New strains of harmful bacteria, pathogens and viruses such as SARS-CoV have led many to question the cleanliness of public bathroom facilities – particularly those in hospitals and aged care facilities where immune systems are low and the risk of transmission is high.

In recognition of this, Swedish chemicals company Perstorp has released a manufacturing compound called Polygiene. This compound, which is added to products during manufacture, releases silver ions that attach themselves to bacteria or viruses to prevent them from growing or reproducing.

Tests conducted by Milan University and China’s Military Academy of Science confirm that Polygiene kills the ‘superbug’ MRSA and the SARS virus.

As CEO of Polygiene AB, Christian von Uthmann, explains, Polygiene can be used on a wide range of products including toilets, electrical accessories, dispensers, wall coverings and floors.

“It can be used for all types of plastics, laminates and textiles. We are currently developing a coating for sanitary porcelain which has been tested on a laboratory scale with great success.

“In plastics it becomes homogenously blended into the material. When coating we more often work with concentrates, which is also the case with laminates. Textiles can be treated as a permanent treatment in the mill or laundered as an aftercare treatment.

“What’s most important is that the Polygiene solution is a ‘built in’ antimicrobial solution. Polygiene therefore lasts the lifetime of the products and does not wear off like a surface treatment.”

World-renowned Danish toilet seat manufacturer Pressalit is using Polygiene in the manufacture of a new range of toilet seats, says Thomas Mandrup, of Pressalit corporate communications.

“Since the humid environment in bathrooms provides conditions for viruses that let them survive for several days, bathroom products like toilet seats are obvious items to benefit from the aggressive effect of Polygiene.”

The first company to order the new Pressalit seat is Enware Australia, the principal distributor of Pressalit Care products throughout Australasia.

National product manager, Tim Knowles, says Enware is expecting strong interest from public health sectors.

“We envisage it being used anywhere where you’re getting a large flow of people through, for example hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and public toilets where infection control is useful.”

With such a strong worldwide concern over dangerous pathogens, Polygiene and Pressalit aren’t alone in their fight against germs.

Japanese toilet manufacturer Toto has released a new range of toilets fitted with a high-performance Double Cyclone™ Flush Engine. The rim and bowl of these toilets are coated with Toto’s SanaGloss, which seals the porcelain surface with an ionized barrier. The company says this creates a slippery, non-porous surface which repels waste and bacteria that would normally stick to the rim and bowl, meaning flushing is all that is needed to clean the toilet.