[http://www.rodale.com/green-
Mold growing on wood tacking under carpeting. When Future Environment
Designs performs an indoor air quality assessment we typically look at
what's on the floor to see if that is hindering or contributing to the
air quality problems. Carpeting is a problem because the average person
cannot clean it properly and if it gets wet you have to make sure you
dry it completely to ensure mold (fungi) won't grow on it or in it. We
have seen mold grow even on the wood used for the tacking down the
carpet as seen in the photo. My preference is non-porous materials on
the floor. Researchers are now concerned about certain non-porous
floors containing vinyl. As the above linked article at
Rodale.com "Caution: Floor May Be Toxic" discusses vinyl (PVC) and why
it should be avoided. The article says that researchers found that "PVC
building materials, namely, vinyl flooring and coated wallpaper, were
seven times more likely to contain hazardous additives when compared to
nonplastic flooring options." Vinyl flooring was also found to contain
asbestos, cadmium, lead, and flame retardants. "These substances are
linked to asthma, fertility problems, learning disability,
hormone-related diseases, and cancer." It seems we will have to change
our typical recommendation of vinyl floor tiles to linoleum, cork,
bamboo and/or hardwood floors. These floors are also approved for
points under the Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
system. The next time you are having problems with your flooring or
considering remodeling look at linoleum, cork, bamboo and hardwood as
better alternatives to vinyl floors or carpeting.
Related articles
Study Finds Flooring & Wallpaper Contain Hazardous Additives
(healthychild.org) Is Your Floor Making You Sick? (blisstree.com) Has
Indoor Air Quality Been Getting Better or Worse? (planetsave.com)
Kitchens & Baths: Clean & Easy Flooring (floortalk.wfca.org) Recycled
Flooring Recognized by Industry Leading Publication & Highlights the
Rise of Green Building in America (prnewswire.com) Tests Uncover Hidden
Chemicals in Wallpaper, Flooring (greenbiz.com) Study of Home
Improvement Products Finds Lead, Phthalates, Cadmium, Organotins, Other
Harmful Ingredients (yubanet.com) Best Way to Improve Indoor Air
Quality (planetsave.com)
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