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  • What Are Antimicrobials?
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  • What Are Antimicrobials?
  • Benefits
    • How Do They Help?
    • Preventing Disease Takes Good Chemistry
    • Increasing Sustainability Takes Good Chemistry
  • Uses
    • Where Are They Used?
    • Material Preservatives
      • Wood Products and Materials
      • Paints and Coatings
    • Household Products
    • Behind the Scenes
    • Public Spaces
      • Apartments & Hotels
      • Gyms
      • Hospitals & Healthcare Settings
      • Office Settings
      • Public Transportation Settings
      • School Settings
  • Oversight
    • How Are They Evaluated for Safety?
    • How They Are Regulated
    • Above & Beyond
  • Resources
  • Learn More
    • Bet You Didn’t Know
    • Surprising Facts
    • FAQs
    • About the Center for Biocide Chemistries
  • Contact Us

Where Are They Used?

You may not be able to see them, but microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi are everywhere! That’s why antimicrobials are used in so many places.

Think of antimicrobials as tiny superheroes, helping to kill or prevent the growth of microbes, keeping you and your family safe. These knights in shining armor help clean and disinfect our homes, medical facilities and public spaces because harmful microbes can grow and thrive in almost any setting.

Material Preservatives

Antimicrobial material preservatives are chemistries used in a variety of products to help prevent decay, deterioration, and spoilage associated with microbial growth. They can prevent treated wood from decaying, textiles from developing mold, odors and stains, and water-based products like paint from spoiling. Material preservatives are also used in a variety of household products, such as cosmetics, detergents, and dishwashing liquids.

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Household Products

Did you know cold season needs good chemistry? It’s true. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a thorough cleaning and disinfection of sinks, toilets, doorknobs, and other hard surfaces that people frequently touch is the first and most important step in preventing the spread of disease. For this reason, you will find antimicrobials products in homes, workplaces and schools.

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Public Spaces

Anywhere there are a lot of people, there are a lot of germs. To reduce the transmission of disease-causing viruses and bacteria in spaces with masses of people, antimicrobial disinfectants and sanitizers are used to kill the harmful bacteria and viruses.

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Hospitals & Health Care Settings

We’ve learned so much about how to keep hospital and medical environments clean and sterile, and free of unnecessary dangers. Antimicrobials are among the first lines of defense in the battle against infection.

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Behind the Scenes

Microbes can grow and thrive in many industrial settings, causing production problems and serious safety hazards. Antimicrobials are important for efficient production and worker safety. Countless industries, from food production to manufacturing to gas extraction, rely on antimicrobials in their day-to-day operations and processes.

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Sustainability

Think about the woodworking throughout your home. It’s important that it is protected from decay caused by mold and mildew (these are microbes!) that can breakdown wood and other materials. Other materials or products are susceptible to deterioration or spoilage from certain microbes if they are not protected. Protection is the role of antimicrobials. Antimicrobials are used to preserve products and extend their shelf lives. By helping products and materials last longer, antimicrobials play an important role in promoting sustainability reducing waste.

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