Carpets and rugs,
like sponges, tend to both soak up and release pollutants.
Carpets and their
pads are havens for dust mites, which have been shown to
contribute to and worsen allergies and asthma.
Other pollutants,
such as pesticides, animal dander, lead dust, and chemicals from
cleaners and other household products, can sink into the fibers,
within easy access of children.
Synthetic
carpeting contains many chemicals in its adhesives and glue
strips, the underlay or rug pads, and additional chemical
treatments from stain- to moth-proofing.
Many of the chemicals
used on carpets are volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which
vaporize, or "offgass", easily into the air. Some VOCs
found in carpets include benzene, styrene, toluene, xylene, and
formaldehyde.
Although off-gassing
from carpets decreases significantly several months after
installation, carpets can emit these fumes for as long as five
years. And, old or new, carpeting continues to absorb allergenic
dust and toxic cleaners.
Safeguarding Against
Rug "Burn"
The best way to avoid
the pollutants associated with carpets is by removing the carpets.
"We had a
wall-to-wall carpet in our bedroom and on our stairs, and I had it
ripped it up when my daughter was diagnosed with asthma at two and a
half," says Patty Arlotta, a mother of two in Bronx, New York.
"Her symptoms have [now] greatly improved," Patty says of
her asthmatic child.
Floors made of wood,
ceramic tile, cork and other materials can be cleaned easily and
frequently. They do not "trap" dust and particles as do
carpets and rugs. If a softer cover is desired, floors can be
covered by washable rugs.
Many families can't
give up carpets altogether. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce
the risks associated with carpets.
What to Look for in a
New Carpet
Purchase carpets
made from natural fibers. Organically grown wool, cotton, hemp,
jute, ramie or goat hair costs are sound options. Organic fibers
are grown with no synthetic chemicals.
Purchase carpets
made with undyed or vegetable dyed fibers.
For minimal
chemical off-gassing, buy carpets
with no or little finishes, such as stain repellents.
To avoid
hazardous adhesives, choose a backing-free, flat-woven dhurrie
or kilim.
Purchase
untreated wool or camel’s hair felt pads rather than synthetic
foams, foam rubber, latex, or plastic underlays that contain
hazardous chemicals.
Allow time and
space for offgassing for all newly purchased carpets. Ask the
company to air it out in its warehouse for at least three days
before delivery. And, for at least 72 hours after installation,
open windows to disperse VOCs.
Don’t rip out
carpets when pregnant or if you have asthma, as this will
release plenty of dust and VOCs into the air. Keep asthmatic
children out of the home when carpets are removed!
Before laying
down new carpet, vacuum floors. Clean both sides of carpets and
pads.
Tack carpets down
rather than gluing. Or use low-VOC or water-based adhesives.
Keeping Carpets Clean
and Safe
To control
allergens from dust mites that live in your carpets, use
anti-dust mite sprays (that contain tannic acid). Vacuum at
least twice a week with a strong suction machine, preferably one
that uses a HEPA (High Energy Particulate) filter, or one which
traps dust particles down to at least 0.1 micron size.
Do not expose
synthetic carpets to direct sunlight or temperatures above 80
degrees F, as they emit more fumes when heated up.
Carpets harbor
allergenic mildews or molds in humid environments. To prevent
excess humidity, don’t steam clean dampened carpeting, and,
avoid wall-to-wall carpeting in bathrooms and kitchens.
When cleaning,
use mild cleaners instead of detergents containing solvents. You
can even steam clean without detergent. (Make sure the carpet
dries thoroughly.) AFM makes a gentler carpet cleaner.
Many
chemicals used in consumer products can be
released as fumes, or gases. The process
is called "offgassing." These
gases can become trapped indoors and
levels can increase in concentration over
time if there is poor ventilation. These
gases can also resolidify as particles
that settle onto surfaces and floors,
where they may be picked up on hands and
then ingested accidentally. Some products,
such as carpets and particleboard, may
offgas for many months, while others, such
as paints, offgas only when wet. [Top
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