Search Results (15)

Background: Bicomponent split microfiber reusable wipers and flat mops are innovative textiles used to hygienically clean healthcare surfaces and, hence, reduce hospital-acquired infections. Sustainability improvements are reflected as reduced energy and mass requirements over a life cycle. Methods: The environmental impacts of reusables were compared to disposable equivalents using standard life cycle assessment procedures. Results: With information from 80 hospitals, disposable flat mops and wipers were used at a higher rate than reusable counterparts; the disposable/reusable ratio was 2.3:1 for wipers and 2.5:1 for flat mop pads. Bicomponent split microfiber reusable products had lower impacts (65–95%) in all categories considered: global warming potential, natural resource energy, blue water use, and solid waste production. Discussion: Results reinforce other studies that compare reusable and disposable textile options in healthcare. Laundry energy is an important driver of energy use for reusables. The energy associated with water consumption for disposables’ supply chains is significantly greater than net water consumption for reusables laundry. Conclusions: Selecting disposables versus bicomponent split microfiber reusable flat mops and wipers increases these specific environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) impacts by 320% to 2000%, which is clearly not an environmental sustainability improvement. Group Purchasing Organizations may be barriers to hospital adoption of these reusables. Full article

Water management is a significant component of ensuring the pursuit of sustainable goals in an organization. Universities are known actors committed to developing responsible behaviors in students, including water consumption. The present research investigates the changes in student water-related behaviors in campus living, due to an information and persuasion campaign that took place in the oldest university in Western Romania. The research is based on a quantitative statistical approach highlighting the changes in students’ self-perceived importance allocated to water use and water saving, due to a communication campaign that took place on campus premises, with over 6000 residents. The pre- and post-campaign questionnaire rendered over 800 valid responses, ensuring the representativeness of the results for the given campus. The campaign described in the research targeted raising students’ awareness of sustainability issues and nudging pro-environment behaviors. The water management component of the campaign aimed at reducing water consumption in student campus living without affecting cleanness and personal hygiene, by making better use of the existing resources. Students responded positively to nudge messages for the reduction in showering time and a better use of laundry machines. The campaign led to a measurable reduction in water waste, but the results need to be reinforced through new campaigning, to maintain the water-saving behavior in the student population. Full article

Microplastic fibre (MPF) pollution is a pressing concern that demands urgent attention. These tiny synthetic textile fibres can be found in various ecosystems, including water and air, and pose significant environmental risks. Despite their size (less than 5 mm), they can harm aquatic and terrestrial organisms and human health. Studies have demonstrated that these imperceptible pollutants can contaminate marine environments, thereby putting marine life at risk through ingestion and entanglement. Additionally, microplastic fibres can absorb toxins from the surrounding water, heightening their danger when consumed by aquatic organisms. Traces of MPFs have been identified in human food chains and organs. To effectively combat MPF pollution, it is crucial to understand how these fibres enter ecosystems and their sources. Primary sources include domestic laundry, where synthetic textile fibres are released into wastewater during washing. Other significant sources include industrial effluents, breakdown of plastic materials, and atmospheric deposition. Additionally, MPFs can be directly released into the environment by improperly disposing of consumer products containing these fibres, such as non-woven hygienic products. A comprehensive approach is necessary to address this pressing issue, including understanding the sources, pathways, and potential risks of MPFs. Immediate action is required to manage contamination and mitigate MPF pollution. This review paper provides a systematic literature analysis to help stakeholders prioritise efforts towards reducing MPFs. The key knowledge gaps identified include a lack of information regarding non-standardised test methodology and reporting units, and a lack of information on manufacturing processes and products, to increase understanding of life cycle impacts and real hotspots. Stakeholders urgently need collaborative efforts to address the systematic changes required to tackle this issue and address the proposed opportunities, including targeted government interventions and viable strategies for the industry sector to lead action. Full article

In response to the growing global concern for environmental sustainability, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study was conducted to evaluate the environmental benefits of the “Formula Servizi” GREEN protocol compared to a conventional cleaning protocol, as mandated by the updated Criteria for Environmental Sustainability (CAM—Criteri Ambientali Minimi) for cleaning services. The CAM, effective on 19 June 2021, requires companies to demonstrate the environmental advantages of their cleaning protocols over traditional methods. This study aligns with the new CAM guidelines and employs UNI EN ISO 14040–14044 technical standards for a comprehensive comparative analysis. The study highlights the significance of maintaining hygiene to ensure safety in various contexts, emphasizing the importance of environmental sampling and monitoring to prevent contamination and infection transmission. Despite the complexity and expenses associated with microbiological monitoring, this research affirms its crucial role in validating cleaning procedures, particularly in healthcare facilities, food service areas, and industrial settings. The findings reveal that both the “Traditional” and “GREEN” cleaning protocols demonstrate satisfactory effectiveness in controlling microbiological contamination according to established guidelines. Moreover, the LCA results indicate that the “GREEN” protocol, while exhibiting higher water consumption and wastewater treatment, showcases a strategic use of more sustainable cleaning and laundry detergents. Despite the increased water usage in certain phases, the significantly lower environmental impact per unit of weight demonstrates the potential for optimizing both environmental sustainability and operational efficiency in future Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) endeavors. The comparative LCA further reveals that the “GREEN” protocol enables an annual avoidance of 260 g of CO₂-e emissions per square meter of cleaned surface. The most significant reduction in absolute terms is associated with the use of eco-labeled detergents in the laundry system, resulting in the avoidance of 654.1 kg of CO₂-e per year of service (−77% compared to traditional laundry detergents). Full article

Surfactants are increasingly used in systems that come into contact with the human body, such as food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and personal hygiene products. Increasing attention is being devoted to the toxic effects of surfactants in various human contact formulations, as well as the removal of residual surfactants. In the presence of ozone (O₃), anion surfactants—a characteristic micro-pollutant—such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) in greywater, can be removed using radical advanced oxidation. Herein, we report a systematic study of the SDBS degradation effect of O₃ activated by vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) irradiation and the influence of water composition on VUV/O₃, and determined the contribution of radical species. We show a synergistic effect of VUV and O₃, while VUV/O₃ reached a higher mineralization (50.37%) than that of VUV (10.63%) and O₃ (29.60%) alone. The main reactive radicals of VUV/O₃ were HO•. VUV/O₃ had an optimal pH of 9. The addition of SO₄²⁻ had almost no effect on the degradation of SDBS by VUV/O₃, Cl⁻ and HCO₃⁻ slightly reduced the reaction rate, and NO₃⁻ had a significant inhibition on the degradation. In total, SDBS had three isomers, with which the three degradation pathways were very comparable. Compared with SDBS, the toxicity and harmfulness of the degradation by-products of the VUV/O₃ process decreased. Additionally, VUV/O₃ could degrade synthetic anion surfactants from laundry greywater effectively. Overall, the results show the potential of VUV/O₃ in safeguarding humans from residual surfactant hazards. Full article

Textiles can be contaminated with pathogens during household laundering, potentially leading to human sickness. In this work, chitosan (CTS) was used as a substrate to prepare Ag/Cu-CTS composite, which was applied in laundering and showed a remarkable antibacterial effect on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The mechanical strength of Ag/Cu-CTS composite beads was higher than 400 MPa. The Ag/Cu-CTS composite were further characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. This composite had a strong inhibitory effect on several laundry pathogens, such as Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. Using a standard laundering program and 15 g of Ag/Cu-CTS composite beads, the antibacterial rates reached 99.9%, and no silver emission was detected, thereby satisfying the Chinese requirement for washing machines. After 160 runs of laundering tests, this composite still has an excellent antibacterial effect. For the first time, chitosan is successfully applied as an antibacterial material on household electric appliances. Full article

The objectives of the present study were to develop an environmentally friendly, low-price, easy, and fast method for developing antipathogenic (antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral) cuprous-oxide-coated multifunctional fabrics. The fabrics were first sensitized with citric acid, and then Cu²O particles were formed using the Fehling solution method. The cuprous oxide particles were then applied to the cotton fabrics. To create the Cu²O particles, three different kinds of reducing agents with varying concentrations were used. SEM, dynamic light scattering, FTIR, EDS, and XRD were used to examine the surface morphologies and metal presences. In the second step, a reactive antibacterial dye was made (by reacting Reactive Blue 4 with triclosan). The molecular structure of the modified dye was confirmed with FTIR. The resultant antibacterial dye was applied on the copper-treated cotton fabrics in accordance with the exhaust dyeing protocol. The dyed fabrics were characterized through the colorimetric data (L*, a*, b*, C, H, and K/S), levelness of dye, fastness properties as well as exhaustion and fixation rates. Cuprous-oxide-coated fabrics were tested for antipathogenic activity using quantitative and qualitative measurement results. The fabrics treated with cuprous oxide particles reduced with sodium hydrosulfite at 1 g/L seemed to have the highest antipathogenic effect. Moreover, the versatility of the hygienically developed bioactive fabrics in terms of their comfort properties such as air permeability and stiffness were investigated. Finally, the coating’s durability was confirmed by evaluating its antibacterial properties and performing an SEM analysis after laundry. Full article

Viruses contribute significantly to the burden of infectious diseases worldwide. Although there are multiple infection routes associated with viruses, it is important to break the chain of infection and thus consider all possible transmission routes. Consequently, laundering can be a means to eliminate viruses from textiles, in clinical settings well as for domestic laundry procedures. Several factors influence the survival and inactivation of microorganisms, including viruses on hard surfaces and textiles. Therefore, textiles should be regarded as potential fomites. While in clinical and industrial settings laundry hygiene is ensured by standardized processes, temperatures of at least 60 °C and the use of oxidizing agents, domestic laundry is not well defined. Thus, the parameters affecting viral mitigation must be understood and prudently applied, especially in domestic laundering. Laundering can serve as a means to break the chain of infection for viral diseases by means of temperature, time, chemistry and mechanical action. Full article

In the Water, Energy and Waste Directive, the European Commission provides for the use of household washing programmes with lower temperatures (30–40 °C) and lower water consumption. However, low washing temperatures and the absence of oxidising agents in the liquid detergents, and their reduced content in powder detergents, allow biofilm formation in washing machines and the development of an unpleasant odour, while the washed laundry can become a carrier of pathogenic bacteria, posing a risk to human health. The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP) to liquid detergents in low-temperature household washing allows disinfection of the laundry without affecting the properties of the washed textiles even after several consecutive washes. Fabrics of different colours and of different raw material compositions were repeatedly washed in a household washing machine using a liquid detergent with the addition of 3% stabilised HP solution in the main wash, prewash or rinse. The results of the antimicrobial activity, soil removal activity, colour change and tensile strength confirmed the excellent disinfection activity of the 3% HP, but only if added in the main wash. Its presence did not discolour nor affect the tensile strength of the laundry, thus maintaining its overall appearance. Full article

In this study, we analyzed the changes in South Korean and international fashion sharing websites before and after the COVID-19 pandemic to suggest ways to use fashion sharing services for sustainable fashion. Additionally, we evaluate the usability and accessibility of the site to provide usable data when configuring the fashion sharing service site. Changes in various elements of 21 domestic and foreign fashion sharing websites were analyzed. Five websites were selected and assessed for their usability and accessibility using Likert scales. Results revealed that the sharing price was approximately 30% of the selling price, and international websites offered more diverse brands, items, and sizes than South Korean websites. Regarding usability, “Rent-It” and “Rent the Runway” scored high points, and “Rent the Runway” had a high average value for accessibility. Additionally, despite the given circumstances, only two South Korean and a few international websites seemed to be advertising about hygiene, on topics such as laundry and sterilization. Therefore, in South Korea, focusing on one or two shared items, securing a wide range of brands, items, and sizes, and advertising hygiene is essential. A fashion sharing website focused on effective usability, accessibility, and product hygiene will ensure sustainable fashion sharing remains stable. Full article

Microbially contaminated washing machines and mild laundering conditions facilitate the survival and growth of microorganisms on laundry, promoting undesired side effects such as malodor formation. Clearly, a deeper understanding of the functionality and hygienic relevance of the laundry microbiota necessitates the analysis of the microbial gene expression on textiles after washing, which—to the best of our knowledge—has not been performed before. In this pilot case study, we used single-end RNA sequencing to generate de novo transcriptomes of the bacterial communities remaining on polyester and cotton fabrics washed in a domestic washing machine in mild conditions and subsequently incubated under moist conditions for 72 h. Two common de novo transcriptome assemblers were used. The final assemblies included 22,321 Trinity isoforms and 12,600 Spades isoforms. A large part of these isoforms could be assigned to the SwissProt database, and was further categorized into “molecular function”, “biological process” and “cellular component” using Gene Ontology (GO) terms. In addition, differential gene expression was used to show the difference in the pairwise comparison of the two tissue types. When comparing the assemblies generated with the two assemblers, the annotation results were relatively similar. However, there were clear differences between the de novo assemblies regarding differential gene expression. Full article

Marathon running leaves a significant carbon footprint regarding CO₂ emissions; for example, 37 percent of New York Marathon participants travel internationally to New York. The aim of this study is to estimate the CO₂ footprint of a person training and competing in a marathon; we will also propose methods to minimize the CO₂ footprint because of transportation. In addition, we also examine the influence of food practices and hygiene on training and racing a marathon. Methods: We estimated the annual carbon footprint of one person taking part in a marathon. We considered all training, racing, and travelling (local and international) for one person (we are going to give him the first name of “Henri”), and then compared his CO₂ footprint with his colleagues playing tennis and soccer. The excess CO₂ footprint whilst running and for shoes, clothing, books, magazines, insurance, travel, hygiene, laundry, and resources for electronics and additional food consumed were calculated. For competitions, we estimated and compared the CO₂ emission from transportation to national vs. international marathon (New York). Results: We estimated that our runner emitted 4.3 tons of CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e), including all greenhouse gases. A transatlantic flight to New York corresponded to 3.5 tons CO₂, which is 83% of the annual carbon footprint of an average French citizen which is about 11 tons CO₂e/year. This leads to a sudden 40% increase in Henri’s annual carbon footprint. Conclusions: By focusing on the additional carbon footprint from one year of marathon training and racing, and traveling locally versus internationally, this sport still has a potentially significant carbon footprint that runners and race organizers ought to consider. We wanted to answer a growing question of marathon runners who are wondering about the carbon footprint of their sports practice in following with a new environmentalist trend that considers not traveling anymore to participate in marathons and to stay local. However, the representativeness in the selection of calculation objectives is very low. There is no need for statistics since this study is a theoretical simulation of traditional training and competition practices of marathon runners. Full article

A hygienic environment is essential to provide quality patient care and prevent healthcare-acquired infections. Understanding costs is important to budget for service delivery, but costs evidence for environmental health services (EHS) in healthcare facilities (HCFs) is lacking. We present the first systematic review to evaluate the costs of establishing, operating, and maintaining EHS in HCFs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We systematically searched for studies costing water, sanitation, hygiene, cleaning, waste management, personal protective equipment, vector control, laundry, and lighting in LMICs. Our search yielded 36 studies that reported costs for 51 EHS. There were 3 studies that reported costs for water, 3 for sanitation, 4 for hygiene, 13 for waste management, 16 for cleaning, 2 for personal protective equipment, 10 for laundry, and none for lighting or vector control. Quality of evidence was low. Reported costs were rarely representative of the total costs of EHS provision. Unit costs were infrequently reported. This review identifies opportunities to improve costing research through efforts to categorize and disaggregate EHS costs, greater dissemination of existing unpublished data, improvements to indicators to monitor EHS demand and quality necessary to contextualize costs, and development of frameworks to define EHS needs and essential inputs to guide future costing. Full article

Modern, mainly sustainability-driven trends, such as low-temperature washing or bleach-free liquid detergents, facilitate microbial survival of the laundry processes. Favourable growth conditions like humidity, warmth and sufficient nutrients also contribute to microbial colonization of washing machines. Such colonization might lead to negatively perceived staining, corrosion of washing machine parts and surfaces, as well as machine and laundry malodour. In this study, we characterized the bacterial community of 13 domestic washing machines at four different sampling sites (detergent drawer, door seal, sump and fibres collected from the washing solution) using 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing and statistically analysed associations with environmental and user-dependent factors. Across 50 investigated samples, the bacterial community turned out to be significantly site-dependent with the highest alpha diversity found inside the detergent drawer, followed by sump, textile fibres isolated from the washing solution, and door seal. Surprisingly, out of all other investigated factors only the monthly number of wash cycles at temperatures ≥ 60 °C showed a significant influence on the community structure. A higher number of hot wash cycles per month increased microbial diversity, especially inside the detergent drawer. Potential reasons and the hygienic relevance of this finding need to be assessed in future studies. Full article

Persons experiencing homelessness in the United States experience significant barriers to self-care and personal hygiene, including limited access to clean showers, laundry and hand washing facilities. While the obstacles to personal hygiene associated with homelessness may increase risk of infectious disease, hygiene-related behaviors among people experiencing homelessness has received limited attention. We conducted a cross-sectional study of individuals experiencing homelessness in Boston, MA (n = 194) to identify hygiene-related self-care practices and risk factors for reduced hygiene in this population. Most participants (72%) reported taking a daily shower. More than 60% reported hand washing with soap five or more times each day, and use of hand sanitizer was widespread (89% reported using sanitizer in the last week). A majority (86%) used a laundromat or laundry machine to wash clothing, while 14% reported washing clothing in the sink. Heavy drinking, injection drug use, and sleeping outdoors were identified as significant risk factors for reduced hygiene practices. People experiencing homelessness who also engage in these activities may be among the most difficult to reach for intervention, yet targeted efforts may decrease illness risk associated with reduced hygiene. Housed friends and family play a critical role in assisting homeless individuals maintain hygiene by providing showers and laundry facilities. Full article