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Chemicals in New Carpet

Carpeting is one of the most popular floor coverings in homes, offices and schools. What most owners of freshly installed carpet may not know is that the chemicals behind that new-carpet smell can pose dangers to people. Because they may contain chemicals that are hazardous, toxic or potentially carcinogenic, new carpets should be handled carefully and properly to prevent illness.

  1. Volatile Organic Compounds

    • Volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs, are chemicals emitted into the air as gases and come from a variety of chemicals. VOC chemicals that are often found in new carpets include toluene, benzene, acetone and even formaldehyde, the chemical used to preserve corpses. VOCs can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, and headaches. Longterm effects of VOCs can include damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system. Concentrations of VOCs found indoors, such as in new carpeting, can be as much as 10 times higher than those found outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To limit exposure to the VOCs after carpet installation, leave doors and windows open to increase ventilation.

    Carcinogens

    • Carcinogens are substances known to aggravate and increase the development or progression of cancer in humans. Although many products and foods that humans ingest have trace amounts of certain carcinogens, new carpets can emit a dangerously strong variant. The chemical p-Dichlorobenzene, a known carcinogen that propagates birth defects, is common in most new carpets. Other side effects of the chemical include hallucinations, nerve damage and respiratory illness.

    4-PC

    • That new carpet smell comes from the use of 4-PC, a chemical used in the latex backing of 95 percent of carpets, according to ecomall.com. The chemical is known to cause eye, nose and upper respiratory complications. The company 3M found that the chemical was shown to cause fertility problems in lab mice, so it stopped using it in its Scotchguard product. The chemical is still used by other companies in carpets and the longterm effect on humans has not been determined.

    PBDE

    • The chemical used to provide a fire retardant seal on carpet often contains PBDE. That chemical is linked to several negative health effects, such as thyroid and immune system damage and diminished brain function.

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