With all of the uncertainty surrounding how to manage the risk of infection from the coronavirus, it makes sense that some building products manufacturers are touting materials that they say embody antimicrobial properties. As the experts at the Healthy Building Network remind us in their recent article on this topic, antimicrobial substances are, by definition and design, substances that are toxic to certain organisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa — collectively known as microbes. Certain chemicals, nanoparticles and metals may be used as antimicrobials in everyday products, including those used to construct and finish buildings. But as HBN warns, consumer misperceptions about the efficacy of antimicrobial products have long been exploited by marketing strategists. HBN writes:
“We found that as early as 1994, the Federal Trade Commission, which polices truth in advertising, warned that consumers would be misled by such industry marketing claims. We advocated against the use of products advertised as antimicrobial because we found no evidence that they provide human health protection and the added chemicals can cause harm. Today, our conclusions remain the same. There is no evidence that the addition of antimicrobials to building products lowers the rate of infection, or that they lead to a healthier population.”