Fogging of disinfectants is harmful: Centre tells Supreme Court

The Centre has submitted its affidavit in response to a petition that sought to ban disinfectant tunnels, which involves spraying or fumigation of organic disinfectants for the purposes of disinfecting human beings and exposing people to ultraviolet rays to disinfect them.

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday clarified in the Supreme Court that none of its notifications has recommended disinfectant fogging on people or the external environment.

The Centre has submitted its affidavit in response to a petition that sought to ban disinfectant tunnels, which involves spraying or fumigation of organic disinfectants for the purposes of disinfecting human beings and exposing people to ultraviolet rays to disinfect them.

The affidavit read that "National Centre for Disease Control, Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family welfare issued 'National Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare facilities' in January 2020, wherein, protocols to be followed for cleaning and sanitation enumerated that disinfectant fogging is not recommended for routine patient care areas". It added that in operation theatres also it has no role as along with persons it can harm sensitive equipments too.

Advisory issued in march for cleaning the external environment did not emphasize on fogging or fumigating the disinfectant.

The advisory issued in May and June for containing spread in workplaces also advised frequent washing of hands but not fogging disinfectants.

After some media reports showing fogging, the government had taken its cognizance and convened a meeting of "Joint Monitoring Group" on 8th April which had recommended that "spraying any chemical disinfectant is physically and psychologically harmful". It had also observed that it can be harmful to the skin, the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract if inhaled and will not kill any virus that has already entered the body.

Defending itself further the government has said that "as public health and hospitals are state subject, it is for the States/Union Territories to implement the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare and the role of Government of India is limited to providing necessary guidance and financial support".