The chemicals used in the manufacturing of carpet, interior furnishings and building materials may release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through a process known as off-gassing. Carpet can release volatile organic compounds into the air, especially when first installed. Emissions from new carpet are among the lowest of any household’s indoor furnishings and the most important potential source of VOCs is a component (styrene) of the latex used for the carpet’s backing. Other, less significant sources are dyestuffs and textile auxiliaries, if these have not been completely rinsed out during the process.

Less chemicals in carpet

In response, the carpet industry has reformulated carpets to reduce VOC emissions and may air out the carpets before installation. VOC levels tend to drop quickly over time.

Over the last 20 years, AW has monitored and reduced the VOC emissions from its products year on year, along with the other carpet manufacturers that make up GUT (Gemeinschaft Umweltfreundlicher Teppichboden e.V.). The limits established by GUT (emission values not to be exceeded) were also lowered sharply each year. These limits are many times lower than those used by AgBB* and the European Commission**, for example.

Today, a carpet that meets the GUT test’s strict criteria will in no way contribute to the pollution of indoor air. Only during the first weeks will extremely small quantities of VOCs, posing no health risk, be released. After this short period, emission will cease. In other words: fitted carpet is safe and poses no health risk whatsoever.

As well as limits on VOC emissions, GUT has also banned a number of substances from use in the production of carpets, or has established strict limits that must not be exceeded. This covers certain dye accelerators, colour agents, flame retardants and active biocidal substances.

If gluing a wall-to-wall carpet: do not use solvent-based adhesives. These can cause significant VOC emissions. There are plenty of solvent-free alternatives available for gluing your carpet.

* AgBB: Ausschuss zur gesundheitliche Bewertung von Bauprodukten, a German institution responsible for the health-related evaluation of construction products.
** ECA: “European Collaborative Action” Indoor Air Quality & Its Impact on Man, Chapter 5 of Report No 18.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)

Volatile Organic Compounds. This is the collective name for a range of hydrocarbon compounds that evaporate readily at room temperature. Three kinds of VOCs can be found in household products:

• Formaldehyde: this substance is used in industry as a preservation and bonding agent. It occurs in furniture and fabrics, but also in hundreds of household products.
• Organochloride: a large collection of, often powerful, chemicals. This group includes pesticides, solvents, cleaning fluids, PVC and PCBs, for example.
• Phenol or carbolic acid is commonly used as a disinfectant, but also in hard plastic, paint, fabric paint and varnish.

Specialists disagree on the extent of the problems caused by VOCs. According to some experts, most people are unaffected, whilst the substances trigger allergic reaction-like symptoms in some individuals. Others suggest that the combined vapours from VOCs are toxic and trigger irritation for almost everyone. The majority of VOCs are synthetic. They also occur in nature, however, in the citrus aroma of an orange, for example. VOCs cause irritation of the eye membranes, nose and throat problems, headaches, allergic skin reactions, nausea, fatigue and dizziness, for example. The concentration of VOCs is higher indoors than outdoors. Formaldehyde, organochloride and phenolic compounds carry the highest risk. People most often come into contact with VOCs through substances in paint and glue, housework products and pesticides.

The average house contains about 40 volatile organic compounds. We use thousands of products, often daily, that emit VOCs at room temperature. Among them are many household, gardening and kitchen products such as fabric softeners, paints, personal care products, cleaning products, construction materials and stationery products like glue, tape, markers, etc.

If you are using products that emit VOCs, ensure that your house is well ventilated. Tins of unused paint should ideally not be stored inside the house. Also, try to avoid sources of VOCs as far as possible.

Carpet allergy does not exist

It is a common misconception that carpet contributes to asthma and allergies in people. True, carpets accumulate dust and dirt in a far greater extent than hard flooring however the critical point is often missed. When a person enters a room with hard flooring, body movement and footfalls can easily disturb the particulates, stirring them up and carrying them into the breathing zone.

Carpet holds allergen-causing substances tightly and, as a result, keeps them from becoming airborne minimizing the level of allergens in the air. This translates to lower exposure potential.

Cleaning of carpets contributes to improved indoor air quality by reducing airborne particulate, allergen, bacteria and perhaps other substances. Regular vacuuming can lower allergen levels in carpets substantially and a HEPA vacuum has been shown to be more effective than a conventional vacuum.

For allergy or asthma sufferers, carpet is not the only important furnishing to be kept clean. Bedding, drapes, furniture and pets are also sources of exposure. In addition to vacuuming and cleaning, moisture management, clutter control and pest management are important allergen avoidance strategies. Elimination of a single or “most important” trigger does not provide sufficient improvement.

Allergy claims “unproved”

Professor Roshan L. Shishoo and Alf Börjesson, of the Swedish Institute for Fibre and Polymer Research, in an article for C&FR, call on the carpet industry to speak out forcefully and refute claims of health risks in carpets. The use of carpets in Sweden has steadily decreased since 1975. However, the authors point out that the occurrence of allergic reaction and other environmental sensitivity in the general population has increased.

Asthma and allergic reactions

When the immune system reacts to foreign substances (allergens), we call it an allergy. These substances may not be harmful in themselves (pollen, animal skin or fur, house dust mite excrement, mould spores or food items, for example).

The allergens find their way into the human body mainly through the skin and respiratory tract. The immune system attempts to render them harmless, through a, sometimes ‘exaggerated’, allergic reaction.

The symptoms associated with allergies (running nose, watering eyes, itching, shortness of breath, diarrhoea) are not caused by the allergen itself, but by our immune system’s reaction to that allergen. Known allergic reactions include hay fever or contact eczema, for example.

Carpet is not an ideal breeding ground for house dust mites

German research has shown that carpets are by no means an ideal breeding ground for house dust mites. Temperature and relative humidity are very important factors if house dust mites are to thrive. The three-dimensional pile structure of carpets traps fine allergen particles until the carpet is next vacuumed. In this way carpets prevent allergenic material (such as dust mite excrement) from finding its way into the atmosphere. As well as vacuuming, good ventilation of the space is of the utmost importance in the battle against allergens.

When carpet is maintained according to the rules of good practice, allergy and asthma patients are better off with carpet than with any other flooring!

House dust

Dust is an accumulation of tiny particles that includes bits of cloth fibers, paper, hair, pet dander, skin cells, dirt, and more. The most common allergenic components of house dust, however, are from house dust mites. Letting it build up can lead to allergies and other health problems, so it's a good idea to keep it under control.

House dust mite

Or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. This mite (length: approx. 0.3 mm) lives in house dust and breeds primarily in mattresses and pillows.

House dust mites are part of the ecological system in every living space and can be found in our homes during the spring, summer, autumn and winter. The hygiene (or alleged lack thereof) of residents does not affect the number of house dust mites.  

The house dust mite is found in all countries and climates, apart from at high altitude. There it is more difficult for them to breed. The house dust mite prefers a temperature between 21 and 26 °C and air humidity of 65-75%. Its diet includes human skin flakes in bedding and mattresses. The health complaints for humans are not caused by the mites themselves, but by their excrement. If this disintegrates, it may form particles so tiny that they can penetrate the alveoli in the lungs. There they will cause an asthma attack. Around 10% of the population of the Western world is thought to be allergic to dust mites.