Fabrics and flooring treated with antimicrobial agents that prevent bacterial growth create more problems than they solve, according to an article on the FacilityCare website.
The chemicals used to make these products antimicrobial are commonly classified as pesticides/biocides.
Because of the bio-accumulative nature of pesticides, scientists are investigating the causal links between pesticides and the increased incidence of asthma and other respiratory diseases.
However, the use of natural materials can achieve the same result without exposing patients and staff to the risks of pesticides and their bio-accumulative toxicity.
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