Health Impacts of Long-term Exposure to Disinfectants During SARS-Cov-۲ Pandemic

In recent months, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus ۲ (SARS-CoV-۲), as a newly emerging viral infectious agent, which belongs to the betaCoVs category has become a major public health problem worldwide. SARS-Cov-۲ is an RNA virus responsible for the coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹). This disease was first identified in Wuhan (Hubei, China) in December ۲۰۱۹, and then it has spread globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the COVID-۱۹ outbreak a global pandemic on March ۱۱, ۲۰۲۰ (۱). COVID-۱۹ infection can be transmitted by direct contact with an infected person through respiratory droplets (generated through coughing and sneezing) or by touching surfaces contaminated with the patient’s respiratory droplets (۲). The new virus can remain viable on the surface from several hours to nine days and maintain its infectivity. Due to the novelty of this virus and lack of sufficient information on this virus, there are different and contradictory views regarding its transmission modes. According to the WHO reports, transmission of the COVID-۱۹ virus can occur by direct contact with infected people and indirect contact with surfaces contaminated with the patient’s respiratory droplets (۳). In this regard, frequent disinfection of surfaces with various chemical disinfectants such as alcohol, chlorine, acetic acid, chloroform, and so on is recommended. Moreover, these disinfectants are commonly used to disinfect tools, hospital clothing, and hands of hospital staff to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Sodium hypochlorite as a chlorine compound is often used for disinfection in hospitals, public places, homes, and so on. It is mainly used at high concentrations (between ۰.۰۵ and ۰.۱%) during the epidemic and occurrence of emerging infectious diseases (۴). Nowadays, due to the extensive spread of SARS-Cov-۲ and being considered a pandemic disease, it is necessary to consider appropriate health measures against this virus. According to WHO reports, the COVID-۱۹ outbreak is likely to last between ۱۸ and ۲۴ months. In this situation, long-term use of chemical disinfectants, especially chlorinated substances and detergents, in addition to causing harmful effects on human health, can pose a threat to the environment, water, and soil resources. Due to their high efficiency, availability, and affordability, the chlorinated compounds are commonly used as the most important disinfectant in preventing the spread of infectious disease. These compounds have a highly toxic effect on the airways and cause short-term and long-term pulmonary complications. Acute and severe exposure to chlorine gas, especially indoors, can lead to acute and severe shortness of breath, airway spasm, wheezing, and pulmonary embolism. These complications are so severe in some cases that can lead to hospitalization. Long-term complications are also observed such as chronic asthma which may require long-term treatment (۵,۶). Hence, it seems necessary to provide an effective protocol for disinfection for a long time, which poses a low risk to the environment and to human health. In this regard, the use of disinfectants effective against the SARS-Cov-۲ virus with less toxic effects can be a good alternative.