Health 705113_working_late

Published on December 7th, 2008 | by Joel Bittle

5

Never Mind the Earth, Green Your Home for Your Health


Emissions and Indoor Air Quality

While sustainability and energy efficiency often dominate the green building conversation, the issue that can have the most immediate impact on your family’s health is indoor air quality.  Green building programs seek to limit your family’s exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, that exist in some building materials and furniture.  Continued exposure to these VOCs has caused health problems ranging from headaches and nausea to cancer.  Green building programs like the US Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes and LEED for New Construction encourage builders to eliminate these emissions whenever possible.

If building green comes at a slightly higher cost it is because many of these harmful chemicals are so widespread that finding products without them can be a challenge.  In fact, it is the presence of these chemicals in some products that makes them cheaper, as in wood products containing urea-formaldehyde.

Those looking to improve the indoor air quality of their current house can make several changes that will significantly reduce VOCs.

Some sources of harmful emissions in the home:

Composite Wood Products

Urea-formaldehyde is used to expedite the gluing process of composite wood like plywood and particle board, allowing more to be produced.  Unfortunately, urea-formaldehyde is a health risk and a known carcinogen.  When purchasing wood building material, cabinets, and wood furniture, seek those with no added urea-formaldehyde.  Several particle board manufacturers, like Roseburg SkyBlend, use no urea-formaldehyde in their process.  Cabinet companies like Neil Kelly and Executive Kitchens offer cabinetry with no added urea-formaldehyde.

Carpets

Carpets can be a double whammy when it comes to VOCs.  Synthetic carpets, as well as the padding and adhesives, are loaded with VOCs and the American Lung Association reports that some people experience eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, skin irritation, and cough as a result.  Carpets also act as a “sink” for such pollutants as pesticides, dust mites, and fungi.  Alternatives include carpets certified as no VOC, hard wood (as long as it’s formaldehyde free,) and linoleum, which is hypoallergenic and is made from renewable resources.

Paints, Caulks, and Adhesives

Building products that require drying, like paints, caulks, and adhesives, use a solvent that evaporates into the air (and possibly into our lungs.)  If the solvent is synthetic, those chemicals used in the creation of the product become airborne.  Many companies have moved away from synthetic solvents toward a water based product.  Older homes should be checked for lead paint.

Proximity of Carbon Monoxide Sources

The two primary causes of carbon monoxide are cars and cigarettes.  If the garage is attached or located under the house, carbon monoxide can make its way up into the house if the car is left on.  Cigarette smoke in the house or near windows can contribute the the levels of carbon monoxide in a home.  Sensitivities vary but the most common early symptoms include headache and dizziness.  Prolonged exposure can lead to death.

Other Sources of VOCs:

  • Mattresses with synthetic or chemical based foam
  • Nylon furnishings, which may contain the carcinogen benzene
  • Rubber or leather products that contain xylene
  • Household cleansers high in chemicals
  • Stored gasoline and solvents

VOC Warning and Removal

Several indoor air quality tests are availabe, including carbon monoxide detectors.  Efficient ventilation systems can mitigate the amount of VOCs in the home.  Check out the EPA’s site on indoor air quality for more info.




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  • http://www.jm.com Bruce Ray

    If you’re really concerned about formaldehyde in the home, can I recommend Johns Manville’s full line of Formaldehyde-freeTM fiber glass building insulation? JM’s building insulation features all the thermal and acoustical properties of ordinary, formaldehyde-bonded insulation, but without the added formaldehyde.

    When we determined that formaldehyde is not required for fiber glass insulation performance, we decided to switch to an acrylic binder. We thought it was just a smart thing to do for our workers, the installers and the many people who enjoy the thermal and acoustical comfort of our insulation.

    Our research indicates that up to 80% of people prefer building materials with no-added formaldehyde if given the choice. Johns Manville wants them to have that choice.

    Green building and green product programs can be good but you need to read the fine print and understand the limitations. Despite what is written in the article, LEED for Homes does not do much to reduce in-home formaldehyde levels to actual health-based standards. The focus is mainly on dilution of indoor air formaldehyde and not on eliminating its sources.

    You can make your home healthier and safer if you reduce your overall exposure to formaldehyde. One way to do that is to use building products, like insulation, with no-added formaldehyde. There are now many building products with no-added formaldehyde that are readily available – these are literally off-the-shelf technology.

    Some products are “Greenguard Certified low-emitting.” But Greenguard is a program that is really intended for commercial construction and not the majority of new residential construction. This is because Greenguard uses the relatively high ventilation (i.e., dilution) rates required in commercial buildings and not the typically much lower ventilation rates in most new homes. Remember that most new homes are built tight to be more energy efficient.

    For more information you can go to http://www.jm.com.

    Thank you.
    Bruce Ray, Johns Manville

  • http://www.jm.com Bruce Ray

    If you’re really concerned about formaldehyde in the home, can I recommend Johns Manville’s full line of Formaldehyde-freeTM fiber glass building insulation? JM’s building insulation features all the thermal and acoustical properties of ordinary, formaldehyde-bonded insulation, but without the added formaldehyde.

    When we determined that formaldehyde is not required for fiber glass insulation performance, we decided to switch to an acrylic binder. We thought it was just a smart thing to do for our workers, the installers and the many people who enjoy the thermal and acoustical comfort of our insulation.

    Our research indicates that up to 80% of people prefer building materials with no-added formaldehyde if given the choice. Johns Manville wants them to have that choice.

    Green building and green product programs can be good but you need to read the fine print and understand the limitations. Despite what is written in the article, LEED for Homes does not do much to reduce in-home formaldehyde levels to actual health-based standards. The focus is mainly on dilution of indoor air formaldehyde and not on eliminating its sources.

    You can make your home healthier and safer if you reduce your overall exposure to formaldehyde. One way to do that is to use building products, like insulation, with no-added formaldehyde. There are now many building products with no-added formaldehyde that are readily available – these are literally off-the-shelf technology.

    Some products are “Greenguard Certified low-emitting.” But Greenguard is a program that is really intended for commercial construction and not the majority of new residential construction. This is because Greenguard uses the relatively high ventilation (i.e., dilution) rates required in commercial buildings and not the typically much lower ventilation rates in most new homes. Remember that most new homes are built tight to be more energy efficient.

    For more information you can go to http://www.jm.com.

    Thank you.
    Bruce Ray, Johns Manville

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