Due to schools being larger facilities — and having stretched cleaning supply budgets — many school districts rely on scented cleaners to counter a wide range of odor issues. As highlighted in the University of Mary-land study, children are particularly sensi-tive to the harsh chemicals found in many of the cleaning supplies. With childhood asthma and allergy rates on the rise, many states across the U.S. are even beginning to adopt new green clean-ing product procurement policies. States like Arizona, Maine, Kentucky and Connecticut are adopting a new “green janitorial supplies contract,” which directs public agencies to purchase supplies that reduce the use of toxic chemicals. Schools need to use eco-friendly odor management products that are 100 per-cent toxin-free and get the job done safely and effectively. Thankfully, the new eco-friendly cleaning products available today provide schools with an odor management solution that is even more effective than the chemical-based solutions used in the past. Hospitals And Quality Of Care The core mission of any healthcare facility is to provide top-quality care while allow-ing patients to have a sense of dignity and normalcy. Unfortunately, the business of saving lives and helping those in need can have some disagreeable foul odors. From the smells of urine to those associ-ated with wound care, from food waste to dirty linens, hospitals battle foul odors at every corner. These odors can cause nervousness, unease and discomfort, and must be well managed — not only for the sake of the patients, but for the staff as well. And with staffers continually challenged when it comes to providing quality care to larger quantities of patients on a daily ba-sis, dealing with foul odors should not be on the “to do” list. While it is clear an aggressive odor man-agement system is needed, using toxic chemicals in facilities where patients are already ill and working to heal is counter-productive. The combination of cleaning chemicals that simply mask odors and human-gen-erated odors can actually cause patients to feel less dignified, and can serve as a re-minder of their illnesses. Conclusions As the evidence mounts against synthetic fragrances and their impact on health, facil-ity managers need to investigate eco-friend-ly cleaning solutions in order to preserve the health of those in their buildings, especially those most vulnerable. Amanda Daluga is the national sales manager for the Fresh Wave IAQ family of natural odor eliminating products. Fresh Wave IAQ is a division of OMI Industries, which has been providing odor abatement solutions for industrial, commercial and consumer markets worldwide since 1989. www.CMMOnline.com 41
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