad epidemiologiczny.

[13]  S. Levy Antibacterial household products: cause for concern. , 2001, Emerging infectious diseases.

[14]  S. Levy,et al.  Antibiotic and antiseptic resistance: impact on public health , 2000, The Pediatric infectious disease journal.

[15]  A D Russell,et al.  Antibiotic and biocide resistance in bacteria: comments and conclusions , 2002, Symposium series.

[16]  S F Bloomfield,et al.  Significance of biocide usage and antimicrobial resistance in domiciliary environments , 2002, Symposium series.

[17]  A. Preston,et al.  A brief review of the past, present and future of wood preservation. , 2007, Pest management science.

[18]  W. Turski,et al.  Organochlorine pesticides concentration in the drinking water from regions of extensive agriculture in Poland. , 2000, Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM.

[19]  F. Daschner,et al.  Disinfection and the prevention of infectious disease: no adverse effects? , 2004, American journal of infection control.

[20]  Gadi Borkow,et al.  Putting copper into action: copper‐impregnated products with potent biocidal activities , 2004, FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

[21]  Katrina Nordström,et al.  Toward a Nontoxic Poison: Current Trends in (European Union) Biocides Regulation , 2008, Integrated environmental assessment and management.

[22]  J. Maillard,et al.  Do antiseptics and disinfectants select for antibiotic resistance? , 1999, Journal of medical microbiology.

[23]  W. Rutala,et al.  The benefits of surface disinfection. , 2005, American journal of infection control.

[24]  W A Rutala,et al.  APIC guideline for selection and use of disinfectants. , 1996, American journal of infection control.