Toxic Emissions
In the last several years, there have been hundreds, perhaps thousands, of instances in which people became ill after new carpeting was installed in their homes, work- places, or schools. Commonly reported symptoms in- clude eye, nose, and throat irritation, rashes, and fatigue.
A carpet is often one of the first places where dirt and dust accumulate. If not cleaned on a regular basis, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful organisms. Believe it or not, dirty carpeting can make you sick!
The best way to test for mold and bacteria in carpets is to collect dust and send it to a lab for culturing. Swabs could also be used but they may not work very well on some types of carpets.
Carpet allergy symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, itchy or red eyes, skin rashes or hives, wheezing or difficulty breathing, and coughing. In severe cases, asthma attacks can be triggered. These symptoms are a reaction to dust mites or mold trapped in the carpet.
Accumulation of dust, dirt, and allergens: Over time, carpets trap dust, dirt, pet dander, and other allergens. These allergens can trigger respiratory problems like asthma and allergies, especially for individuals with sensitivities.
Be aware of the health effects of breathing organic dust. Symptoms of ODTS occur 4 to 12 hours after exposure and may include fever, weakness, headache, chills, body aches, cough, and shortness of breath. Inform your doctor about recent dust exposures when seeking treatment for respiratory illness.
To clean vomit from the carpet in these situations, start by rehydrating the stain with warm water and mild detergent. Allow it to penetrate and loosen the dried material. Then, use a combination of white vinegar and baking soda for their natural stain-removing and deodorizing properties.
The Dangers of Mold
Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common. They can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma who are allergic to mold.
Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, shake well to combine, and then spray the solution onto the carpet. Focus on high-traffic areas and spots with visible stains or odours. Allow the vinegar solution to sit for 10-15 minutes before blotting it dry with a clean cloth or towel.
Cleaning carpets regularly is more than just keeping them looking good. It's crucial for a healthy home. Dirty carpets collect dirt, dust, and allergens, which can harm your health and air quality. They can also shorten your carpet's life.
Remove carpeting and use hardwood or linoleum flooring and washable area rugs. If that isn't an option, use low-pile instead of high-pile carpeting and vacuum weekly with a vacuum cleaner that has a small-particle or high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. Shampoo the carpet often.
The “new carpet” odor is the 4-PC off-gassing, which can cause eye and respiratory tract irritation and may also affect the central nervous system. The adhesive used to affix the carpet to the floor typically contains benzene and toluene, some of the most harmful VOCs.
After a new carpet is installed, it goes through a period of off-gassing, which is the process of these chemicals being released. Typical reactions to new carpet VOCs and PFCAs include headaches, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, and asthmatic reactions.
Vacuuming, followed by hot water extraction (steam cleaning) using low VOC detergent, will help remove chemicals causing VOC emissions.
If you're especially sensitive to scents, a bed with strong off-gassing odors may cause unwanted symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, or dizziness. Individuals with respiratory issues, such as asthma or allergies, could also experience irritation of the airway and difficulty breathing.
The answer is yes – you should take the hidden dangers lurking inside a carpet seriously. Here's why. Invisible, microscopic particles trapped in a carpet can be bad for your health. Some studies claim that just a square inch of carpet alone may be home to up to 200,000 bacteria.
Vomit includes harsh substances like stomach acid and bile, along with food and drinks, so it can not only stain your carpet permanently but also damage and even deteriorate the fibers. Additionally, the residue can produce bacterial growth, creating a health hazard in your home, not to mention the repulsive odor.
Symptoms of silicosis usually appear after many years of exposure. In early stages, symptoms are mild and include cough, sputum and progressive shortness of breath. As the scarring continues to worsen, the first real signs of a problem may be an abnormal chest X-ray and a slowly developing cough.
Yes, it can. And if it goes untreated it can make you very sick. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, for example can result in long-term lung damage. Usually though, dust exposure causes much milder symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing.