The current COVID-19 pandemic has shown that while vaccines, mask-wearing and social distancing are crucial in limiting the number of people with severe respiratory disease and death, keeping commonly accessed surfaces free of the virus is also highly important. This has undoubtedly put chemical disinfectants under the spotlight, beckoning all to question which disinfectants can effectively kill the virus and its rapidly emerging variants.

In response to these queries, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put together a comprehensive list of disinfectants that are capable of inactivating COVID-19 and its variants....

At the time of this writing, COVID-19 has already wreaked devastating havoc on the social fabric and livelihoods of billions of people, sending the healthcare systems of even the most developed of countries to the brink of breakdown and claiming about 4.5 million lives worldwide. Although the development of various vaccines holds the promise of transforming the pandemic into an endemic outbreak, the arrival of mutated versions of the virus such as the COVID-19 Delta variant has posed huge challenges to vaccine efficacy. For instance, despite having one of the highest vaccination levels in the world (~78% of people 12 and older fully...

In the rapidly industrializing landscape of Malaysia, the importance of proper wastewater treatment cannot be overstated. As factories continue to play a pivotal role in the country's economic growth, the responsible management of industrial effluents has become a critical concern for both environmental preservation and regulatory compliance. This article explores the significance of wastewater treatment in Malaysian factories, and the crucial role that chemicals play in that process. 

The Environmental Imperative

The impact of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater on the environment is profound and far-reaching. When...

In Malaysia's vibrant food processing industry, maintaining impeccable cleanliness is not just a regulatory obligation but a fundamental necessity for safeguarding public health and ensuring the quality of food products. The use of chemical agents to clean equipment and surfaces—such as floors, countertops, walls and even ceilings—is pivotal in this endeavor. This article explores the significance of cleanliness in Malaysian food processing plants from the standpoint of chemical cleaning, highlighting key considerations for upholding high standards in this tropical part of the world.

Regulatory Compliance in Malaysia

Adherence to...

The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus, also known as 2019-nCoV, is believed to have originated from the city of Wuhan in the Hubei province of China and has since been determined by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a public health emergency of international concern. At the time of this writing, the worldwide death toll has exceeded 360 with the number of confirmed infections at over 17,000. These numbers are set to rise significantly in the coming days and weeks. Although there is still much to learn about this new virus, it is widely acknowledged that good hygiene practices such as the frequent washing of hands with soap...