Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Paints, carpeting, adhesives, padding and other indoor materials can off-gas formaldehyde and other chemicals for years. They can trigger breathing issues in people with asthma and cause other medical distress.
Here are some resources about VOCs and other asthma-inducing chemicals:
Consumer Reports:
Interior paints: Our new tests reveal surprises about what paint makers claim and what you get
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/march-2009/home-garden/interior-paints/overview/interior-paints-ov.htm
From March, 2009.
New York State Health Department:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Commonly Used Products
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/voc.htm
Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Indoor Air Pollution
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/Indoor-Air-Pollution-Introduction-for-Health-Professionals/ The Diagnostic Quick Reference guide in the third section lists unfortunate and preventable health effects of VOCs and other indoor air pollutants.
AAA (American Automobile Association):
Is That New Car Smell Killing You?: The chemicals that create the new car smell have the potential of causing severe health problems.
https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/is-that-new-car-smell-killing-you/
Environmental Protection Agency:
Greening Your Purchase of Carpet: A Guide for Federal Purchasers
http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/carpets2.htm
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI):
Green Label Plus
http://www.carpet-rug.org/CRI-Testing-Programs/Green-Label-Plus.aspx
Formaldehyde: from World Health Organization
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100F/mono100F-29.pdf
This links to an Oct. 2015 monograph from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. From page 430: "There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde causes cancer of the nasopharynx and leukaemia. Also, a positive association has been observed between exposure to formaldehyde and sinonasal cancer."
Women's Voices for the Earth
http://www.womensvoices.org/
Environmental organization led by women; based in Missoula, Montana, started in 1995. Site links to research and other information about chemicals in daily personal products and more.
Updated January, 2016.
Here are some resources about VOCs and other asthma-inducing chemicals:
Consumer Reports:
Interior paints: Our new tests reveal surprises about what paint makers claim and what you get
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/march-2009/home-garden/interior-paints/overview/interior-paints-ov.htm
From March, 2009.
New York State Health Department:
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Commonly Used Products
https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/voc.htm
Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Indoor Air Pollution
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/Indoor-Air-Pollution-Introduction-for-Health-Professionals/ The Diagnostic Quick Reference guide in the third section lists unfortunate and preventable health effects of VOCs and other indoor air pollutants.
AAA (American Automobile Association):
Is That New Car Smell Killing You?: The chemicals that create the new car smell have the potential of causing severe health problems.
https://magazine.northeast.aaa.com/daily/life/cars-trucks/is-that-new-car-smell-killing-you/
Environmental Protection Agency:
Greening Your Purchase of Carpet: A Guide for Federal Purchasers
http://www.epa.gov/epp/pubs/carpets2.htm
Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI):
Green Label Plus
http://www.carpet-rug.org/CRI-Testing-Programs/Green-Label-Plus.aspx
Formaldehyde: from World Health Organization
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol100F/mono100F-29.pdf
This links to an Oct. 2015 monograph from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. From page 430: "There is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde causes cancer of the nasopharynx and leukaemia. Also, a positive association has been observed between exposure to formaldehyde and sinonasal cancer."
Women's Voices for the Earth
http://www.womensvoices.org/
Environmental organization led by women; based in Missoula, Montana, started in 1995. Site links to research and other information about chemicals in daily personal products and more.
Updated January, 2016.