WHAT NOW?
 REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE
Ideally, we would not even have to bother
thinking about such a substance being so
readily available in our lives, but unfortunately
this is not the case. The best way to avoid this
VOC is to use all truly environmentally friendly
products, in the construction of our homes,
furnishings, and everyday products that fill our
cupboards and lives.
Don’t be fooled
by the “natural”
looking
marketing
schemes
that are
being used to
make us feel all
warm and fuzzy
inside. It is sad,
but in order to
be certain, we
must all read
beyond the
green leaves
and labels,
since these things
are not regulated.
There are alternatives
available, and for a easier turn-over, it is
suggested to switch out each product as
needed, when their lives are over, replace
them with a new healthier product. This can
ensure that it is not too overwhelming to deal
with the cost and task of re-doing everything
that we normally do. Good luck!
May Contain: Wheat, Soy, Peanuts, Dairy,
Chlorine, Lead, Asbestos, Formaldehyde,
Benzene, Ethylene Glycol, Vinyl Chloride,...
GREEN SOURCES
Any questions? Here is a list of resources
that provided most of the information.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/
www.epa.gov/iaq/formaldehyde.html
Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/
www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts111.html
GREEN
Environmental Health
Ever wonder
Perspectives-Journal
www.ehponline.org/ what is loom-
CLEAN
ing in the
Green Building Resource Guide walls, floors,
www.greenguide.com
ceilings,
YOUR
Grist Environmental and whatnot
News and Commentary around your
www.grist.org home? What
HOME
Environmental Building News if you found
www.BuildingGreen.com out formal-
U.S Green Building Council dehyde is
www.usgbc.org not just found in the morgue? This is a guide
www.greenhomeguide.org to help you control your family’s indoor air
Greener World Media, Inc. quality, by providing a list of culprits, health
impacts and steps to reduce your exposure.
www.greenbiz.com
Mother Earth News
www.motherearthnews.com
Treehugger
www.treehugger.com
Additional questions or comments
about any of this content may be directed to:
greencleanurhome@gmail.com
CLEARING THE AIR WHAT PRODUCTS CONTAIN
FORMALDEHYDE?
Indoor and exterior paints, plywood, chip board, gypsum
board, particle
WHY BOTHER? FORMALDEHYDE? board, laminated
Well, even though our days are pretty lumber, vinyl
Isn’t that something that would only be used in a morgue? (imitation wood)
much filled to the brim already, the truth Quite surprisingly, it is found in many products that are
of the matter is that we spend up to panels, plaster,
commonplace in the American home. stucco, wallpaper,
90% OF OUR DAY INDOORS. At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, and even concrete,
The materials used to create those walls, that flammable gas that has a distinct, pungent smell. This scent as well as the glue,
we all hope can’t talk, are full of various substances fades away as it breaks down, though it becomes a more adhesives and the
that we never would have dreamed to be so close to “invisible” toxin and persists for days after curing. like that are used
for so much of our lives. in the construction process, as well as household cleaners,
Indoor air quality is very important carpet cleaners, disinfectants, cosmetics, medicines [as a
to our health and the health of our WHY SHOULD binding agent], fabric softeners, glues, lacquers, antiseptics,
children. Children, of very young
ages, spend more time on or
I CARE? air fresheners, nail hardeners, polish and remover, shampoos,
latex paints, permanent-pressed fabrics/clothing, car exhaust,
near the floor, crawling around, SYMPTOMS THAT cigarette smoke, and unvented gas or kerosene heaters used
indoors.
breathing in particles of dust, CAN OCCUR WHEN
mold, pesticides, and volatile
EXPOSED TO EVEN
organic compounds (VOCs)
SMALL AMOUNTS: EIGHT STEPS TO REDUCE
that reside in the very carpet
that keeps them from bonking Burning sensations in
YOUR EXPOSURE
their heads on the ground, as the eyes and throat, nausea, 1 Use “exterior-grade” new sources of formaldehyde
well as many other common difficulty breathing, wheezing pressed wood products into the home by opening
building materials. and coughing, fatigue, skin rash, (lower- emitting because they windows, and using fans.
These various toxins can headaches, severe allergic reactions, contain phenol-formaldehyde 4 Do not smoke indoors.
be found in homes of all ages asthma attacks, can cause glands to resins, not the more toxic
manufacture excess mucus, numb the urea-formaldehyde resins). 5 Do not use unvented
and ranges. This is a guide on one heaters indoors.
common VOC that is most likely in all of sense of taste and smell, vomiting, diarrhea. 2 Use air conditioning and
our homes. Individuals exposed to formaldehyde can also dehumidifiers to maintain 6 Remove formaldehyde
suffer brain impairment, leading to symptoms such as moderate temperature and sources from the home.
prolonged reaction time, abnormal balance and clumsiness, reduce humidity levels,
VOLATILE ORGANIC short term memory problems, and elevated anger and since higher temperatures
7 Seal unfinished
manufactured wood surfaces.
COMPOUNDS (VOCS) confusion levels. and humidity can increase 8 Wash new permanent
Varying levels of exposure can offset these symptoms for emissions.
press clothing before
VOCs are organic chemicals that become a different people. 3 Increase ventilation, wearing (often requires many
breathable vapor or gas at room temperature. This is Exposure to formaldehyde in human studies is linked to a particularly after bringing washes).
called “off-gasing,” which is when a chemical leaches rise in lung cancer and nasopharyngeal cancers, (nose and
into the air from a product. There are many VOCs that throat cancers) according to the EPA.
are extremely prevalent in our environment and homes. This brochure was created by 2008 Green Mountain
The one that we are going to focus on here is... College graduate Jessica Garrett as a part of her
senior project.