Benzene – A Carcinogenic Toxin in Building Products & Potentially In Your Home

Benzene is a colourless, flammable liquid with a sweet smelling odour that when exposed to the atmosphere evaporates very quickly. Benzene is used within many building products and manufacturing processes, such as the production of plastics and some rubbers, and even in some pharmaceuticals and detergents. Benzene is commonly found in the home in glues, adhesives, cleaning products, paint strippers, some art supplies and most commonly in petrol. The most common way to be exposed to benzene is through inhalation of emissions, although skin contact and digestion are other possible ways of exposure.

Benzene is a highly volatile carcinogenic substance and exposure at high levels can result in death (by breathing vapours direct or in poorly controlled occupational situations). The health effects of benzene depend upon the levels and length of exposure.

However even low levels of exposure can result in:

• Skin and eye irritations
• Drowsiness, dizziness and headaches
• Vomiting
• Tremors
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion

Benzene is a Category 1 carcinogen, so exposure at any levels has the potential to cause cancer, although the recommended “safe” level of exposure is argued amongst scientists and governments, with some believing that there is no safe level whilst others agree that 0.10% weight/weight is the safe cut off point for exposure. High exposure to benzene can result in:

• Abnormal blood production
• Disruption of the immune system
• Leukaemia – cancer of the tissues that form white blood cells
• Birth defects
• Cancer
• Death

To help minimise the risk of exposure to products containing benzene it is recommended that:

• Choose verified and certified products from the Ecospecifier website (ecospecifier.com.au) that show a transparent and detailed human and eco-toxicity analysis
• Contact the manufacturer if unsure if the product contains benzene
• Limit exposure to petrol, car exhaust and cigarette fumes
• Limit, or avoid if possible, exposure to fumes from art supplies, paints and solvents
• If using products that contain benzene, particularly if indoors, ensure that the room is adequately ventilated
• Eliminate, if possible, products that contain benzene, either as a component or contaminant

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au

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Is Your Home Toxic?

Ever noticed a ‘sweet’ smell when you open your empty kitchen or bathroom cupboard? That’s formaldehyde you’re smelling. What’s that? Read on to find out how this sweet smell is poison to your family.

Many building products, particularly wood products, may contain a toxic, cancer producing chemical called formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable gas that has a very distinct smell. It is commonly used in the manufacturing of resins during the production of pressed wood products. Exposure to formaldehyde may occur through either inhalation or skin contact, but most commonly through inhalation.

Formaldehyde affects people differently, as some are more sensitive to it than others, but the most common health implications include eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, as well as asthma and allergies. In severe cases, resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of formaldehyde a person may experience decreased body weight, gastrointestinal ulcers, liver and kidney damage and dermatitis. Prolonged exposure to high levels of formaldehyde have been shown in Europe to increase an individual’s chance of developing cancer.

Formaldehyde may be present within a range of composite and liquid products including:

 

Manufacturing materials	Building materials	Timber materials
plastics foam insulation fungicides mirrors insecticides resins	sheet vinyl flooring doors decking panelling particleboard fibreboard carpets carpet backings some insulation products paints	plywood laminated timber wall lining coverings and wall paper

Whilst low levels of formaldehyde may not result in any health impacts for some individuals, others may find that they are highly sensitive to the chemical. For those wishing to minimise the presence of formaldehyde in the building products used within the family home it is recommended that they:

• choose products from the wide range of verified and certified products on the Ecospecifier website (ecospecifier.com.au) that have all passed a detailed human and eco-toxicity analysis.
• choose products that contain phenolic-based formaldehyde resins, compared to urea formaldehyde resins, as they emit much less formaldehyde, typically rated at E0 (on a E00, E0, E1, E2 scale where E2 is the highest and should, along with unrated composite wood products, be avoided at all costs). These include plywood, panelling, particleboard and fibreboard.
• choosing higher quality exterior-grade pressed-wood building products even for internal use, as they are likely to be E0 rated (very low emission);
• ensure that rooms have efficient ventilation and low humidity levels, can be achieved through the use of air conditioning and dehumidifiers, particularly after installing a new carpet;
• minimise using products that contain formaldehyde and if possible eliminate any presence of formaldehyde.

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au

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Is Your Home Toxic

Ever noticed a ‘sweet’ smell when you open your empty kitchen or bathroom cupboard? That’s formaldehyde you’re smelling. What’s that? Read on to find out how this sweet smell is poison to your family.

Many building products, particularly wood products, may contain a toxic, cancer producing chemical called formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable gas that has a very distinct smell. It is commonly used in the manufacturing of resins during the production of pressed wood products. Exposure to formaldehyde may occur through either inhalation or skin contact, but most commonly through inhalation.

Formaldehyde affects people differently, as some are more sensitive to it than others, but the most common health implications include eye, nose, throat and skin irritation, as well as asthma and allergies. In severe cases, resulting from prolonged exposure to high levels of formaldehyde a person may experience decreased body weight, gastrointestinal ulcers, liver and kidney damage and dermatitis. Prolonged exposure to high levels of formaldehyde have been shown in Europe to increase an individual’s chance of developing cancer.

Formaldehyde may be present within a range of composite and liquid products including:

 

Manufacturing materials	Building materials	Timber materials
plastics foam insulation fungicides mirrors insecticides resins	sheet vinyl flooring doors decking panelling particleboard fibreboard carpets carpet backings some insulation products  paints	plywood laminated timber wall lining coverings and wall paper

 

Whilst low levels of formaldehyde may not result in any health impacts for some individuals, others may find that they are highly sensitive to the chemical. For those wishing to minimise the presence of formaldehyde in the building products used within the family home it is recommended that they:

• choose products from the wide range of verified and certified products on the Ecospecifier website (ecospecifier.com.au) that have all passed a detailed human and eco-toxicity analysis.
• choose products that contain phenolic-based formaldehyde resins, compared to urea formaldehyde resins, as they emit much less formaldehyde, typically rated at E0 (on a E00, E0, E1, E2 scale where E2 is the highest and should, along with unrated composite wood products, be avoided at all costs). These include plywood, panelling, particleboard and fibreboard.
• choosing higher quality exterior-grade pressed-wood building products even for internal use, as they are likely to be E0 rated (very low emission);
• ensure that rooms have efficient ventilation and low humidity levels, can be achieved through the use of air conditioning and dehumidifiers, particularly after installing a new carpet;
• minimise using products that contain formaldehyde and if possible eliminate any presence of formaldehyde.

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au

Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

Follow Ecospecifier on Facebook

Follow Ecospecifier on Twitter

Follow Ecospecifier on LinkedIn

Join our Social Media Honour Roll – support the switch to green products

Like, Comment and Share our blogs and posts on your social media pages …  and we will send your name out to more than 15,000 subscribers via our monthly Ecospecifier Global Newsletter.

See which stellar individuals, businesses and networks made the latest Honour Roll on Twitter and Facebook HERE We salute you in helping us educate and help more people #MaketheSwitch to #EcoResponsible products.

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Green walls – more than just painted green.

As the call for action increases to address man-made climate change, one might think ‘what can I do’? There are at least four walls to each house, it may not immediately come to mind, but these walls can be perfect support for living ‘green walls’.

Green walls are landscaped surfaces partially or completely covered with a variety of vegetation that typically include plants, growing media and a water/fertiliser delivery system.

Research has shown that green walls can reduce energy requirements (both heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer); improve air quality (whether inside or out) and increase property and amenity values. These are a few of the benefits of green walls; for an extensive overview of the benefits of indoor plants, click here.

Although traditionally Australia has trailed behind other countries (e.g. Canada, Germany and the U.S.A.) we have vast potential and now some of the world’s largest examples of commercial green walls and an explosion of home-based green wall installations.

Due to the unique demands place upon the vegetation used in green walls, low growing succulents and drought tolerant perennials are often used; this includes many Australian plants. It may seem intimidating when considering a fundamentally different style of wall than you have had previously, however a good start is with Ecospecifier.com.au’s rich and extensive database of sustainable, ‘green’ products; this includes green wall components, installers and much more.

Elmich – Green Roofs & Wall systems is a perfect example of what Ecospecifier has to offer. This product is an effective green roofing and wall system that has been proven to have multiple benefits such as reduced water run-off, reduce demand on cooling and improved air quality.

Whilst there are disadvantages of green walls (primarily the expense and level of maintenance required); green products are the way of the future. They may seem intimidating and mysterious at first, but with Ecospecifier even the greyest areas of understanding can be explained. Green products are the way of the future and what better way to become green than with green walls!

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: http://www.ecospecifier.com.au

 Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

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Like, Comment and Share our blogs and posts on your social media pages … and we will send your name out to more than 15,000 subscribers via our monthly Ecospecifier Global Newsletter.

See which stellar individuals, businesses and networks made the latest Honour Roll on Twitter and Facebook HERE We salute you in helping us educate and help more people #MaketheSwitch to #EcoResponsible products.

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The Dark Side to Paint Products

How to Avoid Those Toxic Paint Fumes

Renovating or painting your home can be an exciting experience, but have you ever considered the dangers behind simply repainting your living room? Most paints contain Volatile Organic Compounds, also known as VOCs, which evaporate as the paint dries afterwards. VOCs are added to the paint or lacquer typically to act as solvents and can have serious impacts on human health. Oil-based paints are worse than water-based paints, but ordinary water based paints can still bel an issue.

Health implications for VOC exposure depend upon the type of compound, its concentration and your length of exposure to it, and can result in the following:

• Nose, eye and throat irritation
• Headaches
• Loss of coordination
• Nausea
• Kidney and liver damage
• Damage to the central nervous system
• Immune system damage

Some VOCS are known carcinogens, meaning that inhaling them is likely to increase your risk of cancer.

Whilst there are a range of serious health conditions that can result from exposure to paints (being a painter is a UN recognised hazardous occupation known as ‘Painter’s Syndrome’) , there are several alternative products on the market which are low VOC and provide safe alternatives. For those who wish to further reduce the presence of VOCs and other toxins in paints you purchase refer to Ecospecifier (www.ecospecifier.com.au). Some examples of low VOC paints include:

 

Livos Australia

Livos offer a range of low VOC plant-based oils, coatings and treatments for interior and exterior wall, floor and timber applications. Unlike conventional coatings, LIVOS oils impregnate and protect the surface of timber, rather than creating a plastic coating on top. This allows for easy rejuvenation with no sanding required, the rejuvenation process is quick and simple to carry out if or when required.

Dulux Professional Enviro₂

Dulux provides a low VOC topcoat paint making it a safer product for indoor use in your home. Whilst there is still VOCs present, they are at a very low concentration, <1g/L untinted. This product has been Ecospecifier verified and provides a detailed toxicity analysis on the Ecospecifier website.

 

 

The Dangers of Renovating an Old Home

Renovating your home may come with potential health pitfalls, especially if your home was painted before 1970. Walls that were painted prior to this may be toxic due to the presence of lead-based paint. Lead paint, even in the smallest concentration, poses a great risk to human and animal health. While undisturbed well maintained lead painted walls pose minimal risk to human health; however once disturbed the paint scraped from lead painted walls becomes hazardous. This is especially so if flame or high temperature heat guns are used to remove it.

Resulting lead laden flakes and dust can spread throughout the house and garden. Removing the paint through dry sanding or by using power tools can create lead dust that can be inhaled or implanted into fabrics around the home, such as in carpets or furniture. Lead dust deposited around the family home poses future health risks and is extremely difficult to remove. This poses a great risk to young children who frequently put their hands inside their mouths and can absorb and retain higher concentrations of lead in comparison to adults. Lead is especially detrimental to the neurological development of children.

Lead is toxic in both low and high concentrations. Exposure can occur through inhalation or digestion. Effects of lead poisoning from low levels of concentration include:

• Muscle pains and fatigue
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Coma
• Fatigue
• Stomach pains
• Seizures
• Anaemia
• Miscarriage

Effects from high levels of lead poisoning may include:

• Brain damage
• Severe kidney damage
• Reduced fertility in males
• Cardiovascular issues
• Cognitive damage in young children

If your home was, built before 1970, it is recommended that you arrange to conduct tests to confirm the presence or non-presence of lead so that the proper steps can be taken to minimise exposure if needed .

There are a couple of different ways to test for lead paint:

• Colour change tests which are available from hardware stores although these are not 100% accurate
• DIY-Sampling Lab Lead Analysis Kits which can be purchased online from http://www.leadsafeworld.com/solutions/lead-group-diy-sampling-lab-analysis-lead-test-kits/ this kit will provide instructions on how to conduct the test which is then analysed by a registered laboratory
• Hire a professional who will use a portable X-ray fluorescence machine to determine the presence of lead. This is a non-invasive way to inspect the paint in your home.

If it is found that there is lead present in the paint on your walls it is recommended that:

• Professionals are hired to safely remove the paint
• If the paint is in good condition you are able to paint over it if you prefer not to remove it
• If you choose to remove the paint yourself;
  • Seek professional advice on how to best remove the paint
  • Do not sandblast or dry scrape the walls
  • If removing paint outside do not do so on a wet or windy day
  • Remove children and pregnant women from the area
• In the future choose paints that have been certified and verified for having low toxicity, such as those found listed with Ecospecifier (www.ecospecifier.com.au)

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using The Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global

Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

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VOC’s in Carpet

Carpet is an almost omnipresent feature in many homes and while it has its benefits, many ordinary carpets also have some issues. Health and environmental concerns associated with many carpets include indoor air quality (IAQ), chemical emissions from manufacturing and disposal operations, short lifespan of broadloom carpets particularly in rental properties and solid waste impacts due to their difficulty in recycling and most ending up in landfill at the end of their lives.

As far as IAQ is concerned, a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be emitted from some carpet materials, typically in the backing. Remember that ‘new carpet smell’? That’s them! Although VOC emissions from new carpet seem to fall to low levels within a few weeks after installation when accompanied by good ventilation, this doesn’t mean they are gone, just that you can’t smell them, as they are emitted for quite long periods at progressively lower levels, that can nonetheless keep having an impact on your families health, particularly sensitive children..

Carpet can have a purifying impact on indoor air quality by absorbing and trapping particulates present in indoor air, but then you have to make sure they get removed completely when cleaned, because it can be difficult to get all particulates back out of carpet.

Tretford have a GreenTag^Cert™ LCARate Silver, GreenRate Level A Certified with low VOC, it is heavy contract cord carpet range with pile made predominantly from goat hair, which is a renewable, durable, low lanolin, inherently anti-static fibre. To achieve a Silver rating the product must not trigger any ‘Red light’ warnings A Silver award indicates a Very Good product in its market category.

Tips for installing new carpet:

• Buy only carpets that have been certified low VOC by systems like Global GreenTag (all levels and tiers), Cetec, GreenGuard or GreenLabel;
• The area should be ventilated with fresh air during installation with air-conditioning off to avoid recirculation of air.
• Vacuum the floor after the old carpet and underlay have been removed
• Where possible keep ventilating the space for a minimum of 72 hours after installation
• If carpet adhesives are used, demand a low VOC water-based adhesive
• If you are sensitive to VOC emissions, leave the premises during and immediately after carpet installation.

 

Explore more about the product ranges that have been eco-certified and listed by Ecospecifier, by using the Product Search Engine on Ecospecifier Global: www.ecospecifier.com.au

Join us in more conversations about green products and sustainability issues on our social media pages:

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