Clear differences in toxicity exist between chemicals. It is also clear that under some conditions, any chemical can harm individual people. Both the literature and the experts agree that there is a good deal of uncertainty about the intensity or pattern of exposure necessary to produce this harm. It seems that health problems that result from poor indoor air quality are often triggered by exposures that most people would have considered harmless only a few years ago. Faced with this situation, the Environmental Health and Safety Committee considers that the only prudent course of action is to keep exposures to all chemicals at as low a level as practical.
Chemicals are a part of our world.
It is clearly impractical to contemplate operating a modern university entirely without any chemical exposure. On the other hand, the Committee feels that we have come to accept, as inevitable, chemical exposures that we could actually avoid. The Committee has targeted some harmful chemical components of cleaning and personal care products that could be avoided. Avoiding these exposures will require efforts by both the University and individual staff, faculty and students. The strategies required to reduce exposure will undoubtedly differ from one class of chemicals to another.