Is New Carpet Smell Harmful
Getting rid of that new carpet smell.
Is new carpet smell harmful. Thus the epa has determined that synthetic carpet is a major contributor to in door air pollution. The popular new carpet smell is familiar to anyone that has had new standard carpet installed. Within a few days to a few weeks these fumes dissipate and the carpet no longer smells. Short of removing toxic carpeting and replacing it with a healthier alternative there is a way to significantly minimize the toxic off gassing of new carpet with minimal investment.
These are highly recommended as they off gas low emission chemicals. The vocs responsible for new carpet smell are 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch and to a lesser extent styrene. While new carpet is a welcome addition to a room the odor of that new carpeting can be a distraction. So as the new carpet gradually releases or off gasses the chemicals they enter the air where we can smell them.
There are many different types of vocs but the one related to new carpet odor is 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch a by product of the synthetic latex binders used to hold the carpet backing together. Please refer to this article. Much of the new carpet odor has to do with the adhesives used to secure the carpet into position as well as the chemicals used to treat the product prior to the installation. These chemicals also cause hallucinations nerve damage and respiratory illness in humans.
The new carpet odor is the 4 pc off gassing which can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and may also affect the central nervous system. The smell can be stuck in memory for decades to come and the health effects may stick around as well. 3 steps to remove new carpet odor. The new carpet smell is fumes off gassed released from the carpet.
This effective 3 step process really works to seal out toxins and lessen exposure to harmful chemicals in carpeting. Toxic emissions from new carpets that new carpet smell comes from 4 pc associated with eye nose and upper respiratory problems. While carpets are a somewhat safer than they in 1988 there are still toxic problems associated with. The adhesive used to affix the carpet to the floor typically contains benzene and toluene some of the most harmful vocs.
Consider installing solid surface flooring such as tile or solid hardwood flooring with area rugs instead of a fully carpeted floor. First go with a carpet that has a carpet and rug institute green label and green label plus tags on it. The fumes are called volatile organic compounds or vocs for short and one of the most notorious carpet vocs is called 4 phenylcyclohexenem aka 4 pc. Today the carpet industry has reduced but not eliminated the use of toxic chem icals in carpeting.
4 pc is used in the latex backing of 95 of us carpets.