SHORT COMMUNICATION
Application of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) for surface disinfection in waste sorting and sewage treatment plants: a pilot study
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Central Institute for Labour Protections – National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland
(Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Laboratory of Biohazards)
Online publication date: 2026-03-04
Corresponding author
Marcin Cyprowski
Central Institute for Labour Protections – National Research Institute, Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Laboratory of Biohazards, Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warsaw, Poland
HIGHLIGHTS
- Biocidal effectiveness of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) depended on the active chlorine concentration used.
- Slightly acidic electrolyzed water showed the strongest biocidal activity against bacterial microorganisms.
- Silver nanoparticles additive did not improve the disinfection efficiency of SAEW.
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of surface disinfection using slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW),
concerning microorganisms detected in organic dust at a municipal waste sorting plant (WSP) and a sewage treatment plant (STP). Material and Methods: Five sampling sites were selected at each facility. Four disinfectants used in the tests included: SAEW solutions with active chlorine concentrations
of 100 mg/l and 300 mg/l; a mixture of SAEW (100 mg/l) and silver nanoparticles (25 mg/l); and a commercially available disinfectant,
a mixture of alcohols. Surface swab samples were collected to evaluate microbial contamination and compare bacterial and fungal levels after disinfection. Results: Analysis of the control samples (with no disinfectant application) revealed significant microbiological contamination of the surface
tested. The tested disinfectants showed varying effectiveness against the microorganisms under study. For the aerobic and anaerobic bacteria,
the highest decrease in concentrations was achieved when SAEW (300 mg/l) was applied. For the sampling sites in WSP, the log reduction
values (LRV) were 2.32 and 1.99, respectively. For samples from the STP, the LRVs were 2.57 and 2.42. The most significant decrease in fungal concentration
was induced by a commercial disinfectant made from a mixture of alcohols. For the samples collected at WSP, the LRV was 2.06, while for
those from STP, it was 0.95. The lowest biocidal effectiveness was found for the preparation consisting of a mixture of SAEW and silver nanoparticles,
for which the LRV values did not usually exceed 1.00. Conclusions: The results indicate that SAEW can be a promising alternative to the traditional
alcohol-based disinfectants in occupational environments contaminated with organic dust. However, more comprehensive project should be
conducted that would include a wider variety of work surfaces to be tested and a broader range of active chlorine concentrations. Int J Occup Med
Environ Health. 2026;39(1)