Toxic
Products
Hidden Harms in the Classroom
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Why Is Examining The Products
You Use Important?
 Commonly used products have adverse health effects,
particularly for children
 These products also have adverse effects for the
environment
 Worker health matters-both that of your custodians and
those who produce the chemicals
 There are safer, cost effective alternatives
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Why Children are More
Vulnerable To Toxins
 Hand-to-mouth behavior and
playing close to the ground
 Heavier exposures to environmental
toxins, pound for pound, compared
to adults
 Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in NYC
found Developmental processes
can be easily disrupted— “Early
windows of great vulnerability”
 Many hours spent in school with air
that is often 2-5x more
contaminated than outdoor air (US
EPA)
“Overall evidence strongly
suggests that a poor
environment in schools,
due primarily to effects of
indoor pollutants,
adversely influences the
health, performance, and
attendance of students”
–US Department of Education
report, 2004
If We Can Buy It, It Must Be
Safe, Right?
No! Products Have Unlisted
Ingredients and Unknown Dangers
 According to US EPA, of the 2,863 most commonly
used chemicals only 7% have complete toxicity
data and 43% have NO toxicity information
available
 1 of every 3 cleaning chemicals used in schools
causes environmental or health problems
(Center for a New American Dream)
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
INFORM Found That Of 250
Common Janitorial Products…
 7% Should not be used
Severe environmental and health threats
 56% Require extreme care
Blindness, severe skin damage, absorption
to internal organs
through skin
 37% Require routine care
Temporary irritation, harmful ingredients
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
High Risk Ingredients
(Department of Interior)
Acids
Caustics
Hydrochloric Acid
Phosphoric Acid
Blindness
Damages Skin
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium Metasilicate
Potassium Hydroxide
Blindness
Damages Skin
Severe irritant
Solvents
Perchloroethylene
Butoxyethanol
Ethanolamine
Toluene
HCFC-141
Cancer
Poison (absorbs through
skin, poisons liver and
kidney)
Alkyl phenol ethoxylates
Endocrine Disruption
Sodium hypochlorite
Paradichlorobenzene
Quaternary Ammonium
Chloride
Corrosive and Reactive
Cancer
Corrosive and CNS
Depressant
Surfactants
Disinfectants
Depletes Ozone Layer
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Volatile Organic
Compounds
A Simple Way to Understand: Off-Gassing
Acute Problems: Nose and Throat
Discomfort, headache, shortness of breath,
nausea, dizziness, and fatigue
Chronic Problems: Cancer, Damage to
Organs and Central Nervous System
Cleaning products are responsible for
approximately eight percent of total nonvehicular emissions of VOCs (Green
Seal).
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
1,4 dichlorobenzene
(1,4 DCB)
 Likely carcinogen (Dept. of Health and Human Services)
 New research links it to reduced lung function
(Nat’l Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
 In this study 96% of a group of 953 people had
concentrations in their blood
 Found in toilet bowel cleaners, air fresheners, paint, and
other deodorizers
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Cleaning Products as Asthma
Triggers
Nationwide 1 in 13 children have asthma, and a
study at UMDNJ found that 1 in 8 children in
New Jersey have it. Asthma is the primary factor
for school absenteeism and hospital admission
among chronic conditions.
 Janitorial workers experience the highest rates of occupational asthma,
twice the rate for other workers
(Study in American Journal of Industrial Medicine)
 An article in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found
that in four states—California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Jersey
—12 percent of work-related asthma cases were associated with exposure
to cleaning products, and 80 percent of those were new onset cases
 Even short-term exposure to cleaning agents caused asthmatic attacks (A
Study in the European Respiratory Journal)
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
The Most Toxic
Cleaners
 Acid Toilet Bowl Cleaner
 Carpet Spotter
 All-purpose Cleaner
 Floor Finish Stripper
 Baseboard Stripper
 Graffiti Remover
 Disinfectant
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Paint
 When the EPA tested the indoor air quality after a fresh paint application,
it was found that VOC levels were 1000 times higher than outside
 Petroleum-based (oil/alkyl) paints can contain up to 60% VOCs
 Water-based paints have less VOCs but no law on VOC content!
Contain biocides
 Both Latex and Oil Based Paint can contain:
heavy metals Carcinogenic (Nat’l Toxicology Program)
solvents
phthalates
Developmental and Reproductive toxin (NIEHS)
formaldehyde Nose and throat cancer, menstrual disorders (Nat’l Toxicology Program)
other carcinogenic compounds
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Environmental Impacts
 Aquatic Toxicity
 Eutrophication
 Bioaccumulative and Persistent
Chemicals
 Smog precursors
 Ozone Depleters
 Non-renewable resources
Certain chemicals from
common school products are
found in fish bile, surface
waters and breast milk
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Your Right-to-Know About
Toxins
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheets
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Let’s Examine One MSDS Sheet
3.2 POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS
Eye Contact:
Corrosive (Eye Burns): Signs/symptoms may include cloudy appearance
of the cornea, chemical burns, severe pain, tearing,
ulcerations, significantly impaired vision or complete loss of vision.
Skin Contact:
Severe Skin Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include localized redness,
swelling, itching, dryness, cracking, blistering, and pain.
Allergic Skin Reaction (non-photo induced): Signs/symptoms may
include redness, swelling, blistering, and itching.
Inhalation:
Respiratory Tract Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include cough,
sneezing, nasal discharge, headache, hoarseness, and nose and
throat pain.
May be absorbed following inhalation and cause target organ effects.
Ingestion:
Gastrointestinal Irritation: Signs/symptoms may include abdominal
pain, stomach upset, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
May be absorbed following ingestion and cause target organ effects.
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
What is It???
 A well-known brand name!
3M Brand All Purpose Cleaner &
Degreaser
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
In Summary…
 You need to proactively examine the products you
use
 Many conventional products used in schools are
linked to cancer, asthma, respiratory problems,
various organ problems, and severe irritation of the
skin
 These products are contaminating the indoor air that
every child, teacher and staff person is breathing in
nearly 9 hours a day
 The environment is also feeling the effects of these
toxins in the water, land and air
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
If We Have a Choice, Why Create
A Toxic Legacy?
Photo courtesy of The International POPs
Elimination Network
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Alternatives Do Exist!
 Green Seal Products
 GS-37 Standard for Industrial and Institutional
Cleaners. This standard deals with general-purpose,
bathroom, and glass cleaners, as well as paint that are
used in offices, institutions, warehouses, and industrial
facilities.
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Green Seal Certifies…
 No carcinogens
 Not corrosive
 Non-Toxic to humans and aquatic life
 Low VOCs, phosphorus and phthalate content
 Free of ozone depleters, heavy metals and other harmful chemicals
 Recyclable packaging
 Animal testing is discouraged
 Provided in a concentrate
 Biodegradable
 More environmentally friendly packaging
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Traditional
3M All Purpose
Cleaner/Degreaser
Green Seal
EcoPure Neutral Multi-Use
Cleaner/Degreaser
Inhalation: Respiratory Tract Irritation:
Inhalation: Hazardous inhalation is not
Signs/symptoms may include cough,
applicable, but may cause slight irritation
sneezing, nasal discharge, headache,
hoarseness, and nose and throat pain.
May be absorbed following inhalation and
cause target organ effects.
Target Organ Effects:
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Depression
Health Effects: No carcinogens, no
targeted organ effects
Skin Contact: Severe Skin Irritation:
Signs/symptoms may include localized
redness, swelling, itching, dryness,
cracking, blistering, and pain.
Skin contact: Incidental skin contact is
not expected to cause any significant
irritation.
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Aren’t Green Cleaners More
Expensive?
NO! Many are competitively priced,
and if not, there are easy ways to
keep costs down…
 Talk with current vendors to see options
within your current purchasing system
 Creative ideas—collaborative purchasing,
competitive bidding
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Recognition of Green Cleaning by
Governments
 Law in New York state making use of green cleaners
mandatory in public buildings and schools 1
 All of NJ’s state properties and authorities are now
required to purchase and utilize green cleaning
products (Executive Order #76, Governor Codey,
2006) 2
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Step 1: Understanding the
Hazards in Your School
 Create an inventory of all products in use and
complete walk-through checklist
 Retrieve MSDS data sheets on all those products
 Identify the hazards according to the data sheets and
through company
contact
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Step 2: Take Action
 Talk with your suppliers and test other suppliers to find
cost-effective green cleaning
 Test products if you wish, then purchase!
 Create guidelines for green cleaning at your school
 Incorporate those guidelines into a school policy or
resolution to institute green cleaning for the future
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Step 3: Learn Your New
Products
 Understand benefits of the product
 What is the most effective way to use them?
 Do you need to clean differently with the less toxic
products?
 Dialogue with the vendor about product
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
General Rules of Thumb
Choose and use disinfectants wisely
 Antibacterial products do not produce a "cleaner" clean.
Regular soap removes dirt and bacteria, while and a
disinfectant renders a surface sterile.
 These harsher products can be bad for septic systems,
and human health
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
General Rules of Thumb
Choose products that disclose specific
information on ingredients and
environmental claims
Ingredients to Avoid:
Corrosives
Chlorine Bleach
Ammonia
Phosphates
Petroleum Products
Fragrances
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Success Stories
 "Our two main concerns, as we explored going green
were: do the products work as well as traditional
products and what about the additional cost? [The
certified products] proved to us that the chemicals
work just as good or better than traditional cleaning
products and we are not spending any more money
to be 'green'.”
Michael Rinderknecht Business Administrator
Glen Rock Board of Education, Bergen County, NJ
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
You Did It!
 Publicize accomplishments in newsletters, local
papers, letters home to parents
 End of year report
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Further Resources
 www.chej.org
 www.environmentalhealthnews.org
 www.informinc.org
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Change Follows
Understanding
 “If the earth were your body, you would be able to feel
the many places where it is suffering. Every day,
children and adults die because of the pollution of air
and water. These things are related.” - Thich Nhat
Hanh, Buddhist Monk
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org
Questions?
P.O. Box 6806 Falls Church, VA | o 703-237-2249 |f 703-237-8389 | www.chej.org