The Issue

Health care institutions, like institutions outside the health care sector, regularly use a number of highly toxic chemicals and materials. Many of these products are defined and regulated by federal, state, and local laws. Others are used daily but hardly regulated at all. They include carcinogens, materials that damage the skin and organs, and materials that corrode, irritate, or release other chemicals in the course of normal use, storage, transportation, or disposal.

Hazardous chemicals or materials in the health care setting may include:

• Cleaners and disinfectants
• Dioxin-containing byproducts
• Electronic equipment
• Flame retardants
• Fragrance chemicals
• Mercury-containing medical devices and wastes
• Pesticides
• Phthalates and DEHP
• PVC