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Frequently Asked Questions
What is formaldehyde?
What should employers know about formaldehyde?
How can formaldehyde harm workers?
How can workers be exposed to formaldehyde?
Why are some deodorant blocks hazardous?
What alternatives exist?
What makes NaturFresh® so unique?
What is odor control?
What types of odor control methods are available?
What is MRSA?
How does MRSA spread?
Who is at risk?
How many people have contracted MRSA?
What is formaldehyde? Back to Top
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. Commonly known as a preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries, formaldehyde is also found in other products such as chemicals, particleboard, household products, glues, permanent press fabrics, paper product coatings, fiberboard and plywood. It is also widely used as an industry fungicide, germicide and disinfectant.
Although the term formaldehyde describes various mixtures of formaldehyde, water and alcohol, the term “formalin” more precisely describes aqueous solutions, particularly those containing 37% to 50% formaldehyde and 6% to 15% alcohol stabilizer.
What should employers know about formaldehyde? Back to Top
The OSHA standard that protects workers exposed to formaldehyde, Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.1048, and equivalent regulations in states with OSHA-approved state plans apply to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde from formaldehyde gas, its solutions, and materials that release formaldehyde. The permissible exposure limits (PELs) for formaldehyde in the workplace covered by the standard are 0.75 parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) measured as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA). The standard includes a second PEL in the form of a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2 ppm that is the maximum exposure allowed during a 15-minute period. The action level -- the threshold for increased industrial hygiene monitoring and initiation of employee medical surveillance -- is 0.5 ppm when calculated as an 8-hour TWA.
How can formaldehyde harm workers? Back to Top
Formaldehyde is a sensitizing agent that can cause an immune system response upon initial exposure. It is also a suspected human carcinogen that is linked to nasal cancer and lung cancer. Acute exposure is highly irritating to the eyes, nose and throat and can cause a cough or wheeze. Subsequent exposure may cause severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Ingestion of formaldehyde can be fatal, and long-term exposure to low levels in the air or on the skin can cause asthma-like respiratory problems and skin irritation such as dermatitis and itching. Concentrations of 100 ppm are immediately dangerous to health or life.
How can workers be exposed to formaldehyde? Back to Top
Workers can inhale formaldehyde as a gas or vapor or absorb it through the skin as a liquid. They can be exposed during the treatment of textiles and the production of resins. Besides health care professionals and medical lab technicians, groups at potentially high risk include mortuary employees as well as teachers and students who handle biological specimens preserved with formaldehyde or formalin.
U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration;
“Safety and Health Topics: Formaldehyde”
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/formaldehyde/index.html
Why are some deodorant blocks hazardous? Back to Top
Some restroom and urinal deodorant blocks contain paradichlorobenzene (p-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, or "para"), a respiratory irritant that can trigger an asthma attack in someone who already has asthma. Most of our exposure to paradichlorobenzene occurs indoors, with the source being products such as deodorant blocks and mothballs. Para persists in the environment and the National Toxicology Program reports that it is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.
Many restroom and urinal deodorizing blocks that do not contain paradichlorobenzene do contain ammonium quaternary compounds ("quats"), disinfectants that are known to cause asthma when used in cleaners.
What alternatives exist? Back to Top
Deodorant blocks that contain surfactants or bacterial cultures can be just as effective as para- or quaternary ammonium-based blocks. In addition, autoflush toilets and urinals, as well as more frequent cleaning, may eliminate the need for deodorant blocks in certain situations.
What makes NaturFresh® so unique? Back to Top
In addition to the specially formulated dye that will not change colors even during the most demanding of uses, non-staining NaturFresh® encapsulates malodor molecules and eliminates them immediately upon contact. Our tertiary approach to potent odor control continues to be the most effective in the industry.
What is odor control? Back to Top
The human mechanism of odor perception consists of receptor sites, reactive enzymes and a complicated system of electrical impulses that send signals to the brain for odor identification and/or reaction by the body to harmful substances. Therefore, any system or chemical that can “interfere” with the normal processes in which we perceive and react to odors are considered to be within the category of odor control… some being more effective than others.
What types of odor control methods are available? Back to Top
Odor Fatigue. If a substance or chemical can “saturate” our sense of smell with a pleasant fragrance and overpower our perception of a weaker malodor, then the malodor is effectively eliminated, even though it is still present. Of course, when the saturating chemical, such as an overpowering fragrance, dissipates, the bad smell will return.
Odor Blocking. This involves the physical elimination of odor through mechanical means, such as filters, masks, HVAC systems, etc. Also falling within this category are chemicals that harm or dull the ability of the olfactory sense, as with formaldehyde.
Source Elimination. By removing the source of the malodor, whether physically or by interrupting the process whereby the odors are created, we can solve the problem for a bit longer. Because bacteria are a major player in the creation of malodors through normal decomposition, these would logically be targets for odor control systems; i.e., quaternaries, ethanol or isopropyl alcohol.
Odor Encapsulation. This category of products actually entraps malodor molecules into inclusion clathrate compounds. After entrapment, the malodor molecule is no longer volatile and is removed from reaching the nose’s odor-sensing receptor sites.
What is MRSA? Back to Top
MRSA stands for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that can be difficult to eradicate with some types of antibiotics. Staph infections, including MRSA, appear most often in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes, but can also be troublesome for those with weakened immune systems. These bacteria can cause contagious infections that appear as pus-filled lesions on skin or soft tissue, boils and abscesses.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; “Healthcare-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA)”
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html
How does MRSA spread? Back to Top
From casual contact of contaminated objects, person to person or unhygienic medical practices. Alongside thorough hand cleaning and glove protection to help prevent spreading, proper disinfecting techniques and solutions are recommended for surfaces and utensils in public food areas and healthcare management.
Who is at risk? Back to Top
At-risk organizations include soup kitchens, schools, athletic programs/facilities, health and fitness clubs, golf courses, homeless shelters and nursing or hospice care facilities. Any facility that serves the public, however, should take special precautions to help reduce the spread and contamination of MRSA bacteria.
The elderly and those who have compromised or weak immune systems are at the greatest risk of infection after coming into contact with MRSA-contaminated objects.
How many people have contracted MRSA? Back to Top
The reported cases of MRSA infections in the U.S. have risen dramatically in the last several years. Each year, between 2001 and 2003, there were an estimated 12 million outpatient healthcare visits for suspected S. aureus skin and soft tissue infections in the United States. In 2004, approximately 76% of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in adults seen in 11 emergency departments were caused by S. aureus. Of these infections, 78% were caused by MRSA and overall, MRSA caused 59% of all SSTIs.
Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; “S. aureus and MRSA Surveillance Summary 2007” http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa_surveillanceFS.html
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