Search Frequent Questions

Filter By:

Active filters:

Remove all filters

Displaying 1 - 15 of 22 results

  • Can I apply a product using a method that is not specified in the directions for use?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Any time you use an EPA-registered disinfectant, you should read the product label and follow the directions, including the method of application…

    • Last published:

  • Will boiling my water help?

    No. Boiling water will NOT reduce nitrate levels. In fact, it will make the level of nitrate worse because some of the water will evaporate but the nitrate will not. This increases the concentration of nitrate in water.

    • Last published:

  • Do disinfectants kill newer variants of coronavirus?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Yes, EPA expects all products on List N to kill all variants of SARS-CoV-2. Genetic changes to the virus do not impact…

    • Last published:

  • Is it safe to shower or bathe in water if it is over the nitrate MCL of 10 mg/L?

    Nitrate is only a concern for ingestion (eating and drinking). It is not absorbed through your skin. People who install filter systems for nitrate often install them just for their kitchen sink faucet, and they use that faucet for their cooking and drinking water.

    • Last published:

  • What should I do if my water has elevated nitrates and/or exceeds the MCL?

    If nitrate exceeds the MCL of 10 mg/L, you should find a safe alternative drinking water supply. The quickest thing to do is to begin using bottled water for drinking. Another option is to install a treatment that will remove nitrate from your water such as reverse osmosis or a…

    • Last published:

  • Why is nitrate contamination a concern?

    Nitrate is an acute contaminant, meaning that health effects can occur immediately (I.e. within hours or days) of short-term exposure. Too much nitrate in your body makes it harder for red blood cells to carry oxygen. While most people recover quickly, this can be very dangerous for infants and some…

    • Last published:

  • Can disinfectant products be used on people?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The products included in EPA's list of disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) are for use on surfaces, not humans. Please see…

    • Last published:

  • Are there any changes to the registration of disinfectants due to COVID-19?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. At the federal level, EPA has published guidance on amending product registrations to add claims of efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 , claims of…

    • Last published:

  • Why are disinfectants marketed and sold under different brand and product names?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Companies that register disinfectant products can allow other companies to sell the product under their own product and company name. This is…

    • Last published:

  • Why aren’t hand sanitizers listed on List N?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. List N only includes EPA-registered surface disinfectants. Hand sanitizers, antiseptic washes and antibacterial soaps are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration…

    • Last published:

  • What’s the difference between products that disinfect, sanitize, and clean surfaces?

    At EPA, products used to kill viruses and bacteria on surfaces are registered as antimicrobial pesticides. Sanitizers and disinfectants are two types of antimicrobial pesticides. Action What does it do? Does EPA regulate the product? Cleaning Cleaning removes dirt and organic matter from surfaces using soap or detergents. EPA regulates cleaning products…

    • Last published:

  • Will EPA take enforcement action against companies making false claims that their disinfectants work against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Yes, EPA is authorized to take enforcement action to prevent the sale or distribution of disinfectants with false or misleading claims on…

    • Last published:

  • Is there anything I can do to make surfaces resistant to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. EPA regulates the claims on pesticide product labels. EPA-registered surface disinfectants kill viruses at the time they are used. After use, if…

    • Last published:

  • Can I use common household substances to kill the novel coronavirus?

    List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 View List N, a searchable and sortable list of products for use against SARS-CoV-2, the novel human coronavirus that causes COVID-19. EPA does not review effectiveness of common household ingredients like vinegar or rubbing alcohol, so EPA cannot verify how well they work…

    • Last published:

  • What are the possible health effects of nitrate exposure?

    Short-term: Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water have caused serious illness and sometimes death. The serious illness in infants is due to the conversion of nitrate to nitrite by the body, which can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the child’s blood leading to blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia). This…

    • Last published: