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Research Shows
Cleaning Fentanyl Spills with Household Product Effective
(BOWLING GREEN, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Bowling
Green State University President Mary Ellen Mazey announced today that
researchers have determined that household cleaner OxiClean ™ has
proven scientifically to be effective in cleaning up fentanyl spills.
Scientists with the Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of
Forensic Science and the Chemistry Department at Bowling Green State
University performed an experiment with OxiClean Versatile Stain
Remover™, a household cleaning product, and certified through
instrumental analysis that it can be used effectively to clean up
fentanyl spills. The product contains sodium percarbonate,
a chemical which, in previous research, had been shown to oxidize and
break down fentanyl.
“This new scientific research is great news for Ohio’s first
responders, and responders across the nation, as we are all forced to
deal with the day-to-day reality of the opioid epidemic,” said Ohio
Attorney General Mike DeWine. “This is the kind of research that
can make a difference for Ohioans, which we plan to do more of at the
Ohio Attorney General’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science,
alongside our amazing scientific partners at BGSU.”
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) sent
out this bulletin today to more than 900 Ohio law enforcement agencies.
The bulletin explains cleanup instructions, including supplies needed
and proper protective gear that should be worn.
The research was conducted by Dr. Travis Worst, BGSU instructor of
forensic science, and Noah Froelich, a BGSU junior majoring in
chemistry and forensic science.
“This project perfectly illustrates what we envisioned when we
partnered with the Attorney General to create this center,” said BGSU
President Mary Ellen Mazey. “Together, we are providing our faculty and
students with tremendous opportunities to conduct valuable research
that has real-world benefits for law enforcement.”
“We plan on publishing our research findings, but we wanted to get the
word out about our scientific research as quickly as possible to help
those who have to clean up this very dangerous substance,” said Dr. Jon
Sprague, Director of The Center for the Future of Forensic
Science.
First responders with any questions regarding the instructions should
call BCI at 855-BCI-OHIO.
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