Page 84 - Occupational Health & Safety, October 2018

INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Environmental Probiotics: Creating Healthy Indoor Workspaces
It is sensible that businesses and institutions should invest in programs to reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms. BY TALY DERY
Indoor environments have been shown to have a significant impact on human health and pro- ductivity. As employers strive to create healthier environments for their workers, the demand for
green cleaning services is creating a culture of sus- tainability in the commercial office cleaning indus- try, with increased awareness of the benefits driving buying decisions. An accompanying surge in envi- ronmentally desirable products and services is im- pacting the way that facilities managers are thinking about and approaching the cleaning and mainte- nance of their buildings.
With the growing concerns about the health and environmental impact of the cleaning products that are used in workspaces, it is vital that managers ad- dress which cleaning methods are implemented and how they work. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the removal of infectious agents is one of the steps that is crucial to maintaining a healthy indoor environment. How the removal of these agents is done and what products are used are important considerations for workplaces concerned about the potential harmful impacts of cleaning agents on their workers. In contrast to older cleaning products that could present a variety of health hazards, non-haz- ardous products possess positive environmental attri- butes that can remove biological contaminants from a workspace. Probiotics-based cleaners are proving effective in this regard.
Biological Contaminants in Workspaces
Numerous investigations have raised the issue of harmful microorganisms in workspaces. For example, a CBS News report focused on hot-spot areas such as door handles, kitchen sinks, and elevator buttons as common bacterial habitats, with these microorganisms distributed within breakrooms, conference rooms, and stairwells. Other likely habitats have been shown to include everything from toilet fixtures to computer keyboards. A classic study by University of Arizona researchers determined that the typical worker’s desk harbors hundreds more bacteria per square inch than an office toilet seat. As a result, it is sensible that busi- nesses and institutions should invest in programs to reduce the presence of harmful microorganisms.
However, cleaning paradigms that incorporate an- tibacterials or other substances to eliminate entirely harmful microorganisms run a separate risk: encour- aging the growth of stronger strains of bacteria, such as the much-reported “superbugs,” that exhibit antibi-
otic resistance. According to the U.S. Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention (CDC), infections trig- gered by antibiotic-resistant organisms are difficult to treat, entailing the use of second- or third-choice drugs for treatment that might be less effective, more toxic, and more expensive.
Environmental Probiotics Create a Revo- lutionary Purification System for Workplaces Instead of the “all or nothing” approach to battling toxic microorganisms in the workplace, a trend to- ward implementing probiotics as cleaning tools has surfaced in the past several years. As noted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), probiotics are live microorganisms—long incorporated into certain foods and dietary supplements—that are intended to have health benefits. Although bacteria and other mi- croorganisms are often thought of as harmful germs, many microorganisms can help the body function properly. For example, bacteria that are normally present in intestines can help digest food, destroy dis- ease-causing microorganisms, and produce vitamins.
In light of what is known regarding the activity of probiotics and presence of microorganisms in workplaces, studies have been done that success- fully demonstrate the potential of probiotics, as air and surface purifiers, to control the growth of bad microorganisms while retaining beneficial varieties.
The rationale behind the use of probiotics is straightforward. Traditional purifier sprays and devic- es indiscriminately kill all bacteria, both harmful and beneficial—causing an imbalanced, sterile environ- ment that could increase the risk of pathogens’ evolv- ing resistance. In contrast, probiotics offer a natural, chemical-free and environmentally friendly solution to combating Sick Building Syndrome: the probiotics consume contaminant waste such as dust mite fecal matter, pollen, dead skin cells, and pet dander while maintaining the balance of essential bacteria in the environments where people work, additionally reduc- ing bad odors caused by bacteria and mold.
One commercialized probiotics application, known as Enviro-Biotics (short for “Environmental Probiotics”), is comprised of water and Bacillus Sub- tilis. This technology works on a microscopic level and repetitively releases billions of micron-sized probiotic particles to purify the air and clean surface and objects.
The devices offer an automatic solution for every space size: Some systems tap into existing air ducts;
80 Occupational Health & Safety | OCTOBER 2018
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