Coronavirus disinfectant spray poisons Brickell Key dogs, owners say
Brickell Key residents knew something was not right about the coronavirus sanitation measures implemented at their downtown Miami island. They felt as sick as dogs — their dogs.
Dozens of condo dwellers were afflicted with stomach cramps, headaches, rashes, eye irritations and nausea. Although their pet dogs couldn’t describe their symptoms, they were clearly miserable, too.
Priscilla Colon’s 4-year-old Blenheim Cavalier King Charles spaniel, named Astro, was hospitalized after he threw up 18 times in 24 hours. The veterinarian diagnosed him with bilious vomiting syndrome.
“I’ve had pounding headaches and stomach upset coinciding with Astro’s problems,” Colon said.
But it wasn’t caused by coronavirus infection. Colon and her neighbors are convinced it was caused by coronavirus disinfection.
On March 12, the Brickell Key Master Association, which manages the island, began an outdoor “sanitation program,” spraying sidewalks, the perimeter baywalk, grassy park areas, benches and trash barrels with Virex Plus One disinfectant every morning from 5 to 7 a.m.
The treatments, applied by maintenance employees wearing hazmat suits, killed some foliage and left a pungent odor, like extreme body odor, residents said.
Within a week, residents and pets fell ill, particularly those who walk their dogs.
“I had episodes of migraines, which I hadn’t had in years. My dog had bloody diarrhea, vomiting and a definite change in behavior — he stopped wanting to go out,” said Viviana Santiesteban, who owns a black Shih Tzu named Benjie. “Twice I took him to the vet, who said there were similar cases from here. We put two and two together and suspected the spray was toxic.”
Kristen Susik said she was not only worried about her dog, a mini Whoodle (Wheaton terrier/toy poodle mix) named Maddie, but also children making chalk drawings on the sidewalks. She and her neighbors checked CDC guidelines for coronavirus cleaning that said soap and water were sufficient.
“So why start applying strong chemicals?” Susik said. “What about drainage of this stuff into the bay? They were not doing controlled spraying.”
Said Colon: “They were spraying this stuff like water, soaking everything. They started with the right intentions but they weren’t willing to listen to us about the consequences.”
Brickell Key residents complained at the main office but were assured the disinfectant was a widely used, safe product approved by the Center for Biocide Chemistries that was applied for their own good. Signs were installed and email advisories were sent telling people to avoid the treated areas from 5 to 9 a.m. The baywalk was closed March 23 in accordance with Miami-Dade County shutdown orders for public spaces.
Colon and a group of concerned neighbors sought more information on the product from its manufacturer, Diversey. The company replied that while Virex Plus One, which contains ammonium chloride, is used to kill germs and clean hard surfaces at hospitals, nursing homes, schools, hotels, apartment buildings and kennels, it is not made to be applied to porous surfaces, such as concrete, where it will dry but can’t be wiped off and will also build up beneath the surface, in gaps and between pavers. Diversey said the product is not only potentially dangerous but ineffective when used in outdoor public spaces.
“There seems to be residue buildup or overspray getting into the grass and/or crevices on or near the concrete,” Ed Meeden, a technical customer support representative at Diversey, wrote in an email responding to residents’ inquiries. “My guess is the buildup is not drying fast enough and the animals are getting into it.”
A Diversey employee from the healthcare marketing department said the product was not recommended for outdoor use.
“You can also call a poison control center, “ Larinda Becker wrote to residents. “There is a quat [quaternary ammonium compound] residue with any quat and the application is probably not necessary, nor effective.”
Virex Plus One, when diluted and used carefully according to instructions, is not hazardous, and the Brickell Key Masters Association said its employees mixed and applied it correctly.
Precautionary statements on the product label state that if not used properly it can cause burns and serious damage to the mouth, throat and stomach with accompanying symptoms of stomach pain and nausea:
“HAZARDS TO HUMANS AND DOMESTIC ANIMALS. DANGER. Corrosive. Causes irreversible eye damage and skin burns. Do not get in eyes, on skin, or on clothing. Wear protective eyewear (goggles, face shield or safety glasses), protective clothing and protective rubber or chemical resistant gloves. Harmful if swallowed or if absorbed through the skin. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco or using the toilet. Remove contaminated clothing and wash clothing before reuse.”
Complaints continued, and the association said it switched to a Clorox-based solution on April 10 when supplies of Vitrex ran out.
“We don’t believe that,” said Colon, who observed and videotaped employees in a golf cart continue the spraying program. “The symptoms didn’t change or go away after that date. Trying to get a response from management was like talking to a wall. They put the community at risk.”
Susik said she stayed away from certain areas but the smell remained strong and Maddie remained lethargic.
“They were bombarded with complaints and kept spraying,” she said.
Residents asked the county’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) for an evaluation of Brickell Key. Then the association stopped spraying. An inspection of the island and the products was conducted on May 20. In the inspector’s notes, he said he spoke with a maintenance employee and president of the island’s landscaping company, who said they had switched to wiping handrails, doorknobs and “other high traffic areas” with the bleach solution. He found no Virex in the storage room, nor any unusual odor on the island, recommended closure of the case and said his report would be forwarded to the state Department of Health and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
“The inspector did not issue any notice of violation and confirmed that there were no unusual chemical odors detected on the island,” the Brickell Key Masters Association said in a statement to the Herald on Friday. “As of May 16, the sanitation program is now solely concentrated on high touch areas, and all cleaning products are being applied by hand, rather than sprayed.
“We value our community’s input and will continue to seek their feedback as we work with local authorities to prioritize residents’ well-being during these incredibly challenging times.”
While residents are relieved that what they described as indiscriminate spraying has ceased, they are angry that it took two months. They’re worried about long-term effects.
Astro the spaniel isn’t back to normal.
“Our patient, Astro Colon was recently seen as an emergency with severe gastritis after consuming grass sprayed with Virex,” Dr. Larry Bernstein, a North Miami Beach veterinarian, wrote about his diagnosis of Colon’s dog. “He may have suffered permanent internal damage. I strongly advise against use of this product in areas where pets are walked and can consume.”
Susik described what she views as the overzealous use of disinfectant as “reckless.”
“We’re all trying to be cautious and stop the spread of COVID-19,” she said. “And they could have sent us to the hospital with other health problems — where we could have caught the virus.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2020 at 7:00 AM.
