Green Cleaning
Marie Zanowick
Environmental Protection Agency
303-312-6403
zanowick.marie@epamail.epa.gov
Marie Zanowick
Marie is a creative environmental
engineer with 25 years experience
working for the U.S. EPA. With her
background in biology, public health,
engineering and biomimicry, regulatory and facilitation, she assists
governments and industry in
developing and maintaining
sustainability management systems
as they find ways to reduce pollution
and move toward sustainability.
Green Cleaning
Tribal School Staff & Administrators will:
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understand why it is important to use green
cleaning products;
identify and select green cleaning products;
apply green cleaning techniques.
Why Green Cleaning?
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Schools house vulnerable people in heavily used,
densely occupied spaces
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One-half of our schools have problems with
indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
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Children are more
vulnerable to toxins
Region 7 Wells Band NV, EPA
Children Are at Greater
Risk from Toxic Chemicals
Children:
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eat more food
breathe more air
drink more water
play closer to the ground
engage in more hand-to mouth activity
cannot detoxify or process toxins as adults do
have rapidly developing and more sensitive systems
Cleaning Staff are at
Risk from Toxic Chemicals
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One custodial worker uses 194 pounds of
chemicals each year
25% are hazardous substances
Custodial workers experience one of the
highest rates of occupational asthma
6 of 100 are injured each year
20% are serious burns to the eyes or skin
12% result from inhaling chemical vapors
Health Impacts and
Indoor Environmental Quality
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Asthma
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Allergies and Sensitivities
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Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illnesses
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Absenteeism, Reduced productivity & Absenteeism
Routes of Entry
Inhalation
4 Absorption
4 Ingestion
4 Injection
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Cleaning, Indoor Environmental
Quality (IEQ) and Health
Ingredients in common cleaning products linked to:
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New cases of asthma and triggering asthma episodes
Harm to brain, nervous system,
reproductive organs, kidneys and liver
Irritated eyes and headaches
Breathing problems and illnesses
Disruption by acting like hormones
Cancer
The Solution:
Cleaning for Healthy Schools
Cleaning that protects public health,
without harming the health of children,
personnel and the environment.
Health First!
Cleaning for Healthy Schools Principles
1.
Keep the dirt out
2.
Use less-toxic, third-party certified, all
purpose cleaners, paper products and
hand soaps
3.
Update and maintain equipment
4.
Cleaning with all-purpose cleaners to
removes most germs - disinfect only in
target areas.
5.
Breathe easier – clean doesn't have an odor
Key Elements for
Green Cleaning of Schools
Work with the staff at your school who are responsible for
purchasing and using cleaning supplies:
1. Evaluate current cleaning problems, products, methods
2. Develop a pilot project to test 1-2 products
3. Train staff with new products/methods
4. Request feedback on how the pilot is going
5. Phase in more “green” cleaning products
Key Elements for
Green Cleaning of Schools
Once you develop a green cleaning chemical program:
1. Track success: (school nurse visits, attendance)
2. Reward staff for participating
3. Promote success to the public
4. Adopt a local district policy
5. Educate all staff on the new policy
Healthier Cleaning Solutions
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Low-odor
Less-toxic
Cost-neutral
Reduce sources of indoor pollutants
Improve Indoor Environmental Quality
Recommended by US EPA's Tools for Schools
www.epa.gov/schools
Selecting Safer Products
What to look for on an MSDS
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Volatile Organic Compounds - 1% or less
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pH between 5 – 9
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Avoid aerosols, corrosives, that cause eye or mucous
membrane damage, burn the skin
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Ingredients that cause cancer, mutations and birth
defects
Highest Risk Products
Product
Acid toilet bowl
cleaner
Carpet spotter
General purpose
cleaner
Floor finish stripper
Baseboard stripper
Problem Ingredient (s)
Health Effects
Hydrochloric acid
Burns eyes & skin
Can cause blindness
Hydrochloric acid
Poisonous
Causes cancer
Flammable
Butoxyethanol
Sodium hydroxide
Ethanolamine
Butoxyethanol
Sodium hydroxide
Ethanolamine
Butoxyethanol
Sodium hydroxide
Ethanolamine
Burns eyes and skin
Poisonous
Burns eyes and skin
Poisonous
Burns eyes and skin
Poisonous
Third Party Certifiers:
Find and Use Certified ‘Green’ Products
Ads and labels not always reliable
Rely on 3rd party certifiers to evaluate
all-purpose cleaners and other products:
– Hand soaps (not antibacterial)
– Paper products
– Chlorine-free, recycled
– Tissue & towels on large rolls
Better Cleaning Equipment
 Updated equipment to reduce particulates in air
 Dirt-grabbing walk-off mats inside and
outside entrances
 Microfiber cloths and mops
 HEPA vacuums or microfiber mops
 High-filtration vacuum attachments on
floor-care equipment
Clean for Health: Best Practices
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Keep dirt out – reduce dust by vacuuming
Leave classrooms ready to clean
Clean from the top down
Select durable easy clean flooring;
Maintain/replace carpets
Clean up spills right away
Germ Control Hierarchy
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All-purpose cleaner and friction remove most germs
Sanitize food prep areas and child care areas
Disinfectants where required and in high risk areas
Know the law and clean first
Implementation Challenges?
Teachers or children supplying cleaning products
Excessive demand for ‘disinfection’
Classrooms not ready to cleaned
Belief that green products are more
expensive or not as effective
What are challenges in your school?
Green Cleaning Revolution
We have saved a substantial amount of
money by going to green cleaning.
– Facilities Manager
I don’t have the dry throat and headache
anymore from all the odors & chemicals.
– Custodian
The use of inhalers has decreased at school.
– Nurse
My child's rashes are gone and she is
healthier during the school week.
– Parent
What are your regional
policies or issues?
Policies that requiring use of ‘green’ products?
Policies requiring IAQ/IEQ programs in
schools?
Organizations supporting safer chemical or
toxic use reduction?
Are environmental, health, parent, labor, and
education associations and advocates united?
What are next steps towards green cleaning
and chemical policy reform in your school?
For More Information
www.cleaningforhealthyschools.org
www.epa.gov/schools
Marie Zanowick
Environmental Protection Agency
303-312-6403
Zanowick.marie@epamail.epa.gov
Green Cleaning
Marie Zanowick
Environmental Protection Agency
303-312-6403
zanowick.marie@epamail.epa.gov