Are Cleaners Making You Sick?
Recent studies have shown that most cleaning companies are replacing dirt and grime with substances that are far more disagreeable. The cleaning products used by most of the industry are leaving behind toxic residues that can result in adverse health effects.
Studies conducted by Dr Peter Dingle, a lecturer in Environmental Science at Perth's Murdoch University, show that chemicals used in cleaning products can cause dermatitis, irritation of the eyes and mucus membrane problems in the nose and throat.
Dr Dingle says, "Ninety-five percent of cleaning products used in office cleaning consist of poisons that are as harmful to workers as they are to the environment."
There is a new breed of cleaning company however, which is doing its best to reverse the state of affairs. The Planet Earth Cleaning Company aims to look after its clients while at the same time the broader environment. By replacing toxic with non-toxic chemicals we can reduce pollution and in effect reduce the amount of illness in the workplace.
Managing Director of The Planet Earth Cleaning Company, John Engelander, is committed to changing the state of the workplace environment. He says, "I spent a long time searching for products that were organically certified and environmentally friendly. Unfortunately a lot of my efforts went unrewarded and as a result I now have over 50% of my cleaning products manufactured exclusively for the company."
Dr Dingle has spent the last 12 years researching human environments in relation to chemicals and their toxicity. He claims that companies like The Planet Earth Cleaning Company are rare. He states, "Less than five percent of cleaning companies today have a real insight into the environmental impact of their business practices."
It's up to the public to make a difference. This is achievable by choosing a cleaning company that uses non-toxic products in their day-to-day operations. By doing so this may encourage other cleaning companies to motivate themselves to leave things the way they should be - clean and healthy!