Formaldehyde In Carpet Backing

Formaldehyde is more commonly found in composite wood products.

Formaldehyde in carpet backing.

Some types of carpeting use chemicals that have been associated with respiratory symptoms eye irritation and rashes as well as chemicals that can react with each other to produce formaldehyde a known human carcinogen. However there are hundreds of other volatile organic compounds vocs besides formaldehyde that your new carpet might be giving off. That new carpet smell comes from 4 pc associated with eye nose and upper respiratory problems. Fortunately formaldehyde emissions in this product decline over time so older houses with uffi are unlikely to.

Cri has performed comprehensive surveys of carpet mills and determined that formaldehyde is not contained in any of carpet s raw materials. Carpet backing and urea formaldehyde foam insulation uffi. Furthermore the latex used in carpet manufacture is synthetic latex not natural latex. 4 pc is used in the latex backing of 95 of us carpets.

Only natural latex because it contains proteins has been reported to cause allergic responses. The fibers and backing chemical treatments padding and glues all come with their own chemical consequences. In the 1970s many homes were insulated with uffi as an energy conservation measure before it was discovered that uffi contained dangerously high levels of formaldehyde. Still to demonstrate carpet s contribution to healthy indoor environments cri analyzes finished carpet for formaldehyde as part of cri s green label gl and green label plus glp indoor air quality testing and certification programs.

The glue is latex based for flexibility and adheres the face yarn to the backing. Carpet does not have formaldehyde.