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A medical school in Marietta, Georgia, had to be evacuated last week due to fumes, serving as a reminder that many products and devices in medical settings could potentially be harmful to human health.
More than a dozen people were overcome by fumes last Friday and had to be treated after they were exposed to a type of surgical super-glue during class.
The fumes became a problem after a vial was thrown in the trash and broke, authorities said.
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Typical hazards in medical schools and hospital settings
Indoor air quality in hospitals and medical schools can be polluted by bacteria and viruses as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold and fungi, chemicals such as glutaraldehyde (used for equipment sterilization), diethyl ether (anesthetic gas) and formaldehyde (used to preserve tissue).
There could also be high levels of PCBs and other toxins.
Along with source control, proper handling and ventilation, powerful portable air cleaners for hospitals and medical settings will help keep the air clean and healthy.
Electrocorp’s air cleaners feature the most effective filter combination of activated carbon and HEPA plus optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the widest range of contaminants from the ambient air.
For more information and suggestions, contact Electrocorp.
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New analysis calls for more proactive role of reproductive health specialists
Doctors can help produce healthier future generations.
Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) say that Ob-gyns could play a major role in reducing the effects of toxic chemicals on women and babies.
They could do this with a multifaceted approach:
- Evaluating patients’ environmental exposures to chemicals
This includes occupational exposures to chemicals and solvents - Providing education
How to reduce exposure to chemicals at home, in the community and at work
This information could be incorporated into childbirth classes, distributed through brochures and fliers and personal consultations - Help in implementing broader strategies to influence government policy
Work with professional organizations to bring about policy change and within their institutions for better food models, for example
Air pollution is a big risk that cannot be controlled on the individual level
Every individual is exposed to a wide range of natural and synthetic chemicals, and the number has risen dramatically over the past 70 years, the researchers say.
Environmental pollution a widespread problem
Virtually all pregnant women in the US carry multiple chemicals, including some that had been banned since the 1970s and others that can be found in common household products like non-stick cookware, processed foods and personal care products.
The problem is that more and more studies show that even low exposures to environmental chemicals can affect reproductive and developmental health.
The chemicals are a particular concern before and during pregnancy, when exposures have been linked to a number of health problems, the researchers say.
Just by making patients aware and talking about certain risk factors and ways to reduce exposure could help produce healthier future generations.
The researchers warned that the majority of chemicals used for commercial purposes enter the marketplace without being tested or standardized, and they could be very harmful for fetuses and infants in the developing stages.
Source: UCSF
Control the indoor air quality with air cleaners
Whether it’s in health-care settings, at home or at work, indoor air quality is something that can be controlled or improved.
Electrocorp offers portable and powerful air cleaners with a multistage filtration system that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds, gases, bacteria, viruses, molds, particles, dust and allergens.
The air cleaners’ filtration system contains deep-bed activated carbon filters, HEPA filters, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration.
Electrocorp has developed high-quality air cleaners for healthcare settings, for a variety of workplaces (including offices, chemical processing plants, dental labs, bars and restaurants and beauty salons and spas) and also offers air purifiers for the home.
For more information, please contact Electrocorp today.
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Hospitals can become more environmentally friendly.
The New Jersey Hackensack University Medical Center has officially agreed to become even more “green” by a memorandum of understanding with the EPA.
As part of their continued effort to “go green”, the hospital pledged to reduce air pollution, use less plastic, increase recycling efforts and initiate other environmentally friendly practices.
They plan to reduce energy consumption by 10 percent, install water-conserving equipment, complete a roof garden and more.
The hospital’s women’s and children’s buildings already boast a green design, top-notch energy system and non-toxic cleaning products.
In order to improve indoor air quality, the hospital is planning to install a “living wall” with more than 30 plant species that help clean the air and break down indoor air pollutants.
According to the North Jersey Record, the EPA has developed partnerships to aid hospitals, colleges, retail and other businesses in becoming more environmentally friendly, because buildings are responsible for 40 percent of the nation’s energy consumption and 40 percent of carbon dioxide emissions.
Source: North Jersey Record
Air cleaners for hospitals and healthcare settings
The indoor air quality in hospitals and healthcare facilities is often compromised by a wide range of indoor air pollutants, including bacteria, viruses, chemicals, volatile organic compounds, dust, particles, mold and more.
Electrocorp offers powerful air cleaners for hospitals and healthcare facilities that can remove these contaminants on a 24/7-basis.
The air cleaners feature many pounds of granular activated carbon for gaseous pollutants and odors, a HEPA filter for particles and dust and optional UV germicidal filtration for the neutralization of bacteria, viruses and mold.
For more information and options, contact Electrocorp.
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Exposure to certain chemicals may increase the risk of miscarriage for nurses, researchers say.
A new study shows that nurses who worked with chemotherapy drugs or sterilizing chemicals had double the chance of losing a pregnancy than nurses who didn’t handle these materials.
Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) say the study confirmed fears that exposure to certain chemicals would lead to miscarriages.
Exposure may occur during the first trimester when many nurses are still unaware that they are pregnant, they say.
Chemotherapy drugs target rapidly dividing cells such as those in a tumor – but a developing fetus also has rapidly dividing cells.
Previous research on the subject was inconclusive and showed different results, so for this study, researchers surveyed nearly 7,500 nurses who became pregnant between 1993 and 2002.
They asked the nurses to remember how often during each trimester they might have been exposed to certain chemicals or equipment, including X-rays, anesthesia, anti-cancer drugs and disinfectants.
One out of 10 nurses had a miscarriage before the 20-week mark, which is similar to the rate of the miscarriages in the general population.
However, the rate was double for nurses who handled chemotherapy drugs for more than one hour a day.
The risk was also higher for nurses who gave patients X-rays and nurses who handled sterilizing agents such as ethylene oxide or formaldehyde.
The researchers warn that the study only drew a link between the chemicals and the miscarriages and that it did not prove that the chemicals actually caused the miscarriage.
The survey relied on the memory of the nurses as far back as 8 years sometimes, which leaves room for inaccuracies.
On the other hand, other workers (including pharmacists, drug manufacturers and veterinarians) may also be affected since they handle these chemicals as well.
Two million female nurses work in the United States, making up 4 percent of the female workforce, according to a Reuters article.
Reduce chemical exposure at work
Nurses and their employers should stick to safety guidelines and take precautions to avoid exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Electrocorp offers air cleaners for hospitals and healthcare facilities that can also help keep the air clean.
The air cleaners contain deep-bed activated carbon filters to remove a wide range of chemicals and gases (including formaldehyde and ethylene oxide), while a HEPA filter also reduces the amount of particles and allergens in the air. Optional UV germicidal filtration helps neutralize bacteria, viruses and mold.
Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.
Disinfection system a cost-cutting tool for health care and hospitality industries
Hospital-acquired diseases are preventable: Experts
Infectious diseases acquired during a hospital stay cost 100,000 people their lives each year – a number that is entirely preventable, researchers say.
A Queen’s University infectious disease expert and others have developed a new disinfection system that can be used to clean hospital rooms as well as bed-bug infested hotel rooms.
The new technology pumps a specific ozone and hydrogen peroxide vapor gas mixture into a room to sterilize all surfaces, including floors, walls, drapes, mattresses, chairs etc.
The technique takes its cue from natural human responses: If an antibody attacks a germ, it generates ozone and a tiny amount of hydrogen peroxide for a new compound that neutralizes bacteria, viruses and mold.
Study results on the process are published in the December issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
The technique will be commercialized and is expected to be ready for sale in 2012.
Source: Queen’s University
Air cleaning for hospitals and hotels
For the times between sterilization processes, hospitals and hotels can help keep the air clean and healthier with stand-alone air filtration systems.
Electrocorp has developed complete industrial-strength air cleaners with deep-bed activated carbon filters and HEPA as well as UV to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.
Find out more about air cleaners for hospitals and healthcare plus air cleaners for the hospitality industry.
For more information, contact Electrocorp at 866-667-0297.
