Tools and resources

Guidance for PVC and DEHP elimination in medical products

• Chemicals
• Guide
• Safer medical products and devices

This document provides guidance for hospitals working to meet the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the plasticizer di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) elimination goal of the safer chemicals challenge.

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Hackensack University Medical Center leading the way on safer chemicals and products case study

• Hackensack University Medical Center
• Safer Chemicals Case Study
• Chemicals
• Hackensack University Medical Center

As chronic disease management statistics continue to grow, health care is focused on reversing that trend. We now know certain types of cancer, learning and developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, reproductive health and fertility problems and asthma are some of the chronic diseases that can be linked in some way to the harmful chemicals we are all exposed to. Hackensack…

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Directory for least-toxic pest control products

• Chemicals
• Pest Management
• Integrated pest management
• Sustainable procurement
• Guide

(Bio-Integral Resource Center) The IPM Practitioner’s 2015 Directory of Least-Toxic Pest Control Products contains more than 2000 products produced by more than 600 suppliers. The Directory is unique because it is compiled by IPM technical experts, includes specific product descriptions, and is organized in concert with the IPM decision making process. Thus, it is easy to find a biological…

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Health Care Without Harm Mercury resources

• Chemicals
• Mercury

These resources from Health Care Without Harm will help eliminate mercury from your facility. 

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Infection prevention and green cleaning

• Chemicals
• Green Cleaning
• Guide

Infection prevention and control in health care is of primary importance. Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) direct costs are between $35.75 billion annually and result in almost 100,000 deaths in the US. HAIs also hold implications for reimbursement, as CMS now requires that the occurrence of three HAI related Healthcare acquired Conditions (HACs) may result in lower reimbursement rates in…

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Safer hand hygiene how-to guide

• Chemicals
• Hand Hygiene
• Toolkit
• Guide
• Get Started Guide

Some commonly used antimicrobials in hand hygiene products can pose hazards for employees and the environment and may increase antimicrobial resistance The Practice Greenhealth Safer hand hygiene how-to guide provides guidance and resources for hospitals to eliminate the use of triclosan and triclocarban in hand hygiene products in non-critical areas.

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Green Cleaning Products

• Chemicals
• Green Cleaning

Conventional cleaning products can contain chemicals associated with respiratory irritation, skin and eye injury, ozone depletion, cancer, and indoor air problems. Based on state occupational injury reporting, janitorial staff have some of the highest on-the-job injury rates. A 2007 study in The Lancet identifies nurses as having the highest rates of work-related asthma of any occupation in the…

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Safer hand hygiene goals

• Chemicals
• Hand Hygiene
• Toolkit
• Guide
• Safer hand hygiene

(Safer hand hygiene toolkit) Triclosan and triclocarban in hand soaps are no more effective in preventing the transmission of microorganisms than other products, including alternative antimicrobial hand soaps and regular soaps; may increase the risk of more generalized antibiotic resistance; kill a narrower spectrum of organisms; are widespread in the environment; and can have adverse health…

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Webinar: Safer Hand Hygiene: The case for eliminating triclosan and triclocarban

• Chemicals
• Hand Hygiene

Infection prevention and control in health care is of primary importance. However, some common ingredients in hand soaps used in the healthcare setting, including triclosan and triclocarban, can pose hazards for employees and the environment. In light of environmental and human health concerns, Practice Greenhealth recently launched the Hand Hygiene Challenge to reduce the use of triclosan and…

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Green Guide for Healthcare: Mercury reduction

• Chemicals
• Guide
• Mercury
• Purchasing

In 1998, a Memorandum of Understanding between the American Hospital Association and the U.S. EPA set new goals for hospital pollution prevention. One of the top priorities was the virtual elimination of mercury and mercury-containing devices from the hospital purchasing and waste stream. Mercury is a potent neurotoxin. The most sensitive health effect of mercury is an adverse impact on the…

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