CLEANING & HEALTH
Important facts
you should know about
cleaning, health, productivity
and absenteeism.
Decades of research demonstrate the link between commercial cleaning practices and the health and productivity of building occupants. In the 1990s, separate studies conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Cornell Medical College found that
high-performance cleaning led to the following improvements in indoor air quality and health.
Indoor Air Quality Improvements1
• 52% reduction in airborne dust
• 59% decrease in Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) concentrations
• 40% reduction in bacteria
Health Improvements2
• 24% reduction in reported illnesses
• 34% fewer doctor visits
• 46% fewer days absent from schools
In 2008, a landmark study reported in the Journal of Sustainable Real Estate3 further demonstrated the correlation between indoor air quality and health. This study of more than 3,000 tenants who recently moved to green office buildings reported an average 2.88 fewer sick days and a 4.88 percent average increase in employee productivity.
1 Indoor Environment Characterization Of A Non-Problem Building: Assessment of Cleaning Effectiveness, US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Cooperative Agreement CR-815509-02-1, March 1994
2 leonard R. Krilov, MD, Impact Of An Infection Control Program In A Specialized Preschool, American Journal of Infection Control, 1996:24:167-173
3 Does Green Pay Off?, Journal of Sustainable Real Estate, Norm Miller, Jay Spivey and Andy Florance, July 2008
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