Does Carpet Emits Harmful Chemicals That Cause Health Problems?

Does carpet emits harmful chemicals that cause health problems? Many people are worried and ask this question often. A new carpet normally emits some forty different types of chemicals after installation. These chemicals are known as volatile organic compounds – VOC in carpet industry. With the use of carpet and passing time, the quantity of emitting chemical gases drops down. However, it takes at least a year before a new carpet releases most of its chemicals from its fibers. Although, your new carpet may look pretty, it might pose danger to your health. Even the glues used to fix the carpet properly with the floor and the carpet padding also emit some chemicals and contribute to carpet health problems.

Carpet Health Risks:

Many complaints are received by health centers from residents of home where new carpeting has been bought and installed. The health complains range from headache to fatigue and allergic type symptoms. It has been reported that carpet installers also develop a wide range of symptoms such as body ache and headache. Few workers working as carpet installers are found to have developed gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea once they have finished carpet installation. Possible carpet health hazards are additionally supported by such reports.

Although a connection between emitting carpet fumes and deteriorated health has to be ascertained and statically proved, it is advisable for you to use caution while going for your floor covering with a carpet. This is much more important if you have small children at home. Small children normally play on floor and are likely to be more prone to adverse unpleasant effects of VOCs.

Tips to keep in mind while deciding to install a new carpet:

– Call for sample:
Ask for the sample of the carpet you choose to install. Put this piece of sample in an area where you and your family normally spend most of the time. Keep it there for a couple of days and notice if any symptoms are developed.

– Make use of ventilation:
In order to have good and sufficient ventilation, keep doors and windows open as much as possible. Placing additional window fans, help venting away VOCs that are released from the carpet. You can also air the carpet before installation.

– Keep your children away for first few days:
The quantity of emitting chemicals is high during first few weeks after carpet installation. Hence, it is safe and better to keep your children away from the newly carpeting area to minimize their exposure to VOCs. This is very much important and demanding if your children have some allergies.

– Go for low VOCs carpets:
Carpets with low VOCs are costly. But, choosing such carpets help reduce risk of exposure to hazardous and harmful chemicals. Ecological friendly carpets emit minimum chemicals and a variety of such carpets are available online. Search on Google using the search word -Carpet with low VOC and you will find number of sites selling such carpets. You can also use low VOC glues during installation.

– Look for option to carpeting:
If carpeting is not really necessary, you should consider other floor covering methods like, granite tiles, hardwood floors or even vinyl flooring. Such flooring are ideal at home when you have family members with some type of allergy.

Simply speaking, make your research and select your new carpet wisely or consider using alternative flooring to protect your family from carpet health risks.