How to Pick the Right Carpet for healthy indoor environment

1. Carpet Backing

Avoid:

• Formaldehyde: Carpets and rugs with formaldehyde in the backing or adhesives. Check labels and product specifications to confirm formaldehyde-free options.  Look for carpets and rugs with certifications like Green Label Plus, which ensures low formaldehyde emissions.

• Phthalates: once commonly used to soften vinyl carpet backing, have been linked to health concerns. While their use has decreased due to regulations, they still pose a potential risk. To minimize exposure, opt for carpets with natural fibers or those explicitly labeled “phthalate-free.” Look for certifications like GREENGUARD and OEKO-TEX, which often indicate lower chemical emissions and phthalate absence. Additionally, avoid synthetic carpets with vinyl backing and prioritize products labeled “vinyl-free.”

2. Stain & Water Resistant Treatment

Avoid:

• Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), often dubbed “forever chemicals,” are commonly used to create stain- and water-resistant finishes for carpets and other products. Despite their effectiveness, PFCs pose severe health risks and wreak havoc on the environment, as they are notorious for accumulating in water, soil, and the human body.

• Identifying PFCs can be challenging as manufacturers often omit this information. However, excessive water repellency, claims of permanent stain protection, and synthetic materials can indicate their presence.

Safer Alternatives:

• Certifications: GREENGUARD GOLD carpets mean low chemical emissions, including PFCs.

• Natural Fibers: Choose wool, cotton, or jute carpets, which require little chemical treatment.

• Natural vs. Synthetic Coatings: Although synthetic coatings offer better water and stain resistance, they emit harmful fumes, lose effectiveness over time, and require reapplication. Comparatively, natural coatings like beeswax, lanolin, and wool fat-based sprays are more breathable and environmentally friendly but may need more frequent application and provide less comprehensive protection.

• Washable Rugs: Washable rugs eliminate the need for stain-resistant treatments entirely. Use them in high-traffic or spill-prone areas, and place doormats at entryways while removing shoes to minimize dirt and moisture.

3. Flame Retardant Treatment on Carpets and Area Rugs

Flame retardant treatments are chemicals applied to carpets and rugs to slow down the spread of fire. While intended to improve safety, these treatments have become increasingly controversial for many potential hazards. Critics argue that in the event of a fire, the fumes released from burning flame retardants can be more harmful than the fire itself, posing serious health risks and making survival more difficult.

For example,

• Questionable effectiveness: There’s growing evidence suggesting that these treatments may not significantly increase fire safety, while posing substantial risks.

• Toxic fumes: When exposed to fire, flame retardants release harmful gases, making escape harder.

• Environmental Damage: These chemicals contaminate air, water, and soil, and persist in the environment and continually destroy the ecosystem, accumulating in soil, water, and living organisms, causing long-term damage.

Harmful Effects of Flame Retardants

Flame retardants contain chemicals like (BFRs) and organophosphates, which are linked to serious health issues, including endocrine disruption, neurotoxicity, reproductive problems, developmental delays and cancer.

How to Avoid Flame Retardants:

• Look for Certifications: Choose carpets and rugs certified by organizations such as GREENGUARD GOLD or Cradle to Cradle, which ensure low chemical emissions and safer materials.

• Choose untreated carpets and rugs: choose natural fibers which are inherently more fire-resistant and often require minimal chemical treatments.

For example,

• • Wool Carpets: Naturally flame-resistant due to wool’s inherent properties.

• • Natural Fiber Rugs: Rugs made from cotton, jute, or hemp, which generally do not require flame retardant treatments.

• • Check for Manufacturer Claims: Look for products labeled as “flame retardant-free” or “non-toxic.”

You can ask manufacturers if their products are flame retardant-free, for example:

• • Nature’s Carpet: Offers carpets with natural fibers without synthetic flame retardants.

• • The Green Building Store: Offers sustainable and non-toxic carpets and underlays free of flame retardants.

• Look for certifications: Purchase carpets with GREENGUARD GOLD, indicating low chemical emissions, including flame retardants.

• Consider washable rugs: These can be easily cleaned and maintained without chemical treatments.

4. Antimicrobials in Carpets and Rugs

What are Antimicrobials?

Antimicrobials are chemicals added to carpets and rugs to inhibit the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold, and mildew. These treatments are often marketed as a way to keep carpets cleaner and extend their lifespan, particularly in high-moisture or high-traffic areas.

How to Identify Their Presence

Unfortunately, consumers cannot tell if a carpet or rug contains antimicrobial treatments without specific product information. However, some indicators may suggest their presence:

• Terms: Look for terms like “antibacterial,” “antimicrobial,” “odor-resistant,” or “stain-resistant”, mold or mildew-resistant on the product label.

• Synthetic fibers: Carpets and rugs made from synthetic fibers are more likely to be treated with antimicrobials than natural fibers.

• Price point: Carpets that are more expensive often undergo additional treatments that include antimicrobial agents.

• Certifications and Warnings: Some carpets with antimicrobial treatments may come with certifications or warnings. If the chemical content is not clearly stated, be cautious.

• Manufacturer Information: Ask the manufacturer if their carpets or rugs are antimicrobial-treated.

Health Risks Related To Antimicrobials:

• Our Health: Continual exposure to antimicrobial chemicals can lead to respiratory issues, skin irritation, and other problems such as hormone disruption caused by antimicrobial agents, like triclosan.

• Environmental Health: These chemicals contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria which is not a good thing!

In short, as these chemicals seep out of carpets over time, especially through moisture, wear, or when discarded, chemicals gradually “leach” into the surrounding environment throughout the carpet’s lifecycle and cause contamination, which causes:

• • Water Contamination: They pollute our rivers, lakes, and groundwater, affecting the safety of drinking water and harming aquatic life.

• • Soil Contamination: When antimicrobial chemicals seep into the soil, they disrupt natural ecosystems and harm plants and animals.

• • Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Over time, the presence of these antimicrobial chemicals in the environment has led to the evolution of bacteria resistant to antibiotics, making infections harder to treat in humans and animals. This is a huge public health concern, as it can contribute to the spread of “superbugs” that don’t respond to conventional treatments.

How to Avoid and Find Alternatives to Antimicrobials in Carpets and Rugs:

• Choose natural fibers: Opt for carpets and rugs made from natural materials like wool, cotton, or jute. They often have inherent resistance to stains and odors, reducing the need for antimicrobial additives.

• Look for certifications: Some certifications, like GREENGUARD, focus on low chemical emissions, including antimicrobials.

• Select Untreated Options: Choose carpets and rugs with explicit labels stating that they are chemical-free, including antimicrobial treatments. Often, brands that prioritize sustainability provide products that haven’t been treated or have been minimally treated.

• When Selecting Untreated Carpets Use Natural Alternatives: Focus on ventilation and regular cleaning. Good air circulation prevents mold and mildew growth. Regular vacuuming and deep cleaning keep carpets clean without chemicals by effectively removing dirt, dust, and allergens from carpets. Natural deodorizers like baking soda help maintain carpet cleanliness and freshness without the need for antimicrobial treatments.

• Air quality improvement: To improve indoor air quality, use air purifiers that contain HEPA filters.