Monday, November 29, 2010

Report links cleaning agents to disorders

HARRISBURG, PA – Cleaning compounds and pesticides are among the chemicals listed in a report linked to developmental disabilities, including behavioural and learning disabilities.

The Clean Water Fund and Physicians for Social Responsibility released May 11 “In Harms W,” a study of lead, mercury, cadmium, and manganese; pesticides; dioxins and PCBs; solvents used in gasoline, glues and cleaning solutions; and nicotine and alcohol.

The report found that one million children in the United States now exceed the accepted level above which lead affects behaviour and cognition. The report also found that over 80 percent of adults and 90 percent of children in the United States have residues of one or more harmful pesticides in their bodies.

“it is critical that we understand and, as a matter of public policy, address the impactof these neurotoxic chemicals on developmental and learning disabilities,” says Dr. Ted Schettler, a practicing physician and one of the report’s co-authors. “The urgency of this issue is underscored by the dact that between 5 percent and 10 percent of school children in America have learning disabilities, and at least an equivalent amount have ADHD,” (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

The concerns raised by this report suggest the need for a new precautionary approach that protects the health of future generations by reducing exposure to these neurotoxicants, says Robert Wendelgaa, Pennsylvania director of Clean Water Fund.

One place we can start is by passing state legislation that would reduce the use of pesticides in our schools, making sure that the school environment doesn’t put our children in harm’s way.”

Copyright 2000 National Tradre Publications, Inc.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Scented products emit harmful chemicals: study

Some Toxic and possibly carcinogenic substances are not listed on the label

The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday November 9, 2010 – By Wendy Koch

Popular scented products – including those claiming to be “green” – Emit chemicals not listed on the label, including some considered toxic and possibly carcinogenic, a study says.

Each of the 25 tested products emitted at least one chemical classified as toxic or hazardous under U.S. law, and 11 gave off at least one chemical listed as a possible carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to the study published online in the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review.

Lead author Anne Steinemann, a civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of Washington, says her study is the first to look at fragranced products.

The products emitted a total of 133 chemicals, about 17 each. But only ethanol was listed on labels. Manufacturers are not required to list ingredients in fragrances. A bill pending in the United States Senate would require it.

Half of the products tested made claims about being “green, organic or natural,” but “they emitted just as many toxic chemicals,” Steinemann said.

The study analyzed top-selling air fresheners, laundry products including detergents, and personal-care products such as soaps and cleaning products. It does not disclose brand names. “We don’t want to give people the impression that if we reported on product ‘A’ and they buy product ‘B,’ they’re safe,” said Steinemann. “The whole class is problematic.”

The researchers placed a sample of each product in a closed glass container at room temperature and tested the air for volatile organic compounds. Because product formulations are proprietary, they couldn’t determine whether a chemical came from the product base, the added fragrance or both.

The most common chemical was citrus-scented limonene, which Steinemann says can mix with air to create formaldehyde. Also emitted from at least half were three chemicals classified as toxic: pine-smelling alpha–pinene; ethanol; and acetone, a solvent in nail polis remover. “Yes, it’s low-level exposure, but low levels add up,” she said, adding the EPA sets no safe limit for many of the chemicals detected.

The International Fragrance Association North America says the report “unnecessarily alarms the public with insinuations of danger.” It says most materials can be toxic in high concentrations. The study does not discuss health effects, but two national surveys last year by Steinemann found 20 percent of people reported health problems from air fresheners; 10 per cent from laundry products. Complaints were twice as common in people with asthma. She suggests people clean with vinegar and baking soda, open windows for ventilation and use unscented products.

McClatchy – Tribune Newspapers

Monday, November 15, 2010

There is no greener way of cleaning and disinfecting than using only Tap Water

Study: Misleading Green Claims in 95% of Home/Family Products
Cleanlink News October 29 2010

More than 95 per cent of consumer products claiming to be green are committing at least one of the “sins” of greenwashing, according to The Sins of Greenwashing: Home and Family Edition, released by TerraChoice, an environmental marketing company. The study also finds big box retailers stock more “green” products and more products that provide legitimate environmental certifications than smaller “green” boutique-style stores. Greenwashing is defined as the act of misleading consumers about the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. The 2010 study reveals that greenwashing has declined slightly since 2009, with 4.5 per cent of products now “sin-free”, compared to only 2 per cent in 2009. The study also finds that marketers and product manufacturers are getting better, with greenwashing down among those who have been focused on environmentally preferable practices longer than others. The proportion of “sin- free” products is five times greater in “mature” categories like building, construction and office products than in “immature” categories like toys and baby products. “We found 73 per cent more ‘green’ products on the market today than in 2009,” said Scott McDougall, President, TerraChoice. “This is great news and it shows that consumers are changing the world by demanding greener goods and that marketers and manufacturers are taking note.” The TerraChoice study, the third since 2007, surveyed 5,296 products in the U.S. and Canada that make an environmental claim. Between March and May 2010, TerraChoice visited 19 retail stores in Canada and 15 in the United States. “The increase from just 2 per cent to 4.5 per cent may seem small, but we see it as early evidence of a positive and long lasting trend,” said McDougall. “We are also pleased with the finding that those home and family product categories that are more mature have less greenwashing and more reliable green certification.” Product categories studied in the 2010 report include baby care products, toys, office products, building and construction products, cleaning products, house wares, health and beauty products, and consumer electronics. “’Greenwashing’ is an issue that touches many industries, and education and awareness play a key role in helping to prevent it,” said Stephen Wenc, President, UL Environment. “We’re hopeful that the trends and tips identified in this study will help our business partners confidently and appropriately share their environmental achievements with their consumers.”

Monday, November 8, 2010

Study Reveals Germiest Hot Spots at School

Cleanlink News October 21 2010

In the cafeteria, the biggest threat may not be the kid that wants to eat your French fries or what is truly inside a hotdog. A recent study conducted by Dr. Charles Gerba and the University of Arizona in a K-12 school system found that the germiest place at school is the cafeteria table.

Researchers from the University of Arizona swabbed classrooms and common area surfaces at six schools in a K-12 school system to determine the relative numbers of total heterotrophic bacteria and coliform bacteria on frequently touched hard, non-porous surfaces.

In addition to the cafeteria table, the most contaminated sites include:
• the computer mouse, which harbored nearly twice as many bacteria than desktops
• the bathroom paper towel handle
• water fountain
• bathroom sink faucets
• library table
• computer keyboard.
Of the top eight most contaminated surfaces out of twelve sampled in the schools, six were in common areas demonstrating the need for a joint prevention effort among teachers, students and other school personnel.
Each day, about 55 million students and 7 million staff attend the more than 130,000 public and private schools in the United States(1) – in fact, more than seven in 10 children (38 million) of school-aged children (aged 5-17 years) in the United States missed school in the past 12 months due to illness or injury(2).
"Some bacteria, are capable of causing infections and tend to collect on frequently touched surfaces – particularly in areas where there is a lot of hand-to-mouth contact like the cafeteria table," explains Dra. Aliza Lifshitz, internist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and editor of VidaySalud.com. "To help your children minimize the spread of germs, encourage them to wash their hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand rub, especially when sharing school supplies or taking turns using the computer."
Dr. Aliza has the following suggestions to help keep a cleaner classroom:
• Disinfect hot spots: Even if a classroom starts out clean, germs can – and do – build up all day. In fact, evidence of Influenza A virus was found on 13.6% of swabbed surfaces in the morning and jumped to about 50% by the afternoon(3). That's why teachers should implement a routine of frequently disinfecting germ hot spots in the classroom, like desktops and doorknobs, with disinfecting wipes, as directed. This can help supplement what the custodian is already doing.
• Arm them with the right tools: Parents should consider bringing teachers hand sanitizer or canisters to help make clean-up easier.
• Avoid Touching Surfaces in the Bathroom: Parents should teach kids to use paper towels to press the flush lever on the toilet and when turning water faucets on and off. If there are lids on the toilets, kids should learn to put them down before flushing.
• Walk the walk at home: children may be bringing more than just homework home to their families. That's why it is important for parents to adopt the same routines at home, such as wiping down frequently-touched surfaces like the remote control, countertops, phones and light switches.

(1) CDC. Guidance for School Administrators to Help Reduce the Spread of Seasonal Influenza in K-12 Schools during the 2010-2011 School Year. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.htm. 2010.
(2) CDC. Summary Health Statistics for U.S. Children: National Health Interview Survey, 2008.
(3) University of Arizona workplace study, Fall 2005, Dr. Charles P. Gerba Unpublished
SOURCE Clorox

Monday, November 1, 2010

Cover Story - Quirky stuff

Toronto Star – Saturday March 31, 2007
Shelly Sanders Greer – Special to the Star


Funky flooring, speakers tucked away in the wall and a sensitive toilet fan – meet a few home goodies that are oddly practical.

They may be quirky household items, but they’re also useful.
I didn’t set out to find a toilet fan or invisible speakers at the recent Metro Home Show. And I didn’t go looking for flooring that looks like it should be hanging on the walls of a modern art gallery.
But these products, with their unusual appeal and functions, were hard to miss. And when I looked more closely at them, I found they were actually quite practical.


Toilet Fan
The Panfan is a product that gets right to the heart of what can be a big problem – toilet odours. It attaches to the toilet. With a fan that draws air from the rim holes, odours are removed.
Manfred Dietrich, owner / general manager of Intersteam Technologies, the Hamilton based business that distributes the Panfan, says this product not only gets rid of odours, it also creates a healthier environment with the elimination of airborne spores.
“The hospitality industry as well as residential consumers are interested in this product, especially with the consciousness of public hygiene being much higher today than in the past,” Dietrich says.

Dietrich explains that when the automatic sensor senses an occupant, it sends a signal to engage the Panfan. The fan draws air up through the ports from the bowl and sucks the air out of the bowl. This air moves up into the tank through a charcoal filter. The sensor then recognizes the absence of the occupant and shuts off the fan.
The Panfan also means ceiling fans and deodorizers are not required. This can even help lower your energy bills as Dietrich says “ceiling fans use a lot more power than the Panfan and they remove heated air from homes. The Panfan directly targets odour, is energy-efficient and creates a healthier environment.”

There are two Panfan models available: the Plug-in version which can be wired in for $169; and a battery model, which costs $209 and includes the battery and charger.

For More information call 1-800-281-4413 or visit www.intersteam.com .