Do "Green" Products Work?

Environmentalists and a number of agencies have recommended the
use of "green" products as alternatives to disinfectant cleaners.
The alternative products most often cited are borax, vinegar,
ammonia, and baking soda. None are registered with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency as disinfectants or sanitizers.  
This study, reported in the March, 1995 Journal of Environmental
Health, title Antibacterial Activity of Environmentally 'Green'
Alternative Products Tested in Standard Antimicrobial Tests and a
Simulated In-Use Assay, examines the ability of "green" products
to kill or eliminate representative Gram positive and Gram
negative bacteria from nonporous surfaces. The antimicrobial
activity of the products was assessed in the first phase of the
study using laboratory tests which are required for EPA
registration of antibacterial products. None of the alternative
products demonstrated required levels of disinfectant activity
against Staphylococcus aureus or Salmonella choleraesuis by the
Association for Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) Use Dilution
Method. None of the "green" products achieved required levels of
sanitizing activity against S. aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae
in the EPA Non- Food Contact Sanitizer Test.

The ability of "green" products to kill and remove bacteria under
in-use conditions was then examined using a method designed to
include mechanical removal of bacteria from surfaces as a
function of the disinfection process. Formica surfaces were
contaminated with either S. aureus or Escherichia coli, dried,
treated with a "green" product, and mechanically scrubbed with
sterile, premoistened synthetic sponge. Bacteria were
uantitatively recovered from the formica surface and the sponge,
and recovery counts were compared to those of water alone and an
EPA registered disinfectant. The "green" products showed no
significant reduction in bacterial levels on the surface and
showed a high level of contamination transferred to the sponge. 
In contract, the EPA approved disinfectant reduced counts on both
the surface and the sponge to minimal or nondetectable levels for
both types of bacteria.  

(From: Utah Pesticide and Toxic News Vol. 13 No. 7)