The rates of allergies, asthma, and cancer have all climbed over the past several decades. Researchers are looking closely at one contributing factor: the chemicals in the products used to clean our buildings.
The trend is clear
Cancer incidence increased 25% from 1973 to 1998. Asthma rates have risen 50% over the past two decades. An estimated 15% to 30% of Americans now experience multiple chemical sensitivity, a condition that didn't have a name a generation ago.
These trends coincide with the massive expansion of synthetic chemical use in commercial and household cleaning products over the same period. Correlation doesn't prove causation, but the research connecting chemical exposure to these conditions continues to grow.
How the exposure works
Mass-produced cleaning products contain petroleum-derived synthetic chemicals. When used or stored, these products release fumes through a process called off-gassing. The fumes are often colorless and odorless, so building occupants don't realize they're being exposed.
In sealed commercial buildings with recirculated air systems, these chemicals don't dissipate. They accumulate. When different chemicals mix in the air, the resulting compounds can be more hazardous than the individual products alone.
Children are particularly vulnerable. Their smaller body mass means proportionally greater chemical exposure, and their developing immune and respiratory systems are less equipped to process these substances.
What facility managers can do
You can't reverse a national health trend. But you can control the chemical environment inside your building. Green cleaning products that are EPA-approved and free of the most harmful synthetic compounds eliminate the primary source of chemical off-gassing in your space.
Combined with HEPA filtration and microfiber systems, a green cleaning program reduces the allergens, irritants, and chemical compounds that contribute to the very conditions driving these statistics.
Delta Janitorial Systems manages green cleaning programs across DFW. Schedule a free walkthrough and take the chemicals out of your cleaning program.