A person’s ability to smell is a unique process that is first detected by neurons which dangle into the nasal cavities, which will then alert your brain to the odor. This is the process in which a person will undergo when they walk into a hospital with that specific hospital stench. The overall smell of an indoor space or environment such as a hospital can taint an individual’s experience and leave a negative impression in their mind of this indoor environment for a long time to come. Therefore, many hospitals and other commercial healthcare facilities have started to turn to air quality solutions that will help to both clean the indoor air of these environments and remove odorous compounds in the air that can be compromising the indoor environment.
In this article we are going to learn more about the smells and odors that develop inside of a hospital, the causes behind these indoor odors, and the best commercial grade odor solutions that can be used in hospitals or other healthcare facilities to remove hospital smell from the air.
What Do Hospitals Smell Like
Hospitals and their acquired odor is formed from the amalgam of sources that can be present in this indoor space such as bodily fluids, chemicals used during surgery, or even sterilization chemicals that are used to clean around the hospital to disinfect bacteria, viruses, and other airborne diseases in the indoor space. When it comes to the distinct smell of “hospital smell” there are several factors that will impact this such as the specific areas in the hospital (such as the different hospital wings like ICU, labor and delivery, etc.), where the hospital is located and what outside factors can influence the odor in the indoor space, and the amount of traffic that the office gets since more people in and out will increase potential odor buildup in the air.
Among the different odors used to describe the smell of a hospital many people will label the smell as “sterile”. Hospitals have to maintain a certain level of cleanliness and sterilization to stay within regulations, especially since there are a variety of different airborne illnesses that can be present within this space that are spread from individuals in this indoor environment. One of the many methods used to clean a hospital is to use effective, high strength chemical cleaning agents that will be applied on surfaces and in the air to combat these potential hazards in the air space. These chemical cleaning agents are usually a main component to the sterilization smell that is filled within this “hospital smell”.
Medical Odors
When it comes to the variety of medical odors that are produced within the indoor space of a hospital, the list can go on and on. Each hospital is different and thus they will deal with specific medical conditions and odors that will fill the air of this commercial space. Inside of a hospital, specifically a hospital room, there are a variety of surfaces in this space that can become contaminated by certain odors such as floors, counters, bed pans, hospital gowns, bathroom, etc. No matter where the odors spread to or what kind of odor it is, it will ultimately impact the entire airspace within the environment of the hospital.
The different medical odors that a hospital may be hit with can include anything from urine/feces, vomit, sweat, and even blood can all be bodily fluids that can become emitted from a person that will taint the indoor air space of the hospitals air. When these bodily fluids become released into the air of a this medical facility it will lead to noxious odors in the air that can be displeasing to those admitted in the hospital, their families visiting them in these facilities, and even healthcare workers that are working in the hospital.
Pollutant and Odor Problems in Hospitals
Indoor spaces have recently come into question, as it was found by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) that indoor air was 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, and this can be due to a number of different causes and sources. Many indoor environments, and even commercial indoor environments, will trap airborne pollutants within the air space and lead to an over-accumulation of pollutants in the air which will affect the overall indoor air quality in these environments. Hospitals, in particular, have a likelihood to be exposed to more airborne pollutants than most indoor spaces due to the number of sick people in this space that can spread airborne illnesses through the air. In addition, as we discussed earlier odors can also develop from the emission of bodily fluids that are released from patients within this space, which can also contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Medical hospitals are facilities that will engage in general medicine, surgery, and specialty services, all of which may produce pollutants into the air of this confined space. These industries commercial environments have to implement pollution prevention strategies not only to help comply with federal, state, and local laws but to also minimize the impacts on human health and in the environment of this indoor space. The solutions that have been used in hospitals for indoor air quality maintenance and odor mitigation will include air quality products such as air purifiers and air filters that will work specifically to filter the indoor air of a home from airborne pollutants, allergens, microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, etc.), and even noxious odors present in the air that can be contributing to the hospital smell.
Hospital Odor Control
When it comes to odors specifically that are present in the confined space of a hospital it will be important to have the proper mitigation tools within this indoor environment to help reduce and eliminate noxious odors from the airspace of this healthcare facility. Hospital odors will find themselves embedded in the fabric and materials of a variety of items in these facilities such as bedding, curtains, furniture, upholstery, and clothing. Thus, the vital important of washing these and cleaning these items thoroughly as frequently as possible to reduce odors and to try to improve the overall indoor air quality within this environment. When it comes to cleaning upholstery and furniture the best method is to scrub clean the items with a disinfectant solution that will eliminate germs and bacteria, as well as noxious odors stuck in the fibers.
Whereas bedding and clothing that are used in hospitals can be washed using both a disinfectant laundry detergent as well as an odor eliminating laundry enhancer. The EnviroKlenz Laundry Enhancer is a revolutionary odor removing product that contains a proprietary earth mineral technology that works to capture, contain, and neutralize odors without the use of chemicals or masking agents. This laundry enhancer can easily be integrated into any wash load with the use of hot water, and high agitation to quickly and effectively neutralize all odors stuck on the materials.
Filters & Air Purifier for Hospital Odors and Pollutants
Air quality filters and air purifiers are two of the most commonly used solutions in hospitals for air pollutant and odor mitigation in this indoor air space. There are a variety of different types of air filtration technologies that can be used to filter the indoor space of a commercial environment including carbon, ionization, ozone, and other popular methods of air filtration. Each of these different air filtration technologies will work in specific ways to eradicate and remove odors from the airspace of an indoor environment. Some work by absorption where pollutants will collect and gather on a filter media, others will work by creating and emitting byproducts into the air to collect indoor air pollutants.
The EnviroKlenz Air Purifier & HVAC Filter contains the proprietary earth mineral materials that is a revolutionary technology that will work to specifically neutralize and break down a variety of airborne pollutants including noxious and toxic chemicals and odors. The proprietary, patented earth mineral technology of the EnviroKlenz engineered air filtration for air purifiers or HVAC filters has been a scientifically and field proven choice for the safe, rapid, convenient, and cost-effective restoration of indoor environments from toxic and noxious odors and vapors that are airborne within this indoor space. The EnviroKlenz technology favorably interacts with the diverse chemicals found in the smoke and residuals of cigar smoke, including the capability to remove and eliminate fine particulate matter through the implementation of a hospital-grade HEPA filter in the EnviroKlenz Air Purifier.
Mobile Air System
The EnviroKlenz Mobile Air System utilizes hospital-grade technology to provide maximum air cleaning efficiency for your home and office. It combines certified HEPA filtration along with our patented EnviroKlenz Air Cartridge to remove airborne pollen, dust, odors, mold, gasses, fragrance, VOCs, allergens, bacteria, and more.
✓ Patented Earth Mineral Technology works to attack the VOC and break down on a compound level.
✓ Powder coated metal housing – Made in the USA
✓ No chemicals or masking agents
✓ Will not release any chemicals back into your environment
✓ Safer and faster at removing VOC’s than traditional carbon filters and Peco air purifier
