WASHINGTON, DC — In mid-March, the director of the Office of Pesticide Programs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an open letter to organizations representing the hvacr community. The letter, signed by director Marcia Mulkey, addressed the EPA’s concern for the use of disinfectants, sanitizers, and other types of antimicrobial products to treat the surfaces of hvacr systems.
In the letter, Mulkey states that the EPA has not yet been able to determine whether such products are effective. She also notes that the agency has yet to assess the potential risks to building occupants associated with the use of disinfectant products on ductwork.