Carpets in New York City Getting Less Toxic With New Volatile Organic Compound Restrictions
March 22, 2012 Kyriaki (Sandy) Venetis As part of a green initiative to make New York City homes and offices healthier places to live and work, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has signed a bill which establishes limits on the amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) allowable in carpets, carpet cushions, and carpet adhesives.
Installing low-VOC emitting carpeting. Photo courtesy of CubeMe.com.
“Some VOC’s are known to cause chronic health issues including nausea, irritation in the eyes, nose and throat, and can cause damage to both the kidneys and liver,” said the mayor during the bill signing ceremony.
“By regulating the types of carpet that are sold and installed within the city, we are able to keep New Yorkers safe from these harmful chemicals,” he added.
Among the chemicals found in carpeting materials that are classified as VOCs are formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
Formaldehyde can also be found in things like pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard), furniture made with these pressed wood products, foam insulation, glues, durable press drapes, and other textiles.
At room temperature, formaldehyde can take the form of a colorless, pungent-smelling gas that can cause watery eyes. It can also cause a burning sensation in the eyes and throat, as well as nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some people exposed to elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million), according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans,” adds the EPA.
Acetaldehyde is predominantly used in the synthesis of other chemicals. Acetaldehyde is used in the production of things like perfumes, polyester resins, and basic dyes.
Exposure to acetaldehyde as an airborne gas can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract in people, according to the EPA, which adds that, “Symptoms of chronic intoxication of acetaldehyde in humans resemble those of alcoholism.” The agency also lists the chemical as a “probable human carcinogen.”
The new law prohibits the both the sale or installation of any carpet, carpet cushioning, or carpet adhesive in New York City that doesn’t meet low-VOC standards.
To be compliant, carpeting materials must adhere to low-VOC standards either established by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label certification program or other similar recognized certification programs.
New York City Council Member Domenic Recchia, the lead sponsor of the bill, said at a council meeting prior to the mayor’s signing that, “The bill (especially) recognizes the Green Label Plus program for carpets, which is based on the most recent scientific research as the appropriate standard for limiting carpet emissions. If a carpet has been Green Label Plus certified, it’s compliant with the bill’s standards.
“While the overwhelming percentage of American carpet manufacturers already meet Green Label standards, the majority of foreign manufactured carpets are not Green Label certified and many not meet the standards. It is estimated that these non-certified carpets make up 10 percent to 15 percent of the national market.”
To be deemed compliant with the new standards, carpeting materials will be required to carry a seal or symbol of a recognized green certification program.
The law will prohibit the sale and installation of all non-compliant carpet materials sold after July 1, 2013. Nothing in this new law will require the removal or replacement of carpeting materials installed prior to July 1, 2013.
Carpet business owners will be required to post notices about the new regulations in their stores in “conspicuous locations” on the premises for consumers to see.
Failure to comply with the proper posting of notices and recordkeeping could result in fines of up to $250. Violations in the sales and installations of non-compliant carpeting materials could result in fines of up to $500.
“These regulations will be enforced by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, as well as the Department of Consumer Affairs,” said Bloomberg during his speech.
As exemptions, the new law says that it will “not apply to antique or hand-made rugs or carpets made of natural fibers such as wool, cotton, or jute with no VOC containing carpet cushion or carpet backing.”
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