The Effects of Lysol on Living Bacteria Ashley Pruitt Undergraduate Student Health Science Biology concentration Department of Biology Tennessee Technological University Cookeville, TN 38505

Project Summary Problem: Does Lysol actually live up to its claim, “Kills 99.9% of bacteria,”? Objective: test effects of Lysol on bacteria. Hypothesis: fewer bacteria on the Lysol-treated objects. Null: no difference on the amount of bacteria before and after being treated with Lysol.

Project Summary (cont’d.) Goal: Prove Lysol is effective. Plans to accomplish: test items before and after being treated with Lysol. Expected Results: 1. Validate Lysol’s claim. 2. Reject Null Hypothesis.

Introduction Will there actually be no bacteria on an item after being treated with Lysol? Lysol claims to kill 99.9% of all bacteria (Lysol.com). Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) – biocide, the active ingredient in Lysol. Staphylococcus aureus has been proven to have affinity for BAK (Ahmed et al 2007). The responses of different types of microorganisms to antiseptics and disinfectants vary and result in microbiostatic or microbicidal effects (Alp 2007).

Objective/Hypothesis (null) Objective: test effects of Lysol on bacteria. Hypothesis: fewer bacteria on the Lysol- treated objects. Null: no difference in the amount of bacteria before and after being treated with Lysol.

Methods and Materials Methods: Collect samples with sterile cotton swabs Recollect samples-3 total for each Spray item with Lysol Transfer samples to TSA plates Incubate Plates for 48 hours Count bacteria and compare effects of Lysol

Methods and Materials (cont’d.) Materials: TSA plates Sterile cotton swabs Can of Lysol Items to test - reference Incubator

Methods and Materials (cont’d.) Method of Data Processing - statistics: 1) Average (mean-value) Tests 2) T-tests - assesses whether the means of two groups are statistically different from each other. Data Form. Matrix.

Expected Results and Benefits Fewer bacteria present on Lysol-treated items. Validate Lysol’s claim, “Kills 99.9% of all bacteria.” Reassure consumers of Lysol’s effectiveness. Reject null hypothesis and accept original hypothesis.

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