Sometimes we feel like a canary in a coal mine. We're very sensitive to odors. We've alerted landlords and employers to undetected natural gas leaks. We smell mildew and must and cigarette smoke from a mile away.
This week was not a good one, from a canary's point of view. Tuesday we had to leave a store that had just installed new carpets -- the off-gassing (the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and other air pollutants that are used in the manufacturing process) was too strong. And yesterday we spent too much timing looking at an apartment with new carpeting -- and within a short time we ended up sick in bed.
Even if your nose (and lungs) isn't as sensitive as ours, the off-gassing is there, and it's not good for you. What can you do?
I worked in a building that installed "green" carpet with "green" glue and the off-gassing was horrible for weeks; people were getting physically ill. The company finally had to buy industrial sized air purifiers and kept them running 24 hours a day. The windows and doors were all kept open. Even so, it took many weeks to get rid of the fumes.
Not many installers use those nasty chemical glues for installing...
My father is in commercial floor covering sales, and can't tell you how many times his company has been sued by employees of a company that just received new carpet.
Only to find out that the carpet was installed with velcro, or some other newer 'hi-tech' glue that isn't chemically based or create fumes.
They were just out to get some free money...
Thanks for this post. Off-gassing of new carpets, furniture, mattresses, paint etc. is a bigger health risk than many people realize. There has even been a recent study showing there may (stress may) be a link between off-gassing from new carpet and SIDs (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Here are few things to consider:
Advice I got is, have new carpet professionally steam cleaned BUT insist that they use only hot water, none of the cleaning solutions (also a source of potentially harmful chemicals in your home). Then leave the windows open for a few days, especially as the carpet dries. This helps to speed up the off-gassing and get the chemicals out of your house. This is especially important to do before baby comes home if you have new carpet in the babys room.
Look for carpet and furniture that is tested and certified as low emitting or low VOC. Flor carpets are a good example: www.flor.com. Industries are making progress in this area and it will improve as consumers become more aware and ask for it.
Dont put nasty chemicals back in your home. Use natural cleaning products, or even better make your own. There are several books that tell you how. My favorite is called Green Clean.
I've read that tea bags will absorb a lot of the chemical gas released by new carpets. You can get a big box of cheap tea bags, throw them around a room and close the door. I'm not sure for how long, but it can't hurt to try it for a good week if you are super sensitive. Also, there are several plants that are really good at absorbing chemicals in the air. Check out the link: http://www.flowers.org.uk/plants/health/clean-air.htm
We just ordered a Stainmaster Carpet from Carpet One and they acted like no one ever asked them to air out their carpet for installation. In fact, the saleswoman never heard that new carpets release toxic gases and tried to convice us that this was just the "new carpet smell". Of course this is very comforting, NOT. The carpet will be in rooms we can close off and don't need to open (new addition)but I have a 13month old and am trying to find out whether this precaution is sufficient or if we should leave the house entirely. Don't want to over-react but I also hate to expose her if it truly is dangerous. Thoughts?