The smell of something “new” can be wonderful. The perfect scent of a newborn baby, a shiny new car, or the smell of a new perfume.
But “new” can also make you sick. New coats of paint and stain can leave you gasping for air. As can new carpeting. Whether you like the smell of new wall-to-wall carpet, the cause of the odor can produce negative health effects.
Some rug and carpet manufacturers include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the production of their floor coverings. That familiar smell can linger for weeks and even months, which means you’re forced to inhale pollutants such as formaldehyde, ethanol, carbon disulfide, and many more you’re probably not familiar with.
Carpet odor emission, also known as off-gassing, can cause and trigger severe allergy and asthma problems. The fire-retardant neurotoxins found in some carpets also can also cause skin rashes and fatigue.
So, before you make your next carpet purchase, conduct a little research. You’ll be happy to learn that since 1993, carpet manufacturers are required to include a health advisory on their label that reads, “Some people experience allergic or flu-like symptoms, headaches, or respiratory problems, which are associated with the installation, cleaning or removal of carpeting.”
Better yet, confine your search to products that bear the Green Label or Green Label Plus symbol. These products have been certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) as the lowest emitting, carpet, adhesive and cushion products available on the market today.
Another way to provide your family with healthier indoor air is with a whole-house air filtration system from Optimum Air. We have several indoor air quality solutions to offer for every home and budget, and we’d be happy to help you choose the one best suited to your family’s needs. Contact us today for more information or a free in-home proposal.
