The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to prompt new questions about human health in the built environment—namely, how to design spaces that help reduce exposure to pathogens, from viruses to bacteria to fungi. At the same time, the scientific knowledge about SARS-Cov-2 and the disease it causes is changing regularly.
Given the dynamic nature of the pandemic and our evolving understanding of it, we have decided to conduct a deeper analysis of our 2017 whitepaper, “Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials,� as well as our recent COVID-19 statement on the same topic. We are taking some time to evaluate newly presented scientific research on products containing antimicrobial additives, and to consider how that research might affect our position. For this reason, we have temporarily removed the white paper and its associated documents from our website; our intent is to republish updated versions of them later this summer. We believe a thorough review of new scientific data is consistent with a precautionary approach to human health. Thank you for your patience during this time.