Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1335877
ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION FEBRUARY 3, 2021 Page 4 Continued on page 5 PSAI's 50th Anniversary—A Short History of Deodorizers…continued from page 3 The mid to late 1970s saw the introduction of non-formaldehyde deodorizers but these products lagged behind formaldehyde in terms of odor killing, particularly in extremely hot conditions. In 1987, Walex Products Company was founded in Wilmington, North Carolina and entered the market with a new non-formaldehyde formula that proved to be more effective than earlier offerings. In addition, a non-staining dye was also introduced. According to Corey Morton with Walex, "The new revolutionary non-formaldehyde formula helped operators move away from the harsh formaldehyde without sacrificing performance and also provided a safer working environment for employees." Evolving Challenges with Formaldehyde. Even today, the debate continues about the merits of formaldehyde-based deodorizers versus biocides that do not contain this chemical. So let's review the facts on which any operator can make the best decision for their company's needs. • Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring compound comprised of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon. It is actually produced in the human body in very small amounts. You'll find it in a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, and even coffee. It's also in pressed wood products such as particle board, plywood, and treated lumber, as well as in some latex paints, wallpapers, dish washing liquids, cleaning agents, and even in some cosmetics. • In recent years, however, environmental and health concerns have led to formaldehyde slowly being phased out of most areas of manufacturing including the higher concentrations in portable restroom deodorizers. Scientific evidence of formaldehyde as a cancer-causing agent was first reported in 1979. By 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified this substance as "a probable human carcinogen" and in 1999, the Canadian EPA declared it as a "toxic substance." Finally, in 2011, the US National Toxicology Program described formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen." OSHA has strict guidelines in place regarding employer responsibilities for protecting workers who are exposed to formaldehyde in their jobs. As new regulations are implemented based on the inherent toxicity problems with formaldehyde, wastewater treatment facilities are no longer equipped to handle formaldehyde, particularly as the volume of industry waste increases due to the ever-growing popularity and acceptance of portable restrooms. Consequently, it is still possible to buy and use formaldehyde-based deodorizer products today, and they can be particularly effective in areas of extreme heat. However, complications with safety and disposal mean that other products are on the rise. Innovative Deodorizer Professionals and Delivery Systems Lindy Boehme, now of CPACEX, began her career in 1990 working with another leader in the field of deodorizing products, Bob Shaw, and his company ChemPace. "Bob believed in developing relationships with operators as a way to introduce and to educate them as to the advantages of our products," says Lindy. "I was among the first in our industry to use [telephone] calling as a mainstay of our marketing efforts. There were no two weeks traveling each month for me." Fact: The 55-gallon drum of deodorizer that manufacturers were selling, using a five- ounce charge, could provide 1,408 services. As the portable sanitation industry grew, bulk purchases of deodorizer became commonplace. Corey Morton Lindy Boehme