Improve Your Operation and the Environment: Eliminating APEOs
From Floor Care Chemicals
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BY DR.
ROBERT ISRAEL
While many people have never heard of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs),
a large percentage of professional cleaners come into contact
with them almost daily.
Surfactants, or “surface active agents,” are used in a wide
variety of cleaning chemicals. A surfactant is any substance
that when dissolved in water reduces its surface tension between
it and another liquid, which helps loosen and remove soils from
the surface on which it is applied.
APEOs are a class of chemicals commonly used as surfactants in
a variety of applications. A common subset of APEOs are
nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), an inexpensive, non-ionic
surfactant that has been used for the past 50 years in laundry,
ware-washing, hard surface cleaners and floor care products.
While NPEs break down in the environment, the byproduct,
nonyphenol, poses a greater risk to aquatic life and
potentially human health.
Wastewater treatment facilities theoretically have the
capabilities of effectively breaking down nonylphenol and its
ethoxylates. Yet, the U.S. EPA has noted rising levels of
nonylphenol in water samples taken from streams and rivers
throughout the U.S. NPEs are known to be toxic to certain
aquatic species and is a suspected endocrine disruptor. For
example, some studies have shown that the presence of NPEs in
rivers results in high levels of female hormones in male trout.
Noting that the rise of NPEs in the environment hasn’t
necessarily reached toxic levels, the EPA created the Safer
Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI) to recognize companies,
facilities and others who voluntarily phase out or commit to
phasing out these chemicals. Through the EPA’s Design for the
Environment Program (DfE), safer alternatives to NPEs have been
identified, which are both readily available and cost-effective.
Product manufacturers that commit to phasing out APEOs will not
necessarily find a single “drop in” substitute, however.
Extensive testing may be required to ensure that product
performance is not compromised while being environmentally
preferable and price competitive.
In recognizing the risks associated with NPEs, other countries
throughout the world have already taken the initiative to ban
this chemical from use. Europe has voluntarily banned use of the
chemical in the manufacture of cleaning products. Japan has
banned use of it in any application throughout the country
through regulation. The Canadian government, especially in
Toronto, has also recently placed disposal limitations on
wastewater treatment plants to reduce the amount of nonylphenol
released into the environment.
In late October, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. challenged their suppliers
to remove NPEs from products both sold on their shelves and used
in back-of-the-house operations. As a part of their “Preferred
Chemical Principles” initiative, Wal-Mart aims to drive the
development of more sustainable products for “mother, child, and
the environment.”
As Wal-Mart sets the precedent with their commitment to using
environmentally-sustainable products, other companies will
inevitably follow suit. This could mean new opportunities for
building service managers and contractors who service these
facilities. A floor care program that uses chemicals without
APEOs or NPEs now will have a head start on the competition as
facilities look to eradicate the chemical from their operations.
Look for products approved by Green Seal label, as they will not
contain APEOs; however, be aware, there are other products on
the market that are not certified and do not possess the
chemical.
When selecting a new line of chemicals without APEOs, building
service managers should use this as an opportunity to market
and promote their business.
Developing an Environmentally-Friendly Floor Care Program
In order to develop an environmentally sustainable program, use
of chemicals without APEOs is one of the many components to a
comprehensive floor care plan. Developing a comprehensive floor
care plan can help alleviate the strain on workers and the
environment while enhancing the longevity of your floors.
• Ensure floors are cleaned daily. This will eliminate the
frequency of floor stripping and finishing and ultimately increase
the life of the floor.
• Strip and finish floors according to wear patterns as opposed to
calendar schedules. This cuts down on chemical and labor waste.
• Train workers to dust, damp mop and vacuum floors and matting
to reduce the amount of products and labor used.
• Incorporate microfiber into your floor care program. Use of
microfiber reduces the amount of chemical used.
• Train workers on the proper handling of floor care chemicals
to prevent over-spraying and the release of chemicals into the
air, affecting indoor air quality.
• Assure floor care products are properly diluted. Use a
dilution control system to prevent overuse of chemicals, while
reducing workers’ direct exposure to concentrates.
As the market continues its push for green products and
sustainable practices, traditional chemical compounds will
become increasingly scrutinized. Those chemicals known to pose
a hazardous threat on the environment face a certain threat of
eventual extinction. Building service managers who take a
proactive approach to using comprehensive product lines that do
not contain APEOs will gain an edge on the competition while
helping protect aquatic life and human health. ❑ Dr.
Robert Israel is director for, Corporate Responsibility for
JohnsonDiversey. For more information, please visit
www.johnsondiversey.com. |
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