Biohazards, Pathogens and Bleach: Why it’s Important to Clean up After the Tough Stuff

A traumatic event, like a suicide, often leaves behind a concoction of biohazardous waste. A fatal gunshot wound can leave behind many types of bodily fluids and tissue inside a space, but traumatic or fatal events that occur outdoors must also be attended to. Human tissue and fluids are contaminants that become harmful in two ways: either the tissue contains bacteria or viruses due to infections contained in the person’s body before the traumatic event, or bacteria will begin to grow on any organic matter as a result of the decomposition process.

Infectious Diseases Present Before the Event and the Problem of Biodegradability

Many bloodborne pathogens like the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can remain active in displaced bodily fluids. If a passerby were to encounter these things, there would be potential for transmission, putting others at risk. Not all these pathogens come in the form of harmful infections that someone’s body was fighting prior to the event. Urine, for example, is a sterile substance that is rich in minerals. It causes problems because the combination of the moisture and the minerals creates ideal conditions for microorganisms like bacteria and fungi to grow and thrive. The big risk is that if humans encounter it, the bacteria will start to break down their tissues too. You may also face air quality issues in the form of odors indoors if organic matter is left behind for bacteria to grow on.

Disposal by Chemical Dissociation

Bacteria and viruses can be killed when they come into contact with substances that break down the chemical bonds in their cells. A classic example of this would be the reactivity of chlorine in bleach. When the chlorine atoms react with biohazards like bacteria and viruses, it bonds to the outer protein and lipid structures, rendering them inactive.

Trauma cleanup teams utilize this by introducing bleach to the bodily fluids found at the scene of a traumatic event. A typical procedure involves collecting the biohazardous liquids in leak-free containers, and then introducing bleach. After sufficient time has passed for the reaction to occur, the waste can be disposed into sewers.

Disposal by Incineration

Solid biohazards, or pathological waste like brain matter and bone fragments, cannot be broken down by bleach. Instead, it must be incinerated. The cremation of remains for funeral proceedings would be one example of disposing of the biohazardous waste, the body, by incineration. Chemically, this is facilitated by oxygen molecules reacting with the outer protein and lipid structures to render the pathogens harmless. Trauma cleanup practices involve making arrangements for offsite incineration, where the waste is taken away to be incinerated elsewhere.

Only one in ten suicide attempts result in death. Accidents in the home can also result in significant injuries that cause damage to the home. Whatever your reason for requiring trauma cleanup, there are local, trained professionals available that can remediate a scene effectively and safely to ensure there is no biohazardous danger left behind that may put others at risk.

Alliance Environmental Group is one of the leading environmental companies in California offering services including asbestos removal, mold remediation, lead paint removal, demolition, air duct, dryer vent, site, and kitchen exhaust hood cleaning, power washing, infection control, structural pasteurization, trauma (www.alliance-enviro.com/services/trauma-cleanup), methamphetamine lab, and hoarding cleanup. https://info.alliance-enviro.com/blog.

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