The Ecology Center recently released research on chemicals in home improvement products on www.HealthyStuff.org. We tested over 1,000 flooring samples and nearly 2,300 types of wallpaper for a variety of chemicals based on their toxicity or tendency to build up in people and the environment.  These substances have been linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer.

Unfortunately, the test results confirmed our suspicions - toxic chemicals showed up nearly everywhere!   And most people don’t realize that flooring and wallpaper are completely unregulated for chemical hazards.  Our research shows the very same chemicals we just restricted in toys -- lead, cadmium and phthalate plasticizers in PVC -- are in far too many of the home improvement products on the market today.

This means you can buy a phthalate-free rubber ducky for a child, but bring it home to a bedroom with vinyl flooring that can expose the child to the banned substances around the clock. If we don't want these chemicals in our toys, we certainly don't want them in our floors or on our walls!

Some of the more startling findings include over 50% of wallpaper and 15% of flooring had one or more hazardous chemical additives.  75% of vinyl self-stick tile flooring had detectable levels of lead, and 18% of wallpaper samples contained detectable levels of cadmium.  All test results can be viewed on www.HealthyStuff.org.

Since people spend about 90% of their time indoors, indoor concentrations of hazardous chemicals can be more relevant to human exposure assessment than ambient concentrations.  Children and pets are particularly vulnerable, since they are frequently close to the floor and therefore have high levels of exposure.

In recent years, scores of studies have found a correlation between phthalates emitted from PVC building products and asthma.  Asthma is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects 7 million American children and 16 million adults. An average of one out of every 13 school-age children has asthma.

Fortunately, not ALL products that were tested contain these chemicals. Linoleum, cork, bamboo and hardwood flooring tested free of lead, cadmium, mercury and other hazardous metals.

We strongly urge everyone to support the overhaul of the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) – the outdated federal law that governs use of toxic chemicals in products. Learn more about this at www.saferchemicals.org. And if you’re thinking of renovating your home, check out www.HealthyStuff.org for safe alternatives.