Clearing the air: how to breathe easier at home

E: The Environmental Magazine, July-August, 2005 by Melissa Knopper

Most people look to the sky for billowing smokestacks when they're concerned about air pollution. But Karen Spector of the Los Angeles-based Children's Health Environmental Coalition (CHEC) says parents of young children usually look down. "We get so many calls from people concerned about new carpeting--they're worried about the strong smell," Spector says.

And rightly so. Americans spend nearly 90 percent of their time indoors, according to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study. And EPA researchers estimate the air inside our homes is two to five times more polluted than the outside air.

While indoor air pollution is an important priority for everyone, parents of babies and toddlers tend to worry about it the most. Statistics show childhood asthma rates are rising, along with certain types of childhood cancer. Approximately 20 percent of American children have asthma, and it sends 160,000 kids to the hospital each year, according to the Mt. Sinai Center for Children's Environmental Health.

As adults, we spend hours working inside unhealthy office buildings with very little control over what we are breathing. As a result, more doctors are diagnosing people with immune system disorders such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

Household Dangers

Health experts believe the large number of chemicals we use in our homes contribute to the problem. Luckily, many companies are now starting to offer viable alternatives, such as nontoxic paint and organic cotton shower curtains.

To make your home less toxic, it makes sense to start from the bottom up, says CHEC's Spector--especially if you have a crawling baby or toddler. Many well-meaning parents invest in new wall-to-wall carpeting in the nursery to create a cozy and fall-proof environment for their baby. But synthetic carpet probably isn't the best choice, Spector says. "Solvents used in the manufacturing process, or volatile organic compounds (VOC's), give wall-to-wall carpet its strong smell," she explains. But those chemicals have caused seizures and neurological damage in some children and chemical hypersensitivity in adults.

Once the carpet is installed, it's like a sponge that soaks up dirt, germs, mold spores and dust mites. It's hard to clean. And often, the spot cleaners or toxic chemicals professional cleaners use are worse than the carpet itself, Spector says. (The most reputable companies have an Institute for Carpet Cleaning and Restoration certification: www.iicrc.org).

Instead of synthetic carpeting, Spector suggests a natural-fiber throw rug made of wool, cotton, jute or sea grass. "Area rugs are easier to care for and replace," she says.

For people who need to keep their wall-to-wall carpet, Spector suggests going with a company such as the Atlanta-based Interface Carpets (www.interfaceflor.com), which has made a commitment to environmental health. Interface agrees to air out all of its carpet in a warehouse before installing it.

The company's residential line, Flor, comes in tile-sized squares. "You can take the affected section and either replace it or clean it and put it back," says Daniel Price, an Interface microbiologist. Price helped develop a special nontoxic preservative to prevent mold and bacteria growth in the carpet. Flor products are made of post-consumer plastic, and they can be recycled.

If you must buy traditional carpet, Spector says it's wise to plan a vacation around the installation. Let the new carpet air out for at least 48 hours. Avoid VOC-laden glue; tack strips are better. Check into the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program for low-VOC products (www.carpet-rug.com).

The Miseries of Mold

Moisture, and the mold it creates, is another top indoor air concern, according to Gina O'Connell, a health educator with the American Lung Association's Health House program. Tiny mold spores can get into the lungs and cause asthma and other respiratory problems.

Dust mites reproduce more quickly in humid weather. Humidity also causes formaldehyde gas to seep out of pressed-wood furniture, O'Connell says. In humid parts of the country, it's probably wise to invest in a dehumidifier, she says. The Lung Association says it's best to keep the humidity between 35 and 55 percent. At the very least, homeowners should install exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen, O'Connell adds.

Other top indoor air threats include radon gas, which seeps into basements through foundation cracks, and carbon monoxide gas (from malfunctioning furnaces or auto exhaust). Carbon monoxide can be a killer and justifies the expense of a detector.

Often, indoor air problems will disappear with common-sense solutions such as washing bedding once a week in hot water to kill dust mites or using a fancier pleated furnace filter. But some families need to be more vigilant.

What About Filters?

"If you have a child with asthma, and you've addressed all the sources of air pollution as best you can, then maybe you should look at a portable air cleaner for the bedroom," O'Connell says. In fact, people are buying more air purifiers these days, says Jill Notini, a spokesperson for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). Interest also peaked after September 11, when the federal Department of Homeland Security endorsed air cleaners in case of a chemical or biological attack (see www.ready.gov/clean_air.html).