The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recognizes that levels of indoor organics are found to be two to five times higher inside the home than outside, regardless of whether you live in a rural or highly industrialized area.
Buyers looking for a safe
paint alternative need to
be aware that many of
the newly developed socalled
environmentally
friendly paints being
advertised as “zero VOC”
or “no odor” paints, are
not necessarily
formulated with health
in mind.
Smog Alert!—Inside Your Home
Outgassing hits closer to home than you think; it is in your home!
By Doug and Andrea Hurth
They say that what you don’t know can’t hurt you, but when it comes to outgassing, what you don’t know about your home can hurt you. Every homeowner and contractor should be aware of the potential dangers and health risks associated with toxins found in conventional building materials before they undertake any kind of project, whether it is new construction or remodeling. Outgassing occurs when harmful chemicals or VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which may cause both short and long-term adverse health affects, are released into the air. Materials typically outgas into the air for a period of time, after which they are considered safe. For example, formaldehyde, a widely used substance found in building-related products and home comforts, is considered to be outgassed after five years, but may last up to ten; however, this can vary, and is affected by things like heat and humidity. In addition, a major problem with VOCs and other harmful chemicals is that they are invisible and often odorless which makes awareness and education key in detecting and mitigating problem areas in the home.
The major emitters of harmful VOCs found in the home, or in conventional building products include, but are not limited to, carpeting, paints, stains, varnishes, caulks, household cleaners, mattresses, plywood, particle board, veneers, and MDF (medium density fiberboard) often used in custom and prefabricated cabinetry. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recognizes that levels of indoor organics are found to be two to five times higher inside the home than outside, regardless of whether you live in a rural or highly industrialized area.(1) Such rates of indoor pollution go hand in hand with the rise in common health problems often associated with these chemicals, including, asthma, autoimmune deficiency, respiratory diseases, infertility, and so on. Moreover, children’s developing immune systems are much more susceptible to toxic overload from chemicals, so extra care and attention should be taken choosing products that will affect their immediate environment.
That new carpet smell known as 4-PC (4-Phenylcyclohexene) found in the backing of carpets comes along with a host of chemical by-products that make up the bonding materials, dyes, glues, fire retardants, latex binders (synthetic latex), fungicides, anti-static, and stain resistant treatments of synthetic carpets. Common complaints from the VOCs in carpet include headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, and more serious diseases like cancer. Because conventional carpeting is a substantial source of toxins and indoor air pollution, which in turn leads to a number of significant health risks, it is necessary to consider alternatives, or remedy your existing carpeting situation.
Click here to see a list of Major Indoor Pollutants
Remedies or Alternatives:
- If possible remove, or choose not to use, synthetic carpeting in the home, and instead choose a solid surface floor with a non-toxic finish, such as a sustainably harvested formaldehyde-free wood flooring, a reclaimed or recycled wood floor, natural bamboo, natural cork, or natural linoleum.
- Choose an alternative to synthetic carpets, such as natural fiber carpets made of wool, cotton, jute, or sisal. Make sure that the natural fibers have not been treated with insecticides for mothproofing, flame retardants, or stain resistors, which are toxic in and of themselves. Also, choosing a natural nontoxic carpet pad, as opposed to the conventional polyurethane foam, will not only make a healthy choice for your home, but will also mean fewer non-biodegrade synthetic carpets and carpet pads in our landfills.
- Treat your existing carpet with a safe sealer that will prevent outgassing, such as Carpet Seal by Safecoat.
- Another useful tool in combating indoor air pollution is a HEPA air filtration system with an activated charcoal filter. Systems are available for specific rooms or the whole house.
Another good choice for reducing and eliminating indoor air pollution is using a non-toxic, healthy paint. Buyers looking for a safe paint alternative need to be aware that many of the newly developed so-called environmentally friendly paints being advertised as “zero VOC” or “no odor,” are not necessarily formulated with health in mind. Just because something has zero VOCs, does not mean it does not contain toxic ingredients that cause indoor air pollution such as formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone or odor-masking agents, or that they are free from outgassing. Paints that contain masking ingredients are just covering-up whatever toxins are outgassing from the paint. (3) Many products also use formaldehyde because it is a cheap preservative, or they contain ingredients that give off formaldehyde when they are being used. However, there are some really innovative, healthy, non-toxic paint products available that even go so far as to seal off and create a safe barrier that locks in outgassing.
Unfortunately, when people buy carpet or paint for their entire home, or even common household cleaning products, this information is not readily available. Fortunately, there are “greener,” healthier alternatives to conventional building materials, and home comforts that are becoming more and more mainstream and therefore easier and more affordable to obtain. When you are shopping for green products, be sure to work with a reputable dealer who pays attention to the details, and knows and trusts their sources and manufactures. I’m always a little leery when a company that has been carrying conventional products, suddenly jumps on the bandwagon and comes out with, or decides to carry, one or two green products. Working with vendors who are committed to Green, and have the knowledge and experience to guide you, and will stand behind their products will assure that you are getting a genuinely green product that is truly safe. That’s good for the earth, and that’s good for your family! 
1 “The Inside Story:A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ww.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html
2 Leviton, Richard. The Healthy Living
Space. Charlottesville,VA: Hampton Roads
Publishing Company, Inc., 2001
3 “F.A.Q.S.”,AFM Safecoat, Building a
Healthier World, www.afmsafecoat.com
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Winter 2007