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There are a lot of great lessons to be learned about the usage of biocides in solving problems that are related to water treatment.

I can remember 20 years ago, when I started in water chemistry it was not unusual to meet customers that did not know the consequences of poor microbial management in water loops: inadequate heat exchange, corrosions, rapid ageing equipment, all due to ignorance (willing ?) how to stop bacterial growth. Go here: biocide chemical for detailed information.

Then, there was the issue of legionella being spread through water loops and causing public hygiene concerns in cooling towers. Biocides are now accepted in all settings in accordance with best practices and the law. This helps with hygiene and lessens the risk of legionella spread, but also solves technical problems (improved heat transfer, reduced corrosion and the fouling caused by bacteria growth).

Increased awareness about hygiene is one of the main factors in the development of biocides in water industries. It has brought significant advantages for the public's hygiene however it has also created safety concerns.

There are no harmless biocide molecules, and the Biocidal Products Directive (BPR, Regulation (EU) 528/2012) seeks to improve the operation of the biocidal product market in the EU, while ensuring the highest level of protection for humans and the environment (ECHA, Understanding BPR).

However, the BPR isn't a rule which prohibits and discourages the use of harmful products. Using more biocide means increase the risks for professionals.

In all that could be written about it, I would like to attract every-one interest in a single issue.

The danger of chemical which could cause chemical skin irritations as well as lung damage and possibly long-term cancers, will rise during the process of production and delivery. The most vulnerable workers might not be chemical experts who have extensive training but electrical and mechanical technicians who aren't constantly exposed to chemical substances.

As I said in my previous post, the utilization of biocides has to be fair and sustainable. It's time to begin thinking about the biocide strategy as well as the chemical compounds being used as well as the dosages, and what is important about the installations and equipment that will deliver the product to the end-user. Are they safe? Are they easy to maintain?

There aren't any easy or standard-of-the-art solutions to solve every problem, but small steps, innovations, best practices, etc that can drive to more security for everyone.