Cleaning Products

The Office of Governor M. Jodi Rell

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

BY HER EXCELLENCY

M. JODI RELL

GOVERNOR

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 14

WHEREAS, cleaning and sanitizing products are necessary for creating and maintaining clean, healthy and sanitary conditions in State facilities and workplaces;

WHEREAS, exposure to harmful chemicals contained in cleaning and sanitizing products may result in potential impacts to human health;

WHEREAS, harmful chemicals, byproducts and waste contained in certain cleaning and sanitizing products may can be released into the environment during the routine cleaning and sanitization of State facilities normal use;

WHEREAS, choosing less harmful cleaning and sanitizing products for use in State facilities and workplaces and taking steps to reduce exposure by by office and custodial workers, will minimize potential impacts on human health, will improve environmental quality and will reduce pollution;

WHEREAS, the procurement and the proper use and application of cleaning and sanitizing products that perform well and that have positive environmental attributes such as biodegradability, low toxicity, low volatile organic compound content, reduced packaging, and low life cycle energy use will reduce the environmental impacts of routine cleaning and sanitizing activities while also ensuring clean and sanitary State facilities; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, M. Jodi Rell, Governor of the State of Connecticut, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

All state agencies in the executive branch shall procure and use, whenever practicable, cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary State facilities.

All state agencies in the executive branch and all higher education agencies and institutions, shall, when procuring or contracting for cleaning and/or sanitizing services provide in such contracts or procurement agreements, require contractors of the State or persons or entities providing cleaning and/or sanitizing services to the State use cleaning and/or sanitizing products having properties that minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary facilities.

All state agencies in the executive branch shall include in new contracts for the procurement of cleaning products or cleaning services, an appropriate requirement consistent with this Executive Order and the standards and guidelines established by the Department of Administrative Services under Paragraph 3 of this Executive Order.

The Department of Administrative Services, in consultation with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Environmental Protection, shall not later than January 1, 2007, establish and publish written standards and guidelines to provide direction to all state agencies in the executive branch in connection with the implementation of this Executive Order.

The Department of Administrative Services shall provide the Office of the Governor with a report assessing the effectiveness of this Executive Order within one year of the effective date of this Executive Order.

Municipal governments, political subdivisions and school districts that are not expressly subject to the requirements of this Order are encouraged to review their purchasing and use of cleaning products and/or sanitizing products and are hereby urged to comply with the provisions of this Executive Order where deemed appropriate.

Municipal governments, political subdivisions and school districts that are not expressly subject to the requirements of this Executive Order are hereby requested and encouraged to review their procurement and use of cleaning and/or sanitizing products and are urged to comply with the provisions of this Executive Order. Such entities may to the extent they deem appropriate, in order to minimize potential impacts to human health and the environment, and consistent with maintaining clean and sanitary facilities seek guidance and assistance consistent with the provisions of Paragraph 3 of this Executive Order from the Departments of Administrative Services, Public Works, Public Health and Environmental Protection.

All state agencies in the executive branch covered by this Executive Order shall, wherever feasible, in a manner that is financially feasible, commercially reasonable and practicable, immediately transition to environmentally and health-friendly cleaning and/or sanitizing products. Such transition shall be accomplished as soon as possible and in a manner that avoids the waste of existing inventories, accommodates establishment of supply chains for new products, enables the training of personnel in appropriate work practices, and allows the phase-out of products and practices inconsistent with this Executive Order.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Dated at Hartford this 17th day of April, 2006

M. JODI RELL

Governor

By Her Excellency’s Command:

Susan Bysiewicz

Secretary of the State

February 13, 2007

Dear Senator Gaffey, Representative Fleischmann and other members of the Education Committee:

My name is Carolyn Wysocki and as President of ECHO, (Ecological Health Organization, Inc.) I am here to voice strong support for Raised H.B. No. 7096 AN ACT CONCERNING PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AT SCHOOLS AND THE USE OF ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS.

In January, 1992-ECHO was formed as a statewide nonprofit, advocacy, support, education and referral organization for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity(MCS) and for others who care about its prevention. Our MCS members are living proof of the linkages between the environment and health. MCS , also known as Environmental Illness (EI) is a chronic disorder in which people develop increased reactions to various chemicals found in products such as pesticides, perfume, building materials, fragrances carpets, exhaust, smoke and cleaning products.. According to studies conducted by California Department of Health in 1995 and published in Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Research Reports, 17-34 % of Americans report symptoms of chemical sensitivity.

MCS/EI affects multiple organ systems (respiratory, digestive, neurological, musculoskeletal, reproductive, cardiovascular) and commonly includes symptoms such as asthma, difficulty breathing and concentrating; migraines; loss of memory and coordination; dizziness; seizures; muscle pains, weakness and fatigue. Many people with MCS have become symptomatic over a period of time from poor indoor air quality such as in Sick Building Syndrome, while others have been made ill due to a single exposure of pesticides and then physically react to low levels of chemical exposures. Sensitized people cannot tolerate most medications for symptom relief, as pharmaceutical chemicals add more strain to an already overloaded/damaged detoxification system, usually causing an increase in both symptoms and sensitivity levels. There is no known cure for MCS/EI, and the most effective treatment found to date is avoidance of toxic chemicals, an increasingly difficult task in today's world.

In this Bill you have an opportunity to not only help create a healthier learning environment for our children but also for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and the community at large. Our schools also serve as a Community Center where various activities and events are held for adults through adult education programs, sporting events, community meetings and family events. Some communities have access to the school library, swimming pool or computer area. Passage of this bill would decrease the risk factor of entering a school building for people with MCS and encouraging them to participate in their children's school activities

Creating a safe and healthier school environment for all and preventing others from getting MCS and becoming chemically injured is why ECHO supports Bill 7096. We already know that pesticide exposure at schools is a health risk and produces acute illnesses among school employees and students. This bill will protect all our children from preschool to high school. We also know that poor Indoor Air is a chemical soup made up of a variety of chemicals emitted by cleaning chemicals, pesticides, building equipment and materials, fragrances and personal care products.

“The presence of scented cleaners and other scented products contributes to poor indoor air quality and is one of the major access barriers for people with asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities according to a recent report by Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities), http://ieq.nibs.org/intro.php Exposures to fragrances can trigger asthma attacks, migraine headaches, aggravate sinus conditions and several MCS Symptoms. http://www.fpinva.org

We request that the concerns of the chemically sensitive be considered when developing standards for environmentally sensitive cleaning products. It is with that in mind that ECHO recommends that regulations developed by DPH./ DEP include:

A.Using unscented/non-toxic cleaning products

B.A public review period be held prior to adoption for comments and suggestions from the public, health organizations and particulary health affected groups such as ALA and ECHO

C.Nothing in the standards shall preclude an individual from requesting a facility to use or for a facility from using a cleaning product not on the safer cleaning products list as an accommodation to a person who is chemically sensitive. http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/st00/st00553.htm

Just as the canaries in the coal mines, people with MCS are the human canaries of the 21 Century, warning through our reactions to chemicals that the air in our homes, offices schools and environment is toxic and effecting public health. We are fortunate that Connecticut has taken a leadership roll in the prevention of chemical sensitivity and promoting a Healthy Connecticut through Ex.Directive #14 and this bill.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Wysocki

ECHO, President

. Thank you and remember