Cleaners, Pesticides, and Fragrances: Global Overview

Despite their role as places of healing, health care institutions use a surprising number of highly toxic chemicals on their premises, including pesticides, cleaners, disinfectants and fragrance chemicals. As these chemicals vaporize, they contribute to poor indoor air quality, which has been identified as one of the top environmental risks to public health.

Patients are particularly vulnerable to indoor air quality threats, as many have compromised respiratory, neurological or immunological systems and/or increased chemical sensitivities. The U.S. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospital Organizations (JCAHO) has also expressed concern over the growing number of respiratory problems among health care workers.

The good news is that health care facilities can manage pests and provide a clean and sanitary environment without the use of toxic chemicals.

Health Care Without Harm is working with hospitals to choose safer cleaning products and less toxic disinfection methods, and to adopt integrated pest management and fragrance-free policies that improve indoor air quality and promote health.

For detailed information on this topic, in addition to tools and resources, select your region of the world from the links at the top of this page.