Solid hardwood flooring is considered the safest and least toxic option as it's completely natural and free from any toxins. Solid hardwood floors are made of planks milled from a single piece of timber, which makes it a healthy flooring option.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
Generally speaking, floors with a nontoxic seal or finish have the lowest VOC levels. These include solid hardwood floors, polished concrete, and tile. Keep in mind that every flooring option comes with a lot of variety. Take the time to consider the different materials and finishes available to you.
When it comes to environmental impact, laminate has a slight edge over vinyl thanks to its recycled wood core. However, the melamine wear layer on the surface is still made of plastic, which may off-gas VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful to people and pets.
Some phthalates are even known to be cancer-causing. Luxury vinyl flooring is known to emit these toxins. When it comes to smaller, less-ventilated areas of your home, the buildup of phthalates will be more severe due to the size of the space and the lack of ventilation.
In reality, the off-gassing should be the strongest during the first two weeks and continue to off-gas for up to months after it is placed into your home.
But it's true—vinyl flooring can also contain harmful VOCs and other chemicals. The good news: low-VOC vinyl flooring has come a long way in recent years. These days, if you know what to look for, it's totally possible to find vinyl plank, LVT, and vinyl sheet that do right by your home and your health.
Nowadays, thanks to an increase in safety regulations and technological advancements, most vinyl manufacturers have employed techniques to produce LVP with very low VOCs and the majority of it is NOW phthalate-free!
Mohawk embraces traditional and cutting-edge processes to produce products that do not contain volatile organic compounds or formaldehyde.
Due to the materials used in the production process of vinyl, it will sometimes emit various levels of VOCs into the air for a short amount of time after installation.
Made by Mohawk Flooring these laminate floors are made in the USA and carry a certification for ultra-low VOC emmissions.
As we mentioned, laminate flooring does contain adhesives. And generally, adhesives do contain VOCs. The good news is that you can find non-toxic laminate flooring by purchasing products that are GreenGuard Certified and that contain less than a certain amount of VOCs.
Hard-surface flooring materials that are non-absorptive, chemical resistant, and monolithic, such as resinous flooring, are the most hygienic flooring options. Resinous flooring consists of a solid and impermeable surface.
Formaldehyde exposure may potentially cause a variety of symptoms and adverse health effects, such as eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, coughing, wheezing, and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde has been associated with cancer in humans and laboratory animals.
Can vinyl chloride cause cancer? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has classified vinyl chloride as known to be a human carcinogen (cause cancer). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified vinyl chloride as a known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure.
Vinyl is inexpensive, long-lasting flooring. But it often contains phthalates, chemicals that have raised safety concerns for young children. Consumer Reports tested to see how much of the phthalates escape into the environment.
Some disadvantages of vinyl flooring include: Cannot be repaired. Can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Shorter lifespan than wood floors.
Formaldehyde can also be found in the emissions from vinyl flooring adhesive and the base layer of many laminate flooring types.
Vinyl Plank, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP), and Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) are very low in volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and offgassing. Most people find it odorless, but those like me with a high sense of smell can pick up a little bit of offgassing.
When vinyl fumes are overpowering you with pungent odors that can last for days, just take the source outside and lay it out in the warm sunshine. Turn the offending item over every few hours, and the smell that would have lasted days will be gone in less than 24 hours.