Summary
Many chemicals contained in the most commonly used cleaning products contaminate indoor air quality and can cause or exacerbate asthma and other health problems for those exposed, including janitorial staff, teachers and schoolchildren. A recent study found that children exposed to high levels of chemicals regularly found in cleaning products were four times as likely to suffer from asthma. Approximately 12.3% of children in Massachusetts have been diagnosed as asthmatic. Asthma is the number one medical condition being treated at Boston public schools. Roughly 9.5% of all adults suffer from asthma, giving the Commonwealth the highest asthma rate in New England, well above the national average.
Safer cleaning chemicals are available and on the market. Green cleaning—the use of alternatives to toxic cleaning products—will better protect the health of the Commonwealth’s workers and schoolchildren. That’s why we’re working to pass the Safer Cleaning Products bill.
An Act to Reduce Asthma by Using Safer Alternatives to Cleaning Products
Representative Frank Smizik and Senator Diane Wilkerson (HB 2246)
This
bill would:
• Require that all cleaning products used in schools, day care centers, public
buildings, and common areas of public housing must be included on the “Safer
Cleaning Products” list established by DPH.
• Establish a training program to train cleaning personnel in the use of
healthy cleaning products.
• Establish a fee on manufacturers of cleaning products to cover the costs of
this program.