Will Sanitizing Mists Really Protect Denver Broncos Against Covid-19 Coronavirus? – Forbes

Will a "sanitizing mist" really protect the Denver Broncos against the Covid-19 coronavirus? (Photo ... [+] by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

You may have mist it. But a video went viral on social media, showing Denver Broncos players walking through a sanitizing mist before going to practice. Here is the tweet from the Broncos complete with what appears to be a snort emoji:

Hopefully that emoji isnt snorting out the Covid-19 coronavirus.

Presumably the mist is supposed to protect against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) and is not just some kind of fragrance nectar mist to help everyone smell nice before practice. But how much protection will it really offer and whats the scientific evidence that it works and is safe?

Well, according to Lorenzo Reyes, reporting for USA TODAY, this mist was manufactured by the company SKN BioPharma. The companys website has a Science section that says, Our MicroSure products use fast-acting nano-particulate silica that prevents bacteria and virus particles from attaching to surfaces. It claims that their methods can create a chemically inert solution that can be applied harmlessly to almost any surface. The website says that the solution when sprayed on something can form a layer of crystalline structures- let's call them spikes- that penetrate the cell wall of biologically dangerous organisms, resulting in a process we call a mechanical kill.

OK, lets call them spikes then. Regardless, the website doesnt offer much verifiable scientific data to back these claims. The website offers a link to a document entitled Human Safety and The Nanotechnology Utilized by Microsure and Microbioshield Antimicrobial Solutions. However, the document appears to be written by the company. It mentions that their products were also tested by researchers at The University of Liverpool, but doesnt specify who exactly these researchers were or what their qualifications may be. For example, an English romantic novel researcher at the University of Liverpool would not be quite the same as an infectious disease researcher. A researcher with one year of experience would not the same as someone with ten years. After all, if someone had told you, a football player from Denver will be quarterbacking your team, you would want to know if that person were Broncos quarterback Drew Lock or just some person who happened to throw a toy football at a Denver-area Dave and Busters.

The website doesnt provide any documents specifically from the researchers either. There also arent any references to peer-reviewed scientific publications that include the results of any testing. It would also be helpful to see peer-reviewed scientific publications that describe how the technology was developed in the first place and scientific evidence of its mechanisms and safety.

Regarding the safety of the product, the document mentions that the following animal tests were performed, but does not specify the types of animals. This is kind of important because all animals arent the same. If your significant other told you, I brought an animal home with me, youd probably want to know if the animal were a gerbil or a rhinoceros. Plus, results from testing in other animals may not necessarily hold for humans.

The document offered very scant details about how exactly these animal safety studies were performed. For example, it says that there was no eye irritation and no skin irritation, but does not specify what and how many animals were used or who performed these experiments under what conditions. Also, how specifically was skin irritation measured? A gerbil isnt going to say, dude, my back itches.

Also how long might this layer of lets call them spikes stay on surfaces and still be able to do its mechanical kill thing? Can the layer survive the sunlight, the wind, and other outdoors conditions? How about sweat and dirt? So right now the scientific evidence behind the safety and effectiveness of this mist is dare we say mistifying. It would be helpful to see more verifiable scientific evidence thats been reviewed by reputable third parties. Im reaching out to the company to see if additional information is available and will update accordingly.

Even if this technology were to work and be safe, it isnt clear whether it would make that big a difference. After all, the lets call them spikes would only be on the players skin and not over their nostrils and mouths. They can still cough, sneeze, pant, talk, and breathe out the virus if they are infected. Such viruses can then get into other peoples nostrils and mouths since the lets call them spikes cant really block their entry.

Such a mist would not eliminate or even reduce the need for social distancing, face masks/coverings, and active cleaning of surfaces with disinfectants that appear on the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Dont make the mist-ake of trusting a disnfectant thats not on List N.

Tom Brady (12) of the Buccaneers talks with Mike Evans (13) during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Training ... [+] Camp on August 04, 2020 at the AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

It seems like social distancing could be a challenge in football. Defensive players cant quite coax a running back or quarterback to drop the the ground while staying at least six feet away. Saying excuse me, you with the ball, kindly lay down doesnt quite work. Remember Denzel Washington is about six feet tall. So, tackling a person at least one Denzel away would be tough, unless you had a really loud voice.

In general, if you are going to be able to maintain a Denzel distance from someone else, both of you need to remain in a social bubble. A social bubble is a group of people who have agreed to only mix with other and maintain behaviors that wont introduce the virus into the bubble. That means no close mixing with anyone outside the bubble, washing your hands frequently and thoroughly, and keeping everything disinfected. Choose your bubble mates carefully, because one misstep could pop the bubble and lead to an outbreak.

There are a lot of people out there making claims about products, suggesting that they can protect you against the SARS-CoV2. In all cases, check the science and the details. Is there real verifiable evidence that the product actually works and is safe to use. Who exactly did the testing and are they independent of the company? Where are the results and have they been published in peer-reviewed scientific publications? Without seeing this evidence, claims can remain quite foggy.

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Will Sanitizing Mists Really Protect Denver Broncos Against Covid-19 Coronavirus? - Forbes