Health warns of the risk of ozone and other products

Nov 04, 2024

Curiosities

To disinfect our vehicles we have seen an increase in the use of ozone and ultraviolet light, but this carries a series of risks.

If there is something we have to emphasize to avoid being infected with Covid-19, apart from maintaining the maximum safety distance, it is to carry out correct hygiene especially of our hands and, if possible, using soap, since as you know the excessive use of hydroalcoholic gel can cause irritation and in our cars, as our hands are touching numerous parts of the upholstery, a premature wear of them.

But apart from our personal hygiene, it is also advisable that our car, especially if we use it continuously, also remains as clean as possible to avoid possible transmission of the virus to both us and the people we transport. That is why we have seen how numerous companies carry out disinfection of the interior of our vehicles, being the treatment with ozone or ultraviolet light the most used, but the Ministry of Health warns us that these methods can be harmful to our health.

It is not perhaps the most frequently used treatment, but the products that use ultraviolet-C radiation for the disinfection of the coronavirus both in the air and on surfaces require professional application, and if they are not carried out with a minimum of guarantees and safety we run the risk risk of eye and skin damage and even respiratory tract irritation.

In fact, the application of UV-C radiation cannot be applied in the presence of people and, of course, much less in our own homes, so imagine in vehicles. In addition, the Ministry of Health warns that although it is true that it can reduce the presence of the virus on surfaces, At the moment it has not been possible to prove that this reduction is sufficient to achieve adequate and optimal disinfection..

It is perhaps the most popular treatment that has been carried out during this pandemic, since with ozone we manage to reach all the corners and nooks of the interior of our vehicles, but we must bear in mind that Ozone is not approved or regulated for use in air or on surfaces., in fact, it does not even appear on the list of official viricides accredited and recognized by the Ministry of Health and, at European level, It is still under evaluation.

The main risk of ozone is that it is a very toxic product and, only in low concentrations, is it capable of cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, cough, asthma attacks and headachesWhereas If the ozone concentration is high, we risk severe lung damage, alterations in the immune system and, in more serious cases, death.. Therefore, to carry out this treatment it must be done under very good protection and with thorough ventilation, and even so, the upholstery fabrics can absorb it or deposit it on the contact surfaces for a time that is currently very difficult to determine.

To all this we must add that At the moment there is no established protocol that tells us how long or in what quantity ozone should be applied., as well as the certification required for the machinery to be used. It should be added that, like ultraviolet light, it is not known for sure whether ozone, in non-toxic concentrations, is really effective for disinfecting air and surfaces.

If we are not satisfied with the usual cleaning with soap and water, the Ministry of Health recommends using a Authorized biocidal product, which is authorised by the competent authorities and has a protocol for use inside vehicles. In this regard, the Ministry of Health gives us Carglass as an example, who use a virucide with hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid under a strict scientific protocol for its application, in which the best position to nebulise the passenger compartment and the required times, the positions that the car's air conditioning system must be in at each phase and even the correct use of the machine have been studied.

Caution! Can disinfectant gel damage the car dashboard?

The use of disinfectant gel has become routine and is also used on car surfaces such as the steering wheel or dashboard, although it damages them.

The great advantage of these biocides is that they are fully regulated and are harmless to people, animals and surfaces, so much so that when they are used they do not require subsequent rinsing.

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