United States
Environmental Protection
Agency ,
October 1992
Carpet and Indoor Air
Quality
Introduction
The Environmental Protection Agency has*
developed a comprehensive program to
address both sources of indoor air pollution
as well as building systems that affect
indoor air quality. Carpet is one of the first
products which has received significant
attention.
EPA recently completed a year long .
"dialogue" with carpet floor covering
industries, unions, public interest groups,
and other Federal agencies to explore ways
of reducing the emission of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) from new carpet and
related installation materials, such as carpet
cushion and adhesives. The Dialogue was
initiated as a-pollution prevention program
following complaints that carpet was
causing health problems for some
individuals even though an evaluation of
available data failed to establish a cause and
effect relationship between carpet emissions
and reported symptoms. As a result of this
voluntary process, the carpet industry
agreed to test new carpet floor covering
materials for total VOC emissions and is
exploring ways of lowering emission of ^
VOCs from carpet products.
Evaluation of New Information
While no scientific link between the levels
of chemicals emitted by carpet and adverse
health effects has been established to date, a
recent preliminary study by Anderson Labs
found that mice exposed to emissions from
complaint carpets showed severe health
problems and in some cases died.
In keeping with EPA's commitment to
evaluate new information as it becomes
available, EPA is in the process of
attempting to replicate the results of the
testing conducted by Anderson Labs. At this
time, nothing is known about the nature
and concentration(s) of possible causative
agents to which the mice were exposed.
We also do not know the extent to which
the design of the experiment and the way in
which the study was run contributed to the
effects observed with the problem carpets.
Determining which factors may have
contributed to the severe effects noted in
the exposed mice will allow for an
assessment of the hazard potential of
emissions from these problem carpets
under defined conditions. Therefore, in
addition to replicating Dr. Anderson's test
results, EPA will conduct additional tests to
identify the contaminants the mice are
exposed to and evaluate the observed
biological effects. EPA will also evaluate the
different test parameters. This information
will aid in the assessment of the potential
risk posed by carpet Testing to address
these issues will begin in November 1992.
Tips for Consumers
When installing new carpet, the following
precautions are suggested:
• Talk to your carpet retailer. Ask for
information on emissions from carpet.
Printed on Recycled Paper
-------
• Ask the retailer to unroll and air out the
carpet in a well-ventilated area before
installation.
i
• Ask for low-emitting adhesives if
adhesives are needed.
• Consider leaving the premises during
and immediately after carpet installation.
You may wish to schedule the installation
when most family members or office
workers are out.
• Be sure.the retailer requires the installer
to follow The Carpet and Rug Institute's
installation guidelines.
• Open door and windows. Increasing the
amount of fresh air in the home will reduce
exposure to most chemicals released from
carpet During and after installation, use
window fans and room air conditioners to
exhaust fumes to the outdoors. If you have
a ventilation system, be sure it is in proper
working order. Operate it during
installation, and keep it running for 48 to 72
hours after the new carpet is installed.
• Contact your carpet retailer if
objectionable odors.persist. ...
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions
for proper carpet maintenance.
For Further Information
To obtain a copy of the Carpet Policy
Dialogue brochure "Indoor Air Quality and
New Carpet - What You Should Know",
write to Consumer Information Center,
Dept. 620-Y, Pueblo, CO 81009
For more information on indoor air
pollution, call IAQ INFO at 1(800) 43&4318.
------- |