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Operational Testing of Floor Cleaning Cloths for Household Remediation Following a Large-Scale Biological Contamination Incident
Citation:
Oudejans, L., D. Touati, AND E. Morris. Operational Testing of Floor Cleaning Cloths for Household Remediation Following a Large-Scale Biological Contamination Incident. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-17/126, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
EPA’s HSRP recognizes that the environmental remediation following a chemical, biological, or radiological event involves an interconnected system of activities that requires coordinated efforts to optimize cleanup effectiveness, minimize cost and recovery time, and reduce unintended consequences. Currently, EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) is evaluating decontamination technologies for Bacillus (B.) anthracis as part of remediation operations. Following a wide-area contamination incident, it is likely that homeowners at the edge of an exclusion zone, as advised by their local governments, may consider taking self-help actions using low tech approaches that would reduce their indoor exposure risk to biological spores migrated into their residential property. Self-help actions could include efforts to transfer biological spores from indoor surfaces to waste collection bins by vacuuming or dust sweeping utilizing disposable cloths or pads. The objective of this study was to evaluate the Swiffer® Sweeper® floor mop system (SSFMS) as a low-tech method to clean indoor residential floors contaminated with B. anthracis spores (the causative agent of anthrax). The SSFMS can be used with dry sweeper heads or wet mopping heads. The data in this report can assist responders, governments, and health departments in deciding whether to recommend these common cleaning approaches.
Description:
Report