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Happy Holidays!
The holiday season is upon us and that means colder weather is here too! In addition to our regular feature, “Joe’s Tips,” we wanted to share some important information this month about PFAS ( the “forever chemicals”) in pesticides. This emerging issue – PFAS and Pesticides: Exploring Threats to People, Food, Water, and Ecosystems - was the focus of this year’s Pesticides and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conference.
Alexis Temkin, PhD, a toxicologist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), presented her research regarding Pesticides and Their Forever Pieces: Environmental Presence and Implications. The conference keynote was Dr. Linda Birnbaum, former head of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and currently a scholar in residence at Duke University, who presented: When a Pesticide is a PFAS.. Please watch these truly informative presentations in our Media Spotlight this month!
In 2025, Maryland Delegate Sheila Ruth and Senator Benjamin Brooks will be introducing a state bill that will phase out the use of PFAS-pesticides, which are pesticides whose active ingredient is actually a PFAS. About 1,100 pesticides out of 14,000 registered for use in our state are known to be these PFAS-pesticides. There are safer alternatives available that are registered for use in MD. We will keep you informed about this issue and how you can help support this important legislation that can improve health outcomes for all Maryland residents while still keeping your facility free from unwanted pests.
Remember, when a pest problem arises, if you haven't already, you can go to our many fact sheets, sample policies, guidance, articles, and video library to learn about the non-toxic options your facility vendor or in-house pest management can use to stop infestation while protecting patient and staff health. The Project's IPM Toolkit is available online. Contact Sean at sean@mdpestnet.org or call 301-664-4374 for additional support.
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– Sean Lynch
IPM in Health Care Facilities Project Director
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A Safer Healing Environment: Protecting Vulnerable Patients in Healthcare Facilities | |
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Patients, especially children, are exposed to a growing cocktail of environmental toxins, including pesticides. These chemicals contribute to what experts call a "pesticide load," a cumulative burden of harmful substances that patients carry even before entering healthcare settings. For children, this burden is particularly alarming, as their developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxins like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). A recent investigation revealed that over 10,000 students and staff in Maryland schools have been exposed to unsafe levels of PFAS in their drinking water, a stark reminder of the prevalence of these "forever chemicals" in our environment.
Pesticides used for pest control and lawn care can include PFAS chemicals. More than 1,000 of the pesticides approved in Maryland contain active ingredients listed as PFAS substances, further compounding the problem. Patients, especially those with pre-existing health conditions, should not face additional exposure to these harmful chemicals in environments designed for healing. By implementing a prioritized Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program, healthcare facilities can dramatically reduce pesticide use and prevent unnecessary harmful exposures to their most vulnerable populations.
A prioritized IPM program protects patients by adopting safer pest management practices. This ensures that your facility is a place of healing, not a contributor to the growing pesticide load that patients face.
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Media Spotlight:
PFAS and Pesticides: Exploring Threats to People, Food, Water, and Ecosystems
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Our keynote speaker, Dr. Linda Birnbaum of Duke University, presented about PFAS; what they are and the health implications for everyone.
During the conference, Alexis Temkin, PhD, a scientist with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), presented Pesticides and Their Forever Pieces: Environmental Presence and Implications. It was a truly informative presentation about her research on the “forever" by-products of PFAS which can also be in some of the pesticides used in healthcare facilities. Dr. Temkin co-authored a paper recently published in Environmental Health Perspectives on the presence of PFAS in pesticides, and the implications for public health and policy. This talk focused on the presence of these chemicals, as well as their degradation products, primarily the ultra-short chain PFAS trifluoroacetic acid, or TFA, in the environment, including our water and food.
Please watch these excellent and informative presentations that have implications in healthcare and in all our lives.
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Check your disinfectants for risk level
Some regularly used disinfectants in facilities are actually registered pesticides that can deplete a patient’s immune system and harm respiratory function. Use the SaferDisinfectants.org website to see if what your facility uses is an “increased risk” or “safer” product.
Go to the SaferDisinfectants.org website's The List page and search your products by name, using your browser search keys, "Command + F" on Macs and "Control + F" on PCs. Type in the name to see if it has an increased risk or is a safer choice. View the Safer Choice list and sort by use site and need for better product choices.
Find effective safer products to replace the increased-risk ones
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Prioritizing Patient Safety:
Reducing Pesticide Risks
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Healthcare facilities are meant to promote healing, yet they often unknowingly expose patients, especially vulnerable populations to unnecessary pesticide risks. Overseeing what your pest and land care vendors use at your facility is critical. They are experts on how to eradicate pests but not experts on the health impacts of the products they use. US EPA registers pesticides based on the manufacturers‘ research and then based on a risk-benefit ratio. Our health (risk) is oftentimes outweighed by the benefit (getting rid of target pests). Scientific evidence links pesticide exposure to immunosuppression, respiratory issues, and chronic illnesses, including cancer. With many patients already carrying some level of "pesticide load" from their food, water, and surroundings, the additional burden from pesticide use within healthcare settings is less than desirable.
A prioritized Integrated Pest Management program offers a transformative solution. By focusing on education, preventive measures, and prioritizing non-chemical pest control, with least-toxic pesticides only considered as a last resort, IPM reduces reliance on harmful pesticides while safeguarding the health of patients and staff. The Stanford University study, recently published in Cancer, underscores the urgency of this shift. Researchers found that exposure to 22 commonly used pesticides is significantly associated with increased prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Prostate cancer remains a leading health concern in the U.S., with nearly 300,000 new cases expected in 2024 alone.
The findings from this groundbreaking study reveal an urgent need to reevaluate pesticide use. Among the 22 pesticides identified, several are classified by the EPA as possible human carcinogens. These chemicals’ effects often extend beyond cancer to endocrine disruption, oxidative stress, and other long-term health impacts. Despite this, gaps in chronic epidemiological studies leave many pesticides inadequately assessed for their risks. For healthcare facilities, this underscores the importance of eliminating pesticide exposure wherever possible.
A prioritized IPM program not only minimizes health risks but also aligns with environmental responsibility and cost-effectiveness. By making this shift, you can protect the most vulnerable, reduce cancer risks, and ensure that your healing facility truly fulfills their purpose.
We are here to help you implement a safer and more effective pest and land care program - and at no cost! Since 2006, our IPM in Heath Care Project has been funded to provide our services pro bono by foundations in Maryland dedicated to improving health care in our state.
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Joe Griffin had a 16-year tenure at Sheppard Pratt and 35+ years of Senior Level Facility Support Operations experience.
Choosing safe and effective pest management strategies and safer disinfectants demands careful consideration. It's hard to imagine a more sensitive issue for hospitals, especially since the thousands of hospitals in the US see about 32 million inpatients, 83 million outpatients, and over a hundred million emergency room patients each year.
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EVS Directors have their hands full, so we tend to rely on our contracted pest and land care vendors. That's why it's critical to remember:
Your vendors work for YOU and under YOUR guidelines to provide a safe facility environment, without adverse harm from pesticides.
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These seasonal tips will help your facility this Winter:
- Establish food safety practices in break rooms: Break rooms are one of the more attractive facility locations for pests to make their home. Staff are on time-limited breaks, often resulting in leftover food not being properly stored or discarded, which provides a welcome feast for pests. Remind staff about properly storing and discarding food and cleaning up after their use of the breakroom.
- Use sodium vapor lighting: In and around the immediate exterior of the facility use sodium vapor lights, instead of fluorescent lights. which tend to attract flying insects, Note: if fluorescent lights must be used, they should be mounted at least 100 feet from the building.
- Safe use of ice melts: Use safe, non-toxic ice melts and slip-prevention products during inclement weather. Some traditional de-icing salts and anti-slip treatments contain harmful chemicals that may be tracked indoors, posing risks to patients, staff, and visitors.
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The IPM in Health Care Facilities Project promotes safer pest and weed management best practices that are effective and protect the public and environment. Exposure to harmful pesticides can cause or exacerbate the very issues for which patients/residents are being treated. We are dedicated to keeping you updated on important news and research. We support your efforts to ensure a protected and toxic-free environment for your facility and those you serve —
and ALL our IPM in Health Care Facilities Project services are FREE.
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