Cleaning jobs linked to asthma risk

A new study has found strong evidence for a link between cleaning jobs and risk of developing asthma.

Researchers at Imperial College London tracked the occurrence of asthma in a group of 9,488 people born in Britain in 1958. Not including those who had asthma as children, nine per cent developed asthma by age 42. Risks in the workplace were responsible for one in six cases of adult onset asthma – even more than the one in nine cases attributed to smoking, according to the analysis.

There are many occupations that are thought to cause asthma. In this study, 18 occupations were clearly linked with asthma risk, four of which were cleaning jobs and a further three of which were likely to involve exposure to cleaning products.

Farmers, hairdressers, and printing workers were also found to have increased risk, as previous studies have reported. Farmers were approximately four times more likely to develop asthma as an adult than office workers.

Besides cleaning products, flour, enzymes, metals, and textiles were among materials in the workplace identified in the study as being linked to asthma risk.

The study was led by Dr Rebecca Ghosh at the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London. Dr Ghosh said: “This study identified 18 occupations that are clearly linked with asthma risk, but there are others that did not show up in our analysis, mainly because they are relatively uncommon. Occupational asthma is widely under-recognised by employers, employees and healthcare professionals. Raising awareness that this is an almost entirely preventable disease would be a major step in reducing its incidence.”

The study, published in the journal Thorax, was funded by Asthma UK and the Colt Foundation.

Malayka Rahman, Research Analysis and Communications Officer at Asthma UK, said: "This research has highlighted a new group of people, specifically those working in occupations related to cleaning, such as cleaners or home-based personal care workers, who may have developed adult onset asthma due to exposure to chemicals they work with on a daily basis. We advise anyone who works in the industries highlighted in this study and who have experienced breathing problems to discuss this with their GP, and we urge healthcare professionals to make sure they consider possible occupational causes in adult onset asthma and tailor their advice to people with asthma accordingly."

Toxic fumes affect unlikely companies

Chemical fumes exposure can lead
to headaches, nausea and shortness of breath

Indoor air quality has become increasingly important in the workplace as companies have come to understand how poor indoor ventilation can affect work performance.

Over the past two weeks, three American companies have been hit with various chemical scares leading to several employees falling sick. 

A contractor for the Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico cleaned the handrails in the caves one night.  When employees arrived at work the next day, the product’s fumes were still so powerful that employees fell ill, leading to the closure of the caves for two days. 

In Florida, a mortgage company had to evacuate its 12 employees from the offices after people started complaining of headaches and scratchy throats. The culprit? Cleaning products. A Tampa HAZMAT team determined that the chemicals for the cleaning products were mixed at too concentrated a level.

In Hawaii, a United States Postal Service employee was sent to the hospital after experiencing shortness of breath and nausea. He had handled a parcel which contained a chemical that had leaked through the box. Tests indicated the chemical is often used to make cleaning products. 

Source: The Associated Press, Fox 13, HawaiiNewsNow

Protecting your employees

Even companies that do not produce chemicals use them for regular cleaning. When dealing with closed spaces, it is particularly important to have good ventilation.  Putting your employees at risk leads to more work-related absenteeism and possible serious injury.

The first thing companies should invest in is a different selection of cleaning agents. Cleaning products are made with various chemicals, such as xylene, toluene and phenol and side effects can range from headaches to death. Using more green products will help avoid workplace chemical exposure.

Having an air cleaner in areas where chemicals are mixed or used is strongly suggested. For situations such as in the Carlsbad Caverns, an air cleaner should be left on overnight after chemical application. Office kitchens, where chemicals might be mixed, should also have an air cleaner to help mitigate chemical fumes as well as kitchen odors.  

The 5000 series is ideal for office spaces

Electrocorp’s 5000 series contains an 18 pound carbon filter, a medical-grade HEPA filter and its wheels make it easily maneuverable. Check out our air cleaners for offices for more details.

Would you like to speak to one of our IAQ experts? Call us toll free at 1-866-667-0297 or write us on our website.

Have you had a chemical scare at work? Share your stories with us!

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Cleaning services: Is greener also healthier?

Cleaning products may contain irritating
chemicals and toxins.

When it comes to cleaning homes and buildings, those employed in cleaning services used to take the brunt of fumes and chemicals emitted by commercial cleaning products – and started feeling the health effects.

Caustics or solvents that are often found in common household cleaning products can cause health effects such as headaches, irritation to the eyes, nose or throat and more. 

Irritating chemicals are found in oven cleaners, drain cleaners, scouring powders and bleach, for example.

Long-term exposure to some solvents may cause liver and kidney problems, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and cancer. Solvents can be found in furniture polish, silver cleaner, paint remover and wood floor wax, among other products.

Fortunately, a growing industry trend towards greener, non-toxic products may help cleaning businesses protect not only their own workers, but also their clients’ family members, pets and homes or offices.

Cleaning services using organic products report that their workers’ symptoms have all but disappeared and that a growing number of clients are asking about the toxicity of products that are used.

Source: News-Press

Air cleaners for offices, homes and other buildings

The use of organic, non-toxic cleaning products will contribute to better indoor air quality, but pollutants also come from building products and finishing treatments, electronic devices, personal care products, air “freshening” products and many other sources.

Better ventilation may help, but existing HVAC systems often can’t provide the required fresh air exchanges.

This is why Electrocorp has designed portable and powerful air cleaners for offices, homes and other buildings and workplaces.

The air cleaners feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, allergens, mold, bacteria and viruses.

Contact Electrocorp for more information.

Attention, building managers: Clean has no scent

Synthetic chemicals in cleaning products can affect
building occupants' health and well-being.

Many people and workers identify a clean room or building with a “fresh” scent, especially when it comes to washrooms, lobbies, cafeterias and general office and classroom areas.

But the fragrances used in many scented products contain a wide range of potentially harmful chemicals.

In addition, a growing number of people suffer from allergic-type reactions when exposed to these fragrances. Those with sensitivities have reported respiratory problems, nausea and other health effects.

A clean building is a must – but overpowering scents such as floral, lemon or pine are not, no matter what advertising spots and the media will have us believe.

Products that clean without leaving a fake scent are also often better for the environment and just as effective for cleaning purposes.

No scent cleaning products are now much more common, meaning they won’t be too costly to use (plus, buying in bulk helps to offset costs, too).

Facility management experts have compiled a list of steps to go from chemical hazards to a scent-free policy:

1. Draft a No Scent Policy: The policy should involve a number of key managers, human resource staff and health and safety employees. For a sample policy, go to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.
     
2. Open communication channels with building occupants: Everyone should be aware of the policy and the reasons behind it. This can be done with brochures, flyers, newsletters, presentations or other processes.
     
3. Set a realistic deadline: Building managers will need time to remove fragrance dispensers in rooms, research no scent cleaning products and train the cleaning staff in how to use the new products.
     
4. Make a list of approved unscented cleaning products available. This will avoid confusion as to what is and isn’t allowed in the building.
    
5. Put up signs that alert building occupants and visitors that the building is now scent-free.
     
6. Anticipate complains and concerns. Make a plan on how to deal with non compliant building occupants.

Source: Wood Wyant Sanitation Solutions

Control odors and indoor air pollutants with portable air cleaners

Cleaning chemicals are a major culprit for indoor air pollution, so switching over to scent-free, greener alternatives will go a long way in reducing exposure for workers.

The air in office buildings and other workplaces often still contains airborne chemicals and contaminants from building materials, electronic equipment, printer ink, paint fumes, dust, mold, bacteria and viruses.

That is why Electrocorp has developed powerful portable air cleaners for facility management, office buildings, office printers and other industrial and commercial applications.

The air cleaners feature a highly effective activated carbon + HEPA filtration system that can remove irritating chemicals, gases, odors, fumes, bacteria, viruses, mold, particles, allergens and more.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and available options.

Schools can benefit from green cleaning practices

Advantages include reduced costs, improved indoor air quality and various health benefits

Harsh chemicals should not be
used in schools, experts say.

With many schools buying into the non-toxic approach when it comes to cleaning, the pungent smells of chlorine and ammonia may soon be a thing of the past.

Green cleaning practices are in vogue, advocating the use of less toxic chemicals and fragrances, using smaller amounts of basic cleaners (such as hydrogen peroxide) and maximizing the cleaning power of plain old water and microfiber cloth.

These new cleaning methods will not only bring better indoor air quality but also turn out to be less costly, administrators say.

Fewer chemicals to purchase means costs are lower and the reduced chemical exposures also have been linked to health benefits for students and staff, including reduced asthma symptoms.

Custodial workers sometimes need some additional training in green cleaning methods because they are relying less on harsh chemicals and heavy scents.

When new schools are built or old ones renovated, administrators can further help with improved indoor air quality by choosing the right building materials and furniture that won’t off-gas as many volatile organic compounds.

Carpet is not a great idea in schools because it is difficult to keep clean and can trap dust and chemicals. Newer models may be better, but other flowing choices may be preferable.

Other than associating the smell of harsh cleaning chemicals with cleanliness, custodians are now aiming to make sure the air inside smells as fresh as the air outside (if the school is not located in a very polluted or traffic-jammed area…)

Source: Athens Banner-Herald

Better air a must in schools

Green cleaning practices and other source control methods are great starting points for better indoor air quality in schools, which has been linked to improved student performance, less absenteeism and other health benefits.

Better ventilation and air cleaning provide other ways to improve the air quality. Ventilation can be improved by opening windows regularly and maintaining the ventilation system properly.

When it is not possible to open windows or if there is an issue with certain VOCs or chemicals, portable filtration systems in classrooms can help provide cleaner air and keep pollutants to a minimum.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s air cleaners for schools and universities or contact us today.
  

Facility management: Use less toxic products for industrial and commercial cleaning purposes

Commercial cleaning involves more than slipping
hazards: Harmful chemicals may affect the air quality.

Retail stores, offices, laboratories, manufacturing facilities and other types of commercial spaces often need a good scrubbing – but the type of cleaning products can have an effect on the indoor air quality as well as the health and well-being of the employees or visitors.

Standard commercial cleaning products fall in the harsh chemical category, meaning they contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can become airborne and inhaled by building occupants.

They can not only contribute to poor indoor air quality and affect the people’s health, they can also be harmful to the environment and pollute groundwater.

It may be a better, safer and more cost-effective idea to go for greener industrial cleaning products.

A non-profit organization dedicated to setting standards for eco-friendly products/services/companies, Green Seal has established requirements for cleaning service providers, including in-house and external cleaning services, to create a green cleaning program that protects human health and the environment.

There are many ways facility managers and cleaning service providers can become greener.

• Cleaning products: Opt for environmentally friendly, green cleaning products whenever possible (general-purpose, floor, bathroom, carpet and all other types of cleaning agents).
• Chemical safety: Products with harsh chemicals need to be diluted properly, cleaners need to be trained properly and it’s a great idea to slowly phase out cleaning chemicals that may pose a risk to human health.
• Bulk purchasing: Liquid hand soap, paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning cloths and agents can be bought in large quantities to save on costs and packaging in the long run.
• Sanitation and disinfection: Use EPA-registered products for special areas that need disinfecting or sanitizing.
• Communicate: Good communication between cleaning personnel, facility managers and others involved is key to a safe and functional green cleaning program.

Source: Mother Nature Network, Green Seal guidelines


Reduce chemical pollutants in your facility

Electrocorp air filtration systems provide simple, cost-effective solutions to meet and exceed regulations and enhance a property’s environmental initiatives.

Our wide range of air cleaners feature advanced, proven technologies including deep-bed activated carbon, medical-grade HEPA and UV filtration to treat airborne chemicals, gases, odors and particles.

Using an industrial-strength filtration system at strategic points in the building can have a profound effect on the indoor air quality, reported health symptoms or complaints and perceived irritants.

Find out more about Electrocorp’s air cleaners for facility management or contact one of our IAQ specialists at 866-667-0297 for more information.
  

Police officer dies after breathing toxic cleaning chemicals

A Chicago policeman died after exposure to toxic
cleaning, chemicals, an autopsy report says.

The case of a Chicago police officer, who died after accidentally inhaling noxious fumes from a cleaning product sprayed at his workplace, serves as a stark reminder of how toxic certain chemicals can be.

The 42-year-old officer succumbed to a pneumonia-like illness a few weeks after the product was used on his desk.

In the weeks leading up to his death he was treated for breathing problems at the hospital and at home.

The chemical makeup of the cleaning product is not known, according to an article by the Associated Press, but an investigationhas been opened under the Illinois occupational safety and health plan for public employees, sources said.

Family members say he had never before suffered from breathing problems.

The officer’s death has been ruled an accident, but many people are demanding answers about the chemicals that could cause such dangerous breathing problems.

Clean the indoor air at the workplace

Employers everywhere are realizing the importance of healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) when it comes to workers’ health, well-being and productivity.

IAQ can be compromised by VOCs and harmful chemicals from cleaning products, building materials, electronic devices, inks and office printers, personal care products and scented products.

Electrocorp's RAP Series:
Portable, small-footprint air cleaners

Many buildings do not have a proper ventilation system for the number of people there and employees may react to mold, biological contaminants such as bacteria, and viruses as well as high dust levels and particulate matter.

Electrocorp offers a wide range of industrial air cleaners to treat these indoor air problems. With a powerful carbon + HEPA filter system, these air cleaners can remove chemicals, odors, particles and pathogens from the ambient air.

Electrocorp offers cleaners of all sizes and different designs – choose from portable, small-footprint units, HVAC-compatible air scrubbers and specialized air cleaners with features such as source capture attachments, negative air configuration, reverse flow and more.

Contact Electrocorp for more information, or visit our website: www.electrocorp.net