Janitorial products can contaminate the environment in many
ways, from pouring chemicals and wastewater down the drain and into
the local water supply, gas emissions into the air via circulation
through the indoor ventilation system, and during the treatment and
disposal of chemical wastes. These are known as "downstream"
effects, as they happen during or after the use of the products.
Many of the same environmental effects are also created "upstream,"
during the initial development and manufacture of the products in
laboratories and factories. Thus, as janitors we must reduce the
usage of
hazardous products, that reduces the environmental effects at a
number of different stages of the products' life cycle.
The following are some of the environmental impacts associated with
cleaning products:
Bioaccumulation refers to the increase in concentration
of toxic substances in living organisms. The toxins accumulate
because contaminated air, water, or food, are consumed faster than
the toxins can be metabolized and excreted. Similarly, the
biological magnification of certain "persistent" substances, such as
pesticides that do not readily biodegrade or heavy metals, describes
their movement up the food chain, as they work their way into rivers
or lakes, and are eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in
turn are eaten by large birds, animals, or humans. The substances
become concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they move up
the chain.
Ozone depletion refers to the destruction of the
stratospheric ozone layer, which shields the Earth from harmful
amounts of ultraviolet radiation. Ozone depletion is caused by the
breakdown of certain chlorine- and/or bromine-containing compounds
(chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, and halons) when they reach the
stratosphere and quickly destroy ozone molecules.
Toxicity describes the degree to which a substance or
mixture of substances can harm humans or animals.
Eutrophication is the natural process by which a lake,
estuary, or bay gradually ages and becomes more productive (i.e.,
more nutrients, more biological activity). Human-induced pollutants,
such as cleaning products, that make their way into water bodies can
aggravate the process by adding an abundance of nutrients, such as
phosphorus and nitrogen, to a water body. The result is
over-abundant plant life that steals precious resources, such as
oxygen and sunlight, from other aquatic organisms, causing
accelerated aging of the water body.
Endocrine disruption can cause hormonal imbalance in
wildlife which may result in a failure to reproduce effectively.
Water pollution results from the contamination of water
through direct sources (e.g., factories) or indirect sources (e.g.,
pesticide runoff). Chemical factories and improper storage and
disposal of cleaning products can contribute to water pollution.
Weather patterns and human activities constantly circulate water and
any pollution it contains throughout the environment, which creates
local, regional, and global effects.
Air pollution: Some cleaning products contain volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) that can escape during product use. VOCs
have been linked to smog formation, which pollutes the air and
causes a number of respiratory and other health problems.
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