Healthy Building Maintenance

Americans With Disabilities Act requires employers to accommodate the needs of individuals with disabilities, including Asthma and MCS disorders, if they are otherwise capable and the accommodation does not cause undue hardship.

In a random sampling of 1582 individuals: 12.6 % reported chemical hypersensitivity. 1.8% Reported loss of employment. The study conflicts with the Chemical Manufacturers Association contention that MCS is psychogenic. Published Sept 2003 Environmental Medicine University of Georgia Study

Exposure triggers reported: Scented products and perfumes 81.2% Cleaning Products 88.4% Pesticides 81.2% Tobacco Smoke 82.6% Published Sept 2003 Environmental Medicine University of Georgia Study

Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta study finds pesticides and disinfectants in urine and blood samples of average Americans. CDC Report

Study finds disinfectants, general purpose cleaners, carpet cleaners, floor cleaners and rug shampoo ingredients in blood and urine samples of volunteers. Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Healthy Building Maintenance can be clearly defined.

Cleaning products can pose a health risk not only to cleaning staff but also to building occupants.

Cleaning staff are twice as likely to acquire work related Asthma.

Employers and building managers need to protect and consider the needs of individuals with sensitivities - now accepted as being at least 15% of the population.

CRITERIA FOR PRODUCT SELECTION No persistent, toxic or bioaccumulative chemicals No carcinogens, mutagens or teratogens No ozone depleting chemicals Low VOC’s No hazardous waste characteristics No combination cleaner / disinfectants

The Janitorial Products P2 Project (JP4) is producing a series of fact sheets on environmental, health, and safety issues.

The fact sheets are meant for individual janitorial workers, supervisors, and EH&S staff.

Fact sheets include, Toilet cleaning, Hard Floor Care, Carpet Care, Restroom Cleaning, Disinfectants and more.

Health Care Without Harm Hospitals and other health care facilities use a surprising number of highly toxic chemicals. Use safer cleaning products and less toxic disinfecting methods. Establish “fragrance-free” policies.

Adults and children with Asthma react to air pollution below what the EPA considers acceptable limits. Asthma

In the US alone, asthma accounts for: 5000 deaths per year 2,000,000 emergency hospital visits 500,000 hospitalizations Asthma

Material Safety Data Sheets: Not required to list added scents or perfumes. Not required to list Volatile Organic Compounds or concentration contained in cleaning product. Not required and do not list all ingredients. Where Can Building Owners Turn For Guidance Today to Accommodate Chemical Hypersensitivity?

Green Certified Cleaning Products : Certifying organizations are dedicated and well intentioned, but they normally do not take into consideration the requirements of chemically hypersensitive. Green Certifications include: Environmental Choice, Green Seal. Most standards allow perfumes and added scents. Most standards allow Volatile Organic Compound concentrations harmful to individuals with sensitivities. Standards allow the use of ingredients known to contaminate the indoor environment. Where Can Building Owners Turn For Guidance Today to Accommodate Chemical Hypersensitivity?

PHOSPHATESNot allowed EDTANot allowed NTANot allowed PHENOL ETHOXYLATES Not allowed ORGANIC SOLVENTNot allowed BUTYLSAllowedNot allowed ALCOHOL ETHOXYLATES (SYNERGISITIC EFFECTS) Allowed Not allowed VOC LIMITS1% after dilution10% before dilution0.05% before dilution ETHYLENE OXIDEOK Not allowed CARCINOGENSNot allowed AEROBIC BIOYes ANEROBIC BIONo ORAL TOXICITY> 2000 mg / kg > 5000mg / kg ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATIONS Not required Required Green Seal GS-37 ECP – 33 PRC Standard Comparison

PRC097(CCD1461)Cleaning Product with Low Potential for Environmental Illness and Endocrine Disruption: The only Environmentally Certified Standard in North America That addresses the needs of individuals with Chemical Sensitivities. “This category applies to cleaners designed to perform on a variety of hard surfaces,for household,institutional and/or recreational purposes,that are specifically manufactured to minimize the exposure to chemicals and allergens harmful to environmental illness sufferers and reduce the potential release of endocrine- disruptors into the environment.” Where Can Building Owners Turn For Guidance Today to Accommodate Chemical Hypersensitivity?

ECOgent General Purpose Cleaner is also Envirodesic  Certified for maximum indoor air quality and for use by environmentally hypersensitive individuals. Additional certifications and validations from Green Seal, Professional Testing Laboratory, Surface Solution Laboratory and others.

“An easy, effective and dramatic improvement can be made in the indoor air quality of any building, literally overnight, simply by changing to a safe, non-volatile cleaning agent. ECOgent General Purpose Cleaner is certified by Envirodesic  because it is the obvious first step in any building indoor air quality program.” Bruce M. Small, P.Eng., Director Envirodesic  Certification Program

No added scents or perfumes which eliminate common complaints from cleaning product odors. Our cleaning product does not contribute to the contamination of indoor air quality.

Less than 0.05 % Volatile Organic Compounds before dilution. Patented all natural cleaner widely accepted over synthetic chemicals.

Exceeds all North American requirements for municipal sanitary sewer use. Useful if your facility requires P2 Pollution Planning Thorough biodegradation under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions by whole formulation testing.

Healthy Building Cleaning means that daily building maintenance and carpet cleaning meet the needs of chemically hypersensitive individuals. Complete disclosure of all ingredients contained in ECOgent available for all building occupants.

Saves Time, Reduces Supply Cost and Reduces Liability.

It only makes sense to accommodate the needs of individuals with chemical hypersensitivity in all daily cleaning operations.