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New GREENGUARD Report Explores Chemical Risks
10.8.09 | Atlanta, GA | The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
(GEI), which certifies products for low chemical emissions, realizes the
potential impact of chemicals on children’s health and has released a
research report reviewing current issues.
The report titled “Chemicals in Common Products: Risky Business for Children’s Health,” takes a look at how illnesses, such as developmental disorders and asthma, could be tied to chemicals used in products with which children come in contact every day.
Countless household items, such as food containers, cleaners, textiles, paints, toys, flooring and furniture, are produced using industrial chemicals. For example, formaldehyde is commonly used to manufacture furniture, shelving and cabinetry. These products release chemicals into the air, impacting indoor air quality in the home, school and office. Exposure to some indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and may lead to developmental problems, asthma, pulmonary infections and allergies.
The 73 million children living in the US are especially at risk from exposure to environmental pollutants. Children’s physical differences and activity patterns are among the key reasons why they are more vulnerable and face greater health risks from chemical exposure than adults. Children spend approximately 85 percent of their time indoors, where the air is typically two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.
Creating and maintaining a healthy indoor environment is vital for children's healthy development, breathing and general wellbeing. The best way to improve indoor air quality is eliminating the sources of hazardous chemicals.
In a 2008 Ecology Center study, 20 percent of 1,500 toys tested contained lead. Low levels of lead can translate to impaired growth, reading and learning disabilities, hearing loss and other health and behavioral problems. Parents should be careful handling compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs; when a bulb breaks, it releases dangerous mercury vapor into the air. The same household cleaners used to sanitize can lead to lung function abnormalities and persistent wheezing. Bedding components (covering fabric, padding and a supporting core) are rife with dyes, stain and water repellants, wrinkle-resistance treatments, fire retardants, polyurethanes, vinyl chloride and other chemicals. See the research report for more detail on chemicals of concern, where they can be found and potential effects. The full report “Chemicals in Common Products: Risky Business for Children’s Health” is available at www.greenguard.org.
About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)
Founded in 2001, GEI is an independent, third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Programs. The Institute’s mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, interior products, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. The more than 200,000 GREENGUARD Certified products represented under the GREENGUARD mark must meet stringent; third-party standards for low chemical emissions based on established health standards and undergo rigorous testing and verification processes on a regular basis. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by a number of ‘green’ building programs, including the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating system.
For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.
The report titled “Chemicals in Common Products: Risky Business for Children’s Health,” takes a look at how illnesses, such as developmental disorders and asthma, could be tied to chemicals used in products with which children come in contact every day.
Countless household items, such as food containers, cleaners, textiles, paints, toys, flooring and furniture, are produced using industrial chemicals. For example, formaldehyde is commonly used to manufacture furniture, shelving and cabinetry. These products release chemicals into the air, impacting indoor air quality in the home, school and office. Exposure to some indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and may lead to developmental problems, asthma, pulmonary infections and allergies.
The 73 million children living in the US are especially at risk from exposure to environmental pollutants. Children’s physical differences and activity patterns are among the key reasons why they are more vulnerable and face greater health risks from chemical exposure than adults. Children spend approximately 85 percent of their time indoors, where the air is typically two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.
Creating and maintaining a healthy indoor environment is vital for children's healthy development, breathing and general wellbeing. The best way to improve indoor air quality is eliminating the sources of hazardous chemicals.
In a 2008 Ecology Center study, 20 percent of 1,500 toys tested contained lead. Low levels of lead can translate to impaired growth, reading and learning disabilities, hearing loss and other health and behavioral problems. Parents should be careful handling compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs; when a bulb breaks, it releases dangerous mercury vapor into the air. The same household cleaners used to sanitize can lead to lung function abnormalities and persistent wheezing. Bedding components (covering fabric, padding and a supporting core) are rife with dyes, stain and water repellants, wrinkle-resistance treatments, fire retardants, polyurethanes, vinyl chloride and other chemicals. See the research report for more detail on chemicals of concern, where they can be found and potential effects. The full report “Chemicals in Common Products: Risky Business for Children’s Health” is available at www.greenguard.org.
About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)
Founded in 2001, GEI is an independent, third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Programs. The Institute’s mission is to protect human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. As an ANSI Accredited Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for building materials, interior products, electronic equipment, indoor environments and buildings. The more than 200,000 GREENGUARD Certified products represented under the GREENGUARD mark must meet stringent; third-party standards for low chemical emissions based on established health standards and undergo rigorous testing and verification processes on a regular basis. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by a number of ‘green’ building programs, including the United States Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating system.
For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.
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