Formaldehyde in Carpets and Flooring

Recently, the Daily Mail published an article about a study conducted by the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research about the health of 450 new mothers and their babies.  The study also examined whether new furniture, PVC sheeting, flooring or carpets had been installed in the participants’ homes and air samples were collected to determine if volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were off-gassing from any new materials.

According to the article, those children from parents with a history of allergies were over five times as likely to be treated for wheezing by the age of one by their doctor if new flooring was installed during the mother’s pregnancy.  Like many other household materials and furnishings, many types of flooring and carpets can be a source of chemical emissions, including VOCs. These may also come from adhesives and padding products used during installation. Exposure to these VOCs may cause irritation to the skin, eyes, nose and throat or headaches, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Carpeting is also known to act as a sink for chemical and biological pollutants which may include pesticides, mold, dust mites and other materials. Anything that is tracked onto, or settles into it can become lodged.  VOCs from other sources can even be absorbed into many types of carpet fibers.

“It is always a good idea to have new carpets and flooring installed during those times of the year when windows can be left open to help disperse any VOCs that off-gas,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading air testing laboratory.  “For those concerned that new flooring and carpets are causing problems in their indoor environment or that existing carpeting has become a collection area for allergens, EMSL provides a wide range of testing services. These include testing for VOCs and allergens that include dust mites, pollen and mold.”

To educate people about carpeting and indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, EMSL has sponsored an educational video that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/bgymIKxnsAY.

To learn more about testing services for indoor pollutants or other environmental, health and safety issues, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, industrial hygiene, food and materials testing services and products to government agencies, industry professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.