Deep Dive - Biohazards

When biohazard cleaning, we must be mindful of all potential sources. Whilst some of these are well-known, there is a wide range of biohazards that we consider whilst working. This includes all biological material, plants, animals and their byproducts.

Human Bodily Fluids and Body Matter

Human bodily-fluids and body matter pose a particular risk to people as any pathogens that are present may be easily transmitted. Many diseases are host-specific, so where human bodily fluids are involved, other humans are at an acute risk of transmission.

• Human Blood (and its constituent parts):

  • This may pose a particularly high risk in liquid-form, but may also pose a risk when semi-liquid or dried.

  • Some examples of diseases/viruses spread by blood include Babesiosis, Chagas Disease, Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Chikungunya Virus, Dengue Fever, Hepatitis (Hep A, Hep B, Hep C), HIV, West Nile Virus, Yellow Fever Virus, Zika Virus and Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

• Urine:

  • You may have heard that urine is sterile. This is somewhat true, when inside a healthy bladder, but it may become contaminated as it travels through the urinary tract. Urine may also contain traces of blood, and therefore is treated as a biohazard.

  • Some examples of diseases spread by urine include typhoid and urinary tract infections (caused by bacteria such as e-coli, staphylococcus, proteus, klebsiella, enterococcus, pseudomonas).

• Faeces:

  • It comes as no surprise that faeces is classed as a biohazard. Whilst the risk is low from a health individual, faeces can carry a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

  • Examples of viruses and bacteria that may be transmitted by faecal contamination include norovirus, shigella, salmonella, E. Coli, rotavirus and Hepatitis (Hep A, Hep C).

• Saliva:

  • Primarily dangerous when containing blood.

• Vomit;

  • Emesis is the violent ejection of stomach contents, often in response to an illness. This means that all vomit should be treated as a biohazard.

  • Examples of pathogens that may cause vomiting include

• Mucus;

• Semen/Ejaculate:

  • Semen or ejaculate may contain a host of pathogens, such as HIV, Hepatitis (Hep B, Hep C), Syphillis, Gonorrhoea and Chlamydia.

Airborne Pathogens

If you have ever suffered from diseases like the common cold, flu, or Covid-19, you recognise the risks of airborne pathogens.

• Pathogens may be spread from one person to another directly, or through the environment. Sneezing, coughing, laughing, shouting and singing… they can all expel pathogens into the air.

• When expelled, bacteria or viruses may remain suspended in the air, latching onto dust particles and floating in microscopic water droplets. They may also settle onto surfaces, soft or hard, where some can survive for many hours.

• Airborne pathogens may be breathed in by other people, or if settled on a surface, touched and transmitted by the hands to the mucus membranes in the mouth or nose.

There are many tactics we employ to minimise the risk of disease transmission in high-risk areas. As part of our biohazard cleaning services, we complete proactive and responsive disinfection, targeting touch-points in your home or office, as well as using disinfectant fogging, to maximise our efforts.

Animals and/or their waste

Whether comprising of an entire animal, animal parts or waste (urine/faeces/vomit), this is treated as a biohazard.

• Animal Urine:

  • The risks of animal urine are markedly more severe than human urine. Animal urine can cause sinusitis, trigger allergies and lead to airway inflammation.

  • Animal urine, which often contains large amounts of ammonia, may damage human airways, and if severe enough, lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, and, in severe cases, asphyxiation, nasopharyngeal cancer or alveolar edema.

  • Animal urine may also cause Leptospirosis, a bacterial disease commonly contracted by dogs, rats and wildlife. Transmission to humans may cause liver and kidney disease.

• Animal Faeces:

  • The faeces of animals may contain parasites such as roundworm, which when transmitted to humans can cause a host of issues, such as blindness or liver problems.

  • Animal faeces poses not only a biohazard risk, but may also have a foul smell, which will require deodorising.

Our biohazard cleaning process utilised potent enzyme-based cleaners, helping to break down animal waste, neutralising biohazards and smells.

Sharps Waste

Sharps waste is a real concern in certain environments. Items such as syringes/needles, sharp tools (e.g. screwdrivers, drillbits, gardening tools, sharp kitchen equipments (e.g. knives, skewers) and broken glass may be present at any scene, and you must be acutely aware of the risks associated.

• The primary risk of Sharps is directly related to their umbrella name - they can pierce through human skin, bypassing the physical barrier and introducing pathogens directly into the human body.

• Sharps may be contaminated with a wide range of pathogens from the environment, including human or animal matter.

Moulds, Yeasts and Fungi

Whilst variants of these are all wonderful things, contributing to bread and cheese making, and fantastic pasta dishes, there are thousands of harmful moulds, years and fungi that are damaging to human health.

• Moulds, Yeasts and Fungi release spores into the environment, which when inhaled, may cause illness in humans.

• Touching mould within the home, or inhaling spores, may cause allergic reasons (with classic symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, rashes and red eyes). The allergens may also trigger asthma attacks.

• In particularly severe circumstances, with long-term, frequent exposure, people may acquire a lung infection such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

• Where fungi (i.e. mushrooms) have taken hold inside buildings, they may be eaten by animals and/or people (with particular concerns for young children). Whilst many fungi are perfectly safe, unless identified as safe by an experienced mycologist, they should be treated as inedible and toxic, and removed with haste.

The UK government has recently passed ‘Awaab’s Law’, solidifying the responsibility of social housing landlords to act quickly when problems (i.e. mould and damp) occur in social housing stock. There are movements for this law to go further, and cover all rented homes - we strongly advocate for this.

People with weakened immune systems are at a particular risk - if you have mould in your home and are currently undergoing chemotherapy, have HIV, or are taking immunosuppressant medication, it is important that you contact your local council (if in social housing). We are also able to assist with mould remediation as part of our biohazard cleaning services.

Pests and Insects