The story of the Sambhavna Clinic, a non-profit holistic health clinic in Bhopal, India, built to treat those injured by the Union Carbide toxic gas release in 1984. enlarge video
HCWH's co-founder Gary Cohen is a recipient of the prestigious Skoll Award. This video, chronicling the evolution of HCWH's work, premiered at the 2009 Skoll World Forum. enlarge video
Tools and Resources
Chemical Exposure and Occupational Hazards
- EWG Survey links chemical exposures on the job to diseases in nurses
- Common substances in hospitals may cause asthma, says an HCWH report. See the press release and the report (pdf)
- For more information about the science linking chemical exposures and chronic disease, see Safer Chemicals
Pesticides
Take Action
- Healthy Hospitals: Controlling Pests Without Harmful Pesticides (pdf)
This joint report with HCWH and Beyond Pesticides details the results of a survey of hospital pesticide use and provides guidance on safer pest management practices, 11/03
- Integrated Pest Management for Schools: A Catolog of Resources (pdf 15MB)
This report by the University of Florida contains a wealth of information, including technical material, that is applicable to health care facilities.
Sites for More on IPM and Pesticide Alternatives
Sites for More on Health and Environmental Impacts of Pesticides
- Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
- Pesticide Action Network of North America
- Extoxnet's Pesticide Information Profiles
Cleaners
Fact Sheets
- Cleaning Chemical Use in Hospitals (pdf)
Chemical use in hospitals contributes to poor air quality and has been implicated in the increase of worker respiratory ailments such as asthma and RADS. Health Care Without Harm, October 2001
- 10 Ways to Find Safer and Greener Cleaners (pdf)
Glowing customer endorsements or pictures of animals and the use of the color green on a label does not mean that a product is safe. Educate yourself by following these ten tips.
Reports
- Cleaning for Health: Products and Practices for a Safer Indoor Environment, Report and Toolkit. INFORM, Inc., 8/02
Take Action
- Sustainable Hospital Project database of alternative products that reduce environmental and occupational hazards
- Green Seal Environmental Standard for Cleaners used for Industrial and Institutional Purposes (pdf)
- Safe Cleaning Products Initiative,
by Women's Voices for the EarthThe Safe Cleaning Products Initiative is a national effort intended to reduce women's exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaning products.
- Procuring Greener Cleaners, State of Minnesota
Disinfectants
- 10 Reasons to Eliminate Glutaraldehyde, Sustainable Hospitals Project, 10/01 (pdf)
- Glutaraldehyde: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals, on website of Centers for Disease Control National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Take Action
- Glutaraldehyde Control in Hospitals, Sustainable Hospitals Project
- Replacing Ethylene Oxide and Glutaraldehyde, Environmental Protection Agency (pdf)
Fragrance Chemicals
Reports
- Common Substances in Hospitals May Cause Asthma: HCWH report (pdf) Read the press release
- Not Too Pretty: Fragrance, Phthalates and the FDA (pdf)
Health Care Without Harm report finds hazardous phthalates in more than 70% of personal care products tested
- Pretty Nasty: Phthalates in European Cosmetic Products (pdf)
Health Care Without Harm, Women's Environmental Network, and the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
Take Action
- Fragrance-Free Policies for the Workplace, by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
- Safe Cleaning Products Initiative, Women's Voices for the Earth
- Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
- Fragranced Products Information Network
- Environmental Health Network support network for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
- The Cleaner Indoor Air Campaign
- www.CosmeticDatabase.org (advanced search option enables you to search for products without fragrance)
