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Environmental and Health Impacts of Products Used in Healthcare
In the United States the healthcare industry is a major consumer and supplier of products and services. Until recently, there was a fundamental lack of awareness of the environmental and health impacts caused by many of these products. Products that contain mercury or potent chemicals like glutaraldehyde, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and xylene were unrecognized sources of environmental pollution and potential harms to health. Other products like latex, plasticizers in vinyl medical products, sharps, and cleaning solvents were routinely resulting in allergy, injury, or undesired exposures in patients and workers alike.
In recent years health professionals have learned of their unwitting role in pollution and potentially harmful practices and are seeking changes to protect patients, workers, and the environment. However, their expertise lies in the delivery of health services, not in seeking, evaluating and selecting products and practices for their institution. Many healthcare practitioners openly acknowledge their need for assistance in systematically selecting preferable practices and products for their institutions.
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