Glycol vapors—specifically propylene glycol (PG), dipropylene glycol (DPG), and triethylene glycol (TEG)—are abundant, widely used compounds found in everyday products from cosmetics to food to theatrical fog. Manufactured at industrial scales and used for decades in consumer applications, these compounds also possess powerful antimicrobial properties when vaporized into indoor air.

Blueprint Biosecurity is currently exploring glycol vapors as a neglected but promising emergency tool for airborne disinfection. At invisible and odorless concentrations, glycol vapors have been shown to rapidly inactivate a wide range of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In a severe disease outbreak where conventional tools like PPE and ventilation may be insufficient, glycols could offer a rapidly deployable, low-cost, and minimally disruptive layer of protection, especially for safeguarding critical infrastructure operations.

In 2025, we launched an effort to rigorously evaluate glycol vapor efficacy, safety, and real-world feasibility. Our goal is to ensure that, should the need arise, public health authorities have a fully vetted option ready to bolster indoor air defenses against emergency biological threats.

We invite researchers, policymakers, and technologists interested in our work on glycol vapors to check our Requests for Proposals page for open calls for glycol vapors research or contact us at info@blueprintbiosecurity.org.