HYGIENIC SURFACE

The use of biocides in plastics is commonplace. They are added to protect the plastic itself from degradation by microbes or alternatively to provide an external antimicrobial hygienic surface. The choice of suitable test method and the appropriate biocide can be difficult, as the different ways in which biocides work will affect how they perform under certain test protocols. 

Antibacterial and hygienic surfaces are possible but there are many theoretical and not fully substantiated claims, e.g.,... 

The move away from OBPA is evident in the product lines sold by Akcros Chemicals, a company that addresses both the material protection and hygienic surface markets. Akcros sells biocides imder the Intercide name for use in PVC, polyolefins and other polymer types. Between them these products can deal with all the various types of microorganism (fungi, bacteria, yeasts). 

Provision of hygiene measures including adequate washing facilities and regular cleaning of walls and surfaces. 

Many foodstuffs are in the form of solids or processed powders, and do not offer serious corrosion problems, though mild steel equipment in infrequent use, or after washing down, can develop slightly rusted surfaces. This material is usually undesirable if it finds its way into food products. Scouring batches of dry foodstuffs is one solution to the problem if stainless steel is not used or affordable. Hygiene and cleanliness are, however, dominant factors. 

Quality systems require that facilities and equipment should be appropriate to the activities undertaken. Surfaces that are easy to clean and maintain in hygienic condition are a requirement in many situations. For example, cloth-backed chairs would not be acceptable in a laboratory that handled potentially biohazardous materials. Equipment should be checked at installation to demonstrate that it can perform its desired function. This is frequently done using an Installation Qualification, Operational Qualification and Performance Qualification (IQ /OQ/PQ) commissioning process. Routine maintenance and calibration programmes are then required to ensure that equipment continues to deliver the specified performance. 

In some situations, if good plant hygiene is not maintained, fungal spores can also become established in and around the Fourdrinier wire. These can develop into large surface colonies which can become dislodged and transfer onto the paper sheet during formation. Again, this can lead to paper sheet failure. 

Overcoming Reaction-Diffusion Limitation Surface Catalysed Hygiene... 

Perhaps the most promising future control methods are surface catalysed hygiene, where relatively innocuous treatment agents may be deployed, and biological mimicry,... 

The inclusion of the minimum label instruction might also be considered as a matter of general working hygiene for all products for which application leads to wetting of the plant surface. 

Canlas, M., Wadee, A., Lamontagne, L. and Piessens, W.F. (1984) A monoclonal antibody to surface antigens on microfilariae of Brugia malayi reduces microfilaremia in infected jirds. AmericanJournal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 33, 420-424. 

Water is an important factor in the nutrition of poultry and should be provided in sufficient amounts and quality. As a medium for vaccines, medications and other supplements, water also plays an important role. Although hens are able to drink from nipples without any problems, they prefer to drink from open water surfaces, as this matches their normal drinking behaviour. In some organic farming standards/regimes, the use of nipples is forbidden. However, open water surfaces may pose hygiene risks, as the water often becomes polluted. 

Hygienic standards for dissolved concentrations of heavy metals in surface water are shown in Table 3. 

Thorsten C,Goldbach H (2003) Determination of antibiotic residues in manure, soil, and surface waters. 3rd international conference on pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting chemicals in water. Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn... 

Wnuk M, Kelley R, Breuer G, et al. 1987. Pesticides in water samples using surface water sources. Des Moines, IA Iowa Dept, of Natural Resources and Iowa University Hygienic Laboratory. PB88-136916. 

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