UNION FIGHTS TOXIC MISTING OF AMBULANCES
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In a case with national implications for whether health care workers and patients can be treated like guinea pigs to discover the health effects of toxic chemicals, a New Jersey union of emergency medical services workers is battling Monmouth-Ocean Hospital Service Corporation (MONOC) to stop its toxic micro-misting of ambulances. The disinfectants used in the micro-misting have sickened approximately 100 union members and may have endangered patients traveling in the ambulances, according to the Professional Emergency Medical Services Association of New Jersey (PEMSA-NJ), Local 4610 of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the union representing most MONOC employees.
When workers initially developed symptoms, they did not connect their health problems to the ambulances. Even staff performing micro-misting had not been provided information on the disinfectant's health hazards. It was not until union leaders saw a May 2009 press release from MONOC advertising the micro-misting system that they began to suspect that medical symptoms could be linked to disinfectant exposures. The symptoms - migraines, sinus, respiratory, skin and bladder infections, nausea, diarrhea, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and esophageal ulcers - did not occur when MONOC used normal methods of disinfection. After October 12, 2010 when MONOC was ordered by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's Pesticide Control Program (DEP) to stop micro-misting ambulances with the first disinfectant, Zimek QD, they began micro-misting with a second disinfectant, Sporicidin. According to the union, workers then became more acutely ill with respiratory symptoms, pulmonary edema, and anaphylactic shock. At this point, union leaders concluded that the micro-misting was at fault. The union maintains that at least ten workers are seriously ill, including six who are unable to work. They are also concerned about children getting sick from residues carried home on their parents' work clothes. Union President Deborah Ehling prepared a fact sheet that her members have provided to their physicians to help inform them of the disinfectant's adverse health effects.
PEMSA-NJ is fighting on several fronts. They filed complaints with DEP, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While investigations by these agencies continue, union leaders worry that employee exposures and health problems continue, as well. President Ehling, a registered nurse, certified emergency nurse, and mobile intensive care paramedic, told WEC, "EPA is investigating not only MONOC but also Zimek Technologies, manufacturer of the micro-misting system. EPA is coordinating with OSHA, which is reviewing medical records of affected employees. We expect OSHA to enforce their Hazard Communication and personal protective equipment standards. We also want OSHA to use the General Duty Clause to cite MONOC for knowingly exposing their employees to serious physical harm from the micro-misting." OSHA cited MONOC in 2009 for violations of its Bloodborne Pathogens and Compressed Gas Standards.
The Zimek Micro-Mist System converts liquid disinfectant into negatively charged, respirable, dry, micron-sized particles, coating ambulance surfaces and entering its ventilation system, exposing workers and patients transported in ambulances for up to three hours. Micro-misting ambulances for disinfection is not medically necessary because normal disinfection methods, such as disinfectant wiping, are effective in preventing communicable diseases.
"The risks of the micro-mist method of applying disinfectants are not yet fully understood but are unfortunately becoming clearer", said WEC industrial hygiene consultant Eileen Senn, one expert assisting the union. Senn said, "It is possible the micro-misting creates particles, even nanoparticles, more toxic than normal fogged particles." PEMSA-NJ's fight may well have importance beyond New Jersey since the Zimek technology is being aggressively marketed worldwide by the company, based in Tampa, FL, to health care facilities, fire and police departments, and the private sector, for use indoors and in vehicles. MONOC claims that the micro-misting is safe in their communication with employees and others.
For more information, visit: www.njwec.org/NovDec10.cfm.
This article was written by Eileen Senn, WEC Industrial Hygiene Consultant.