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.