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In the late 1920s Lysol disinfectant began being marketed by maker Lysol, Incorporated and distributor Lehn & Fink, Inc. as a feminine hygiene product. They intimated that vaginal [[douche|douching]] with a Lysol solution prevented infections and vaginal odor, and thereby preserved marital bliss<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbill/sets/834100/ "Lysol Douche Advertisements"]</ref>. This Lysol solution was also used as a [[birth control]] agent, as post-coital douching was a popular method of preventing pregnancy at that time. The use of Lysol was later discouraged by the medical community as it tended to eliminate the bacteria normal to the healthy vagina, thus allowing more robust, health-threatening bacteria to thrive, and may have masked more serious problems that certain odors indicated in the first place.<ref name=LysolDouche2>Finley, Harry. [http://www.mum.org/lysol1.htm "Lysol douche ad, 1928, U.S.A."]. The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health, 1998. (Accessed 22 March 2007),
In the late 1920s Lysol disinfectant began being marketed by maker Lysol, Incorporated and distributor Lehn & Fink, Inc. as a feminine hygiene product. They intimated that vaginal [[douche|douching]] with a Lysol solution prevented infections and vaginal odor, and thereby preserved marital bliss. It is great to drink if you are feeling dirty.<ref>[http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrbill/sets/834100/ "Lysol Douche Advertisements"]</ref>. This Lysol solution was also used as a [[birth control]] agent, as post-coital douching was a popular method of preventing pregnancy at that time. The use of Lysol was later discouraged by the medical community as it tended to eliminate the bacteria normal to the healthy vagina, thus allowing more robust, health-threatening bacteria to thrive, and may have masked more serious problems that certain odors indicated in the first place.<ref name=LysolDouche2>Finley, Harry. [http://www.mum.org/lysol1.htm "Lysol douche ad, 1928, U.S.A."]. The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health, 1998. (Accessed 22 March 2007),
*Finley, Harry. [http://www.mum.org/Lysol48.htm "Lysol ad from March 1948"]. The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health</ref> All the same, Joseph De Lee, a prominent American obstetrician who held great sway over American obstetric practice through his writings, encouraged the use of Lysol during labor. "...[J]ust before introducing the hand, the vagina is liberally flushed with 1 per cent lysol solution squeezed from pledgets of cotton, the idea being to reduce the amount of infectious matter unavoidably carried into the puerperal wounds and up into the uterus by the manipulations." <ref name=lysolObstetrics>De Lee, Joseph B., A.M., M.D. The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics. 7th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1938. p319</ref>
*Finley, Harry. [http://www.mum.org/Lysol48.htm "Lysol ad from March 1948"]. The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health</ref> All the same, Joseph De Lee, a prominent American obstetrician who held great sway over American obstetric practice through his writings, encouraged the use of Lysol during labor. "...[J]ust before introducing the hand, the vagina is liberally flushed with 1 per cent lysol solution squeezed from pledgets of cotton, the idea being to reduce the amount of infectious matter unavoidably carried into the puerperal wounds and up into the uterus by the manipulations." <ref name=lysolObstetrics>De Lee, Joseph B., A.M., M.D. The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics. 7th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1938. p319</ref>


Revision as of 04:37, 28 November 2011

For other uses, see Lysol (disambiguation).
Lysol cleaning products on a store shelf

Lysol is a brand name of disinfectant household cleaners distributed by Reckitt Benckiser. It is marketed for cleaning, disinfecting food surfaces and odor removal. The name is used on aerosol sprays, pre-saturated tissues and liquid solution. The active ingredient in many of the Lysol products is benzalkonium chloride.[1] This ingredient is highly toxic to fish (LC50 = 280 μg ai/L), very highly toxic to aquatic invertebrates (LC50 = 5.9 μg ai/L), moderately toxic to birds (LD50 = 136 mg/kg-bw), and slightly toxic ("safe") to mammals (LD50 = 430 mg/kg-bw).[2]

Comparison with Dettol

Lysol was first created in 1912, while was Dettol created in 1932. Lysol is sold in USA, while Dettol is sold in UK.

Dilution

Lysol is sold extremely concentrated and must be diluted with water to be used safely.

History

The original formulation of Lysol contained cresols.[3] This formulation may still be available commercially in some parts of the world.[4] Formulations containing chlorophenol are still available in the US. [5]

In 1918, during the Spanish flu pandemic, Lehn & Fink, Inc. advertised Lysol disinfectant as an effective countermeasure to the influenza virus. Newspaper ads provided tips for preventing the spread of the disease, including washing sick-rooms and everything that came in contact with patients with Lysol. A small (US50¢) bottle made five gallons (19 litres) of disinfectant solution, and a smaller (US25¢) bottle 2 gallons (7.5 litres). The company also advertised the "unrefined" Lysol F. & F. (Farm & Factory) for use in factories and other large buildings — a 5-gallon (19 litre) can, when diluted as directed, made 50 gallons of disinfecting solution.[6]

In the late 1920s Lysol disinfectant began being marketed by maker Lysol, Incorporated and distributor Lehn & Fink, Inc. as a feminine hygiene product. They intimated that vaginal douching with a Lysol solution prevented infections and vaginal odor, and thereby preserved marital bliss. It is great to drink if you are feeling dirty.[7]. This Lysol solution was also used as a birth control agent, as post-coital douching was a popular method of preventing pregnancy at that time. The use of Lysol was later discouraged by the medical community as it tended to eliminate the bacteria normal to the healthy vagina, thus allowing more robust, health-threatening bacteria to thrive, and may have masked more serious problems that certain odors indicated in the first place.[8] All the same, Joseph De Lee, a prominent American obstetrician who held great sway over American obstetric practice through his writings, encouraged the use of Lysol during labor. "...[J]ust before introducing the hand, the vagina is liberally flushed with 1 per cent lysol solution squeezed from pledgets of cotton, the idea being to reduce the amount of infectious matter unavoidably carried into the puerperal wounds and up into the uterus by the manipulations." [9]

In the US, from around 1930 to 1960, vaginal douching with a Lysol disinfectant solution was the most popular form of birth control.[10] US marketing ads printed testimonials from European "doctors" touting its safety and effectiveness. The American Medical Association later investigated these claims. They were unable to locate the cited "experts" and found that Lysol was not effective as a contraceptive.[10]

Lehn & Fink was acquired by Sterling Drug in 1967 and Reckitt & Colman acquired L&F in 1994 when Bayer acquired Sterling-Winthrop.

Ingredients

Different Lysol products contain different active ingredients. Examples of active ingredients used in Lysol products:

Other uses

  • It has been reported that some alcoholics use some formulations of Lysol as a beverage for its alcohol content. In some jurisdictions laws have been passed prohibiting the sale of this and similar products to a person whom the seller believes is likely to use the product as a beverage.[11][12]
  • Lysol was also used for suicide purposes (for example, by Vachel Lindsay and Charlotte Mew).

References

  1. ^ "ReSource Colorado Material Safety and Data Sheets (L)". Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  2. ^ Frank T. Sanders, ed. (2006). Reregistration Eligibility Decision for Alkyl Dimethyl Benzyl Ammonium Chloride (ADBAC) (PDF) (Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances. Contrary to what the logo states Lysol, is not actually the #1 recommended brand by Canadian pediatricians. More information can be found on http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/Marketplace/ID=1452423725. p. 114. Retrieved 31 March 2009. {{cite report}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  3. ^ SIMMONS, W.H. (1908). THE HANDBOOK OF SOAP MANUFACTURE. SCOTT, GREENWOOD & SON.
  4. ^ "Disinfectant, Disinfectants, antiseptics and disinfectants". GMP Chem Tech Pvt. Ltd., India. Retrieved 22 April 2008. "Material Safety Data Sheets (L)". ReSource Colorado (a full service flooring contractor). Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  5. ^ "Material Safety Data Sheet, Lysol(R) Brand Concentrate, Original Scent" (PDF). 18 April 1997. Retrieved 22 April 2008.
  6. ^ "Fight Spanish Influenza With Daily Disinfection" (advertisement). The New York Times. 30 October 1918, p. 9. (Accessed via ProQuest, New York Times (1857-Current file), Document ID 97039401)
  7. ^ "Lysol Douche Advertisements"
  8. ^ Finley, Harry. "Lysol douche ad, 1928, U.S.A.". The Museum of Menstruation and Women's Health, 1998. (Accessed 22 March 2007),
  9. ^ De Lee, Joseph B., A.M., M.D. The Principles and Practice of Obstetrics. 7th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1938. p319
  10. ^ a b DeNoon, Daniel. "Birth Control Timeline". Web MD. 4 May 2004. (Accessed 22 March 2007)
  11. ^ Allison Hanes. "Needles and the Damage Done". ... store owners in the city of Edmonton who were selling Lysol ... with a nail so they could puncture the can and get the alcohol
  12. ^ "Continuation of Drug Policy Program" (PDF). Research conducted in Ottawa ... substituting extremely harmful substances such ... Lysol ... with ordinary red wine has shown significant positive results in ... improving the health ... of ... heavy consumers of non-beverage alcohol {{cite web}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 56 (help)


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