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Are you purchasing a new home? Or maybe you're moving into a recently constructed community? Whatever the case, there are air quality considerations for your fresh home.
Sometimes, we worry a lot about outdoor air quality but often overlook the potential degradation of indoor air quality. Modern construction materials have made building faster and cheaper, while also improving home insulation. However, these materials and new homes can introduce pollutants into our indoor air, which is an unfortunate side effect.
Potential Building Materials and Indoor Air Pollutants in Your New Home
By its nature, building materials can often emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), many of which can lead to several health problems. Negative effects can be as little as respiratory irritation headaches and nosebleeds. Those with asthma and other respiratory illnesses may experience worsened symptoms. In some cases, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene (found in particleboard) have been associated with higher rates of cancer.
The following are the most common building materials found in a new home that may harm indoor air quality:
Paint
When freshly applied, paint can brighten a room and even help alleviate issues like mold. However, it can also release VOCs into the air, which can be harmful. Short-term exposure to VOCs from paint can lead to dizziness, headaches, and nausea. The "new home smell" you might notice after painting can potentially cause more respiratory health problems than you might anticipate, depending on the ventilation in the area.
Carpet
Many of us are familiar with the "new carpet" smell. However, what some people may not realize is that this scent comes from a chemical known as 4-phenylcyclohexene, which is used in carpet backing. A study conducted on animals found that those exposed to this chemical for a few hours suffered severe toxicity, including death. Over a two-week inhalation study, animals exposed to high amounts for six hours a day showed extensive damage, including spontaneous lesions.
While the impact on humans is still being established, off-gassing from new carpets and rugs is a common problem. In addition to 4-PCH, new carpets can also contain styrene and formaldehyde, both of which are known carcinogens. Lastly, carpets are a primary source of dust, dirt, pollen, and mold spores buildup, and can often trap additional pollutants if poorly maintained.
Flooring
When flooring is installed using adhesive, it can release high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). As a result, there are often national and regional regulations governing the types of adhesives that can be used to maintain air quality. In addition, some types of flooring may also have a surface coating that emits even more VOCs.
Caulks and Sealants
From caulking, grouts, and mortars, these materials may contain plasticizers that introduce VOCs to the indoor atmosphere. The air inside a building generally contains 100 to 1000 times the phthalates found outdoors.
Similar to flooring adhesive, the choice of caulks and sealants used by home developers can impact indoor air quality. Being aware of this potential air quality issue allows you to make informed decisions about the type of flooring, paint, and fixtures for rooms that may be occupied by individuals who are sensitive to air pollutants, such as children and older adults with asthma or other respiratory diseases.
Engineered Wood
A variety of materials such as plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard are commonly used in various applications. However, it's important to note that these pressed wood products may contain urea-formaldehyde, which can release formaldehyde gas over time. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
How to Protect Your Family
While many of these building materials are commonly found in a new home, making them unavoidable, being aware of these potential pollutants is the first step in minimizing and mitigating their negative effects.
Here are some ideas and thoughts on steps you can take to reduce potential indoor air pollutants in your new home and how they affect your family.
Consider the best flooring option for each room based on its usage and the advantages and disadvantages of different types of flooring. For instance, if someone in your household suffers from allergies or asthma, installing carpet in their bedroom might not be a good idea as carpets can trap pollen, dust mites, and mold, even with regular cleaning and vacuuming. In this case, consider using floating hardwood flooring that doesn't require adhesive for installation as a better alternative.
When selecting paint colors for your home, inquire with the developer or contractor about the availability of low-VOC emitting paint options, including water-based paint. Also, ask to ensure that the home is well-ventilated while being painted. Keep in mind that when choosing "low-VOC" or "zero-VOC" paints, it's important to strike a balance, as some may require additional coatings for optimal performance, negating many of their benefits.
If your budget allows, opt for solid wood or metal cabinets instead of engineered wood cabinetry. This also applies to the type of flooring, doors, and trims you choose. Doing so will reduce the amount of formaldehyde off-gassing in your home, especially for cabinets and pantries that will be storing your cooking and food items.
Remember to allow enough time for your home to air out during any installation. If you're replacing or upgrading the flooring that was originally installed, make sure to ask the contractors to completely air out the products before installing them in your home. Allowing your home to properly off-gas before moving in can reduce your exposure to indoor air pollutants, especially for young children who may be more sensitive to their harmful effects.
Make sure to have your air ducts cleaned before moving into your new home. Dust and debris from drywall, carpet, cabinet, and other installation projects can circulate through the air in the home and collect within the air ducts. This airborne debris can then be released into your home as the HVAC system operates. Discuss with your builder the option of cleaning the air ducts before moving in to provide added protection for your family.
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