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Microbial contamination of fresh berries poses a significant public health risk due to their delicate and porous structure. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of washing and coating with sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDC) against Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella enterica on blackberries. Two treatment approaches were tested: washing in SDC solutions (500 ppm and 1000 ppm for 1, 4, and 8 min), and hemicellulose B-based coatings supplemented with SDC (1 and 4 min exposure). Our results demonstrated that microbial reduction was significantly influenced by SDC concentration and exposure duration; longer treatment times and higher SDC concentrations achieved greater reductions. Washing with 1000 ppm SDC for 8 min obtained reductions of 5.0 ± 0.22 Log CFU/mL for E. coli (p < 0.001), 3.6 ± 0.45 Log CFU/mL for L. monocytogenes (p < 0.01), and 4.5 ± 0.30 Log CFU/mL for S. enterica (p < 0.001). Coating treatments at 1000 ppm for 4 min achieved even greater reductions for S. enterica, reaching 6.8 ± 0.35 Log CFU/mL, which was statistically superior to the corresponding washing treatment (p < 0.001). These findings support SDC as a promising antimicrobial agent for blackberry decontamination using a washing or coating method, with potential applications in fresh produce safety.

Candida auris is an emerging pathogen that needs to be controlled effectively due to its association with a high mortality rate. The presence of biofilms on dry surfaces has been shown to be widespread in healthcare settings. We produced a C. auris dry surface biofilm (DSB) on stainless steel surfaces following sequential hydration and desiccation cycles for 12 days. The ASTM2967-15 was used to measure the reduction in viability of 12 commercially wipe-based disinfectants and sodium hypochlorite (1000 ppm) against C. auris DSB. We also evaluated C. auris transferability and biofilm regrowth post-treatment. A peracetic acid (3500 ppm) product and two chlorine-based products (1000 ppm available chlorine) were successful in reducing C. auris viability and delaying DSB regrowth. However, 50% of the products tested failed to decrease C. auris viability, 58% failed to prevent its transferability, and 75% did not delay biofilm regrowth. Using three different parameters to measure product efficacy provided a practical evaluation of product effectiveness against C. auris DSB. Although log10 reduction in viability is traditionally measured, transferability is an important factor to consider from an infection control and prevention point of view as it allows for determination of whether the surface is safe to touch by patients and hospital staff post-treatment.

We explored the patterns of biophoton—ultra-weak light made by cells—emissions in Neuro-2a cells and astrocytes in culture. Biophotons were detected using a photomultiplier as a single photon counter. We measured intensity of emissions when healthy (and at rest), stressed with toxins (sodium troclosene or rotenone) and/or treated with red and near infrared light (R-NIr). We measured ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and ROS (reactive oxygen species) levels also. Our results showed that emissions from Neuro-2a cells and astrocytes were similar when both healthy and stressed. Both cell types emitted biophotons at low intensities when healthy (~ 12 photons/s), but this changed markedly under stress. The extent of change was however, dependant on the stressor involved; at the concentrations we used, sodium troclosene increased emissions, while rotenone had a far more limited impact. Finally, we showed that R-NIr did not influence emissions when healthy, but did so when stressed, particularly with sodium troclosene. Under our experimental time-lines, these emission patterns under different conditions did not relate uniformly to the changes in ATP and ROS levels. In summary, we found that biophoton emissions did not readily define cell type, but could—under some circumstances—be reflective of cell health. Further, that R-NIr could influence these emissions, particularly under stress.

Endosperm weakening and radicle elongation of lettuce seeds were separated by using sodium dichloroisocyanurate, and the roles of ROS in these processes were studied. A novel method was used for endosperm puncture force measurement.

Contaminated-hospital surfaces are an important source of pathogenic bacteria causing health-care associated infection (HCAIs). Monitoring the performance of disinfectants that are routinely used to clean hospital surfaces is critical for prevention and control of HCAIs. Nevertheless, the evaluation of the performance of disinfectants and their efficacy are not routinely practiced in most resource-limited countries. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of sodium dichloroisocyanurate (NaDCC) and chloroxylenol against American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and their respective multidrug resistant (MDR) strains causing neonatal sepsis at a zonal referral hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania. Four ATCC (n = 4) and their respective MDR strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae , Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used. The suspension test was used with contact time of 1, 5 and 10 min with starting concentration of 10 5 bacterial colony forming unit per milliliters (CFU/mL). The log 10 reduction value at specified bacteria-disinfectant contact time was used to assess the efficacy of 0.5%NaDCC and 4.8% chloroxylenol in-use and freshly prepared solutions. In-use 0.5%NaDCC demonstrated poor log reduction (˂ 5log) against MDR-clinical isolates. Freshly laboratory prepared 0.5% NaDCC had 100% microbial reduction at 1, 5 and 10 min of both ATCC and MDR strains up to 48 h after preparation when compared with freshly prepared 4.8% chloroxylenol (˂ 5log). Freshly, prepared 0.5% NaDCC should be used in health-care facilities for effective disinfection practices.

The importance of disinfection has recently increased owing to the spread of infections, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, exposure to the biocidal products used for disinfection poses health risks. This study aimed to determine the safe use of biocides and the potential for secondary exposure in the general population. To obtain information on the exposure factors on site, an interview survey was conducted for 2 weeks and 10 days using a questionnaire. Toxicology studies were performed to determine the toxicity of each chemical in various biocidal products. The inhalation and dermal exposure algorithms in ConsExpo 4.0, a software developed by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), were used to assess the risk of active substances in biocidal products. The average amounts of disinfectants and pesticides used in indoor environments per unit time were 5948.50 ± 72,434.76 mg and 201.61 ± 305.91 mg, respectively. Ethanol had the highest inhalation hazard quotient (HQ inh ) of 1.48E+02 while sodium dichloroisocyanurate had the lowest value of 1.74E−10. The HQ inh /HQ der ratios for the 10 active substances ranged from 1.51E+00 to 2.73E+05 were greater than 1, indicating that inhalation exposure had a greater effect than dermal exposure. The hazard index (HI) of the 10 active substances, excluding ethanol, was less than 1, indicating the absence of potential health risks. Therefore, to reduce the health risks associated with secondary exposure, disinfection should be performed during periods when individuals are away from the site to be disinfected, such as after regular working hours, and individuals should be encouraged to enter this site the following day instead of after the disinfection exercise. Methods, such as applying an active substance from a biocidal product to a cloth or fabric to carry out the disinfection protocol, should also be considered.

This experiment aimed to test the effectiveness of four antifungal chemicals in controlling mold contamination in edible mushroom production. The antifungal chemicals were terbinafine hydrochloride, prochloraz, azoxystrobin, and sodium dichloroisocyanurate. The inhibitory effects of the chemicals were evaluated for inhibition on Cladosporium sp., Aspergillus niger, and Neurospora sp. The mycelia of the three molds and Morchella sextelata were cultured individually and co-cultured on plates with different concentrations of these chemicals, and then the mycelial growth was observed. By comparing the growth areas under the same conditions, the appropriate concentrations of each chemical were determined. The results indicated that terbinafine hydrochloride and prochloraz significantly inhibited the mycelial growth of all three mold species at certain concentrations, whereas their impact on the mycelial growth of M. sextelata was not significant. These results suggest that these two chemicals are effective in controlling the mycelial growth of the three molds, potentially increasing the yield and quality of M. sextelata and reducing mold contamination during storage and transportation.

To prevent Ebola transmission, frequent handwashing is recommended in Ebola Treatment Units and communities. However, little is known about which handwashing protocol is most efficacious. We evaluated six handwashing protocols (soap and water, alcohol-based hand sanitizer (ABHS), and 0.05% sodium dichloroisocyanurate, high-test hypochlorite, and stabilized and non-stabilized sodium hypochlorite solutions) for 1) efficacy of handwashing on the removal and inactivation of non-pathogenic model organisms and, 2) persistence of organisms in rinse water. Model organisms E. coli and bacteriophage Phi6 were used to evaluate handwashing with and without organic load added to simulate bodily fluids. Hands were inoculated with test organisms, washed, and rinsed using a glove juice method to retrieve remaining organisms. Impact was estimated by comparing the log reduction in organisms after handwashing to the log reduction without handwashing. Rinse water was collected to test for persistence of organisms. Handwashing resulted in a 1.94-3.01 log reduction in E. coli concentration without, and 2.18-3.34 with, soil load; and a 2.44-3.06 log reduction in Phi6 without, and 2.71-3.69 with, soil load. HTH performed most consistently well, with significantly greater log reductions than other handwashing protocols in three models. However, the magnitude of handwashing efficacy differences was small, suggesting protocols are similarly efficacious. Rinse water demonstrated a 0.28-4.77 log reduction in remaining E. coli without, and 0.21-4.49 with, soil load and a 1.26-2.02 log reduction in Phi6 without, and 1.30-2.20 with, soil load. Chlorine resulted in significantly less persistence of E. coli in both conditions and Phi6 without soil load in rinse water (p<0.001). Thus, chlorine-based methods may offer a benefit of reducing persistence in rinse water. We recommend responders use the most practical handwashing method to ensure hand hygiene in Ebola contexts, considering the potential benefit of chlorine-based methods in rinse water persistence.

In this article, the water-soluble blue-light-emitting copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) were prepared by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and ascorbic acid as templating and reducing agents, respectively. The optimization of synthesis conditions of PVP-CuNCs were studied and analyzed. And the quantum yield of the PVP-CuNCs was calculated to be 14.97%. It had good specificity and exceptionally sensitive detection for sodium dichloroisocyanurate (DCCNa)/rosmarinic acid (RA), with a linear response range of 0.030–2.400/0.030–0.900 μM and corresponding LOD value of 10.766/8.985 nM. Moreover, the fluorescent reaction mechanisms of the PVP-CuNCs-DCCNa and PVP-CuNCs-DCCNa-RA systems were discussed, and the sensing probe could be effectively used for the assays of DCCNa and RA in genuine samples, whose results were acceptable.

Since 1958, cyanuric acid and two chlorinated cyanurates, commonly referred to as dichlor (anhydrous sodium dichloroisocyanurate or sodium dichloroisocyanurate dihydrate) and trichlor (trichloroisocyanuric acid), have been added to outdoor swimming pools to stabilize chlorine residual by minimizing sunlight‐related degradation. Subsequently, in July 2001, dichlor and trichlor were approved for routine drinking water treatment under the US Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, and manufacturers have achieved NSF 60 certification for dichlor or trichlor addition to drinking water. Currently in the United States, dichlor or trichlor for drinking water use may be approved by states, tribes, or territories. One complicating factor with dichlor or trichlor is that the actual free chlorine concentration in these systems cannot be measured accurately by currently approved methods. This review summarizes the existing water chemistry associated with dichlor and trichlor use as a chlorine source in drinking water, along with the associated implications.