Green Products:

Taking a problem/solution approach, this section provides a room-by-room, product-by-product look at how to make a greener, healthier home, plus checklists of safety issues and building supplies. Personal and environmental health will both be served by avoiding and removing toxic substances and buying locally and sustainably produced materials. Products used throughout the house are divided into structural and home maintenance categories:

Building Materials

Wood

According to the Worldwatch Institute, nearly half of the world’s original forests--about 7.5 billion acres--have been lost to human development since our species started clearing land. And every year, Americans alone consume 27 percent of wood commercially harvested worldwide. The solution: Products from certified sustainably managed forests bear the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label, which also covers some “reclaimed” or recycled wood (see companion article on sustainable wood).

Recycled wood, including doors and window frames, can also be found through salvage companies (see your phone book’s Yellow Pages). Before buying, however, examine boards for stray nails and bolts, structural flaws and old lead paint that could pose a danger. For vintage wood furniture, check antique and flea markets.

Tree-Free Wood Substitutes

To spare forests, choose materials that have not directly caused living trees to be cut. Beams of engineered wood, made from recycled newsprint, straw or wood chips, can now be found in the marketplace. Bamboo, a fast-growing grass, provides the warm look of hardwood at a comparable cost ($7 to $8 per yard). For more options, see Flooring, below.

Health Problems With Composite Wood

Composite woods such as particleboard and plywood cost less than hardwoods but can emit, or “offgas” formaldehyde, warns Paul Novack, owner of Environmental Construction Outfitters (ECO), a consulting and green retailing firm in New York. Formaldehyde can cause headache, nausea, allergic reactions and a burning sensation in eyes, nose and mouth and is classified by the EPA as a probable human carcinogen.

It is the glues used in pressed woods that are the primary source of VOCs, says John Bowers of the Healthy House Institute. Look for low-VOC options certified by Scientific Certification Systems. If you find these too costly (they can average about 20 percent more than conventional products), you can coat conventional pressed woods with an appropriate low-VOC sealant.

Flooring

There are many alternative flooring options. The safest bets are natural (not vinyl) linoleum and cork, hardwood, bamboo, ceramic tile, marble, stone, concrete and slate. If you can use locally produced materials, such as stone or slate from a nearby quarry, you’ll save shipping costs and energy while making your house truly of its region. To prevent offgassing from any floor, stains, finishes and glues--including tile adhesive and grout--should be low-VOC. These products are readily available.

Hardwood remains the most popular material, and it can be found either new or recycled in sustainably certified forms. A good low-VOC finish for a wood floor is Polyureseal BP, made by AFM Safecoat. Milled bamboo is installed just like a traditional hardwood floor. You can also get low-VOC, pressed-bamboo “plyboo.”

Sub-flooring, laid between your foundation and interior floor, is usually made of exterior-grade plywood. Although this emits fewer VOCs than interior-grade plywood, it’s still worth it to apply sealant to keep fumes in.

From a health and environmental standpoint, one of the worst materials for a floor is vinyl, also known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. Widely used in flooring, wall coverings, countertops, mini blinds, water pipes and window frames, vinyl is toxic throughout its life cycle. Its manufacture and incineration create dioxins, which are known human carcinogens and also linked to reproductive and immune disorders. Because exposure to a single PVC fire can cause respiratory disease, the International Association of Fire Fighters says it supports “alternative building materials that do not pose as much risk as PVC to fire fighters, building occupants or communities.”

In your home, PVC surfaces can offgas plasticizing chemicals known as phthalates, added to soften vinyl and make it more flexible. In animal tests, some phthalates have been found to harm the heart, liver, kidneys and reproductive systems. As for respiratory systems, a 1997 study by the National Institute of Public Health in Norway showed that children with PVC flooring in their homes had an 89 percent higher risk of bronchial obstruction than children in PVC-free homes. The phthalates migrated from the PVC to minute particles of house dust that were inhaled.

In Fall 2000 and early 2003, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals found higher-than-expected levels of phthalates in American bodies, but could not specify the source. In addition to soft vinyl products, phthalates are commonly used as fragrancing agents in everything from perfumes to cleaning products.

If you want resilient, sound-absorptive flooring, try natural linoleum, made of sawdust, linseed oils, pigments and a jute backing. Also forgiving underfoot is cork, the substance with which Marcel Proust, a writer often incapacitated by asthma, lined his bedroom walls. Cork is harvested in Europe without cutting the trees; only their outer bark is taken, once every 10 years. Before buying cork tiles, however, examine them and make sure they are not the inferior kind that use only a thin veneer of cork on a vinyl backing.

For kitchens, laundry rooms, exercise areas, baths and those steep back stairs, recycled rubber flooring makes a bouncy, easy-to-clean and non-skid surface. It can be found bearing no-formaldehyde, no-vinyl and other low-VOC credentials.

Room by Room

The Kitchen

Because heat and humidity makes VOCs vaporize more quickly and in greater amounts from any surface, you may be inhaling toxins along with the wholesome odors of cooking in your kitchen’s steamy air. These VOCs may be coming from all around you: cabinets and countertops, vinyl flooring and cleaning products. Carbon monoxide may also be leaking from a poorly ventilated or maintained gas oven and range.

Kitchen cabinets and countertops are typically made of particleboard, fiberboard, pressed wood and interior-grade plywood, all of which can offgas formaldehyde for years. Laminated surfaces such as melamine, while they haven’t been found to be toxic, often surround composite wood cores. This can easily be determined by looking at any unfinished edges, where you can see layered pressed wood sandwiched between white laminate. The problem can also be easily cured by sealing these raw edges, preferably before installing, with a low-VOC sealant that blocks formaldehyde fumes.

Alternative materials for kitchen cabinetry include formaldehyde-free medium density fiberboard or particleboard substitutes, such as strawboard or wheatboard. If you use solid wood, you can save money by installing open shelving. That way, things are easier to see and reach, and in the frenzy of preparing that four-course gourmet meal for eight, you won’t hit your head on open cabinet doors.

Don’t spoil your shelves, whether open or enclosed, with vinyl shelf liner that can offgas phthalates. Instead, apply a hardy least-toxic finish or enamel paint that can be wiped clean with a damp sponge.

For countertops or floors, tiles made from recycled glass or ceramics cost about the same as conventional mid-price tile, according to The Green Resource Center in Berkeley, California. In addition to new porcelain stone tiles made from local clay and minerals, there are products made from recycled ceramic or glass tile.

For appliances that will save you energy and water (and money) in the kitchen, see below. While gas stoves cook with less energy than electric ones, they can pose a health risk if improperly ventilated or maintained. Carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas, can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea and fatigue, and is fatal in high doses. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a sharp-smelling gas, can cause coughing and trigger asthma attacks. If you have a gas stove, make sure that the pilot light is working and that you can ventilate the kitchen by opening windows or that the stove has an exhaust fan and flue that are vented to the outdoors. Because blockages or leaks can occur, have the system examined yearly by a professional. Make sure to install carbon monoxide alarms and fire/smoke alarms in hallways outside bedrooms.

The Natural Bedroom

Mattresses and Bedding
Untreated (no stain/water/fire repellants) certified organic cotton mattresses, sheets, blankets and comforter covers may cost more money than conventional products, but they come with far-fewer environmental costs. Conventional cotton accounts for up to 25 percent of the insecticides used worldwide, and seven of the top 15 pesticides used on cotton are classified as at least possible human carcinogens. Nitrogen-spiked synthetic fertilizers are also used, so that cotton field runoff can create aquatic “dead zones” in waterways.

Additionally, cotton is often bleached (sometimes with sodium hypochlorite, the manufacture of which releases dioxin), and treated with dyes and color fixers (heavy metals such as chromium, copper and zinc). Roughly half the chemicals used as dyes or fixers on cotton end up as waste in rivers and soil.

Synthetic fillings and fabrics, such as polyurethane foam, polyester and nylon, are environmentally unsound because they are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Also, for our personal health, natural fillings and fibers--not necessarily organic, but free of toxic treatments--are best.

To comply with federal regulations, mattresses and pads must be treated with fire-retardants. Some of these can emit formaldehyde; others use polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which have been rapidly accumulating in humans, pose potentially significant health risks.

Many mattress cores contain polyurethane foam (which may also be treated with PBDEs) that can emit VOCs associated with upper respiratory problems and skin irritation.

Finally, some less-expensive bed frames, including box spring containers, use plywood or particleboard, both of which commonly contain formaldehyde. Some plywood manufacturers also use pentachlorophenol, a probable human carcinogen, as a preservative.

In addition to fire-retardant chemicals, sheets and blankets, no matter what they’re made of, can be treated with permanent-press, stain- and water-repellent finishes, which can offgas formaldehyde and perfluorochemicals (PFCs). One variety of PFCs, known as PFOA, is associated with testicular and bladder cancers and has been found in the blood of children tested at more than twice adult levels.

The Solution:

If you want an untreated mattress or futon, you can fulfill U.S. standards by choosing one wrapped in wool, which is naturally fire-resistant. Otherwise, to purchase an untreated mattress you’ll have to present a doctor’s prescription stating that you have chemical sensitivities to fire retardants. These are not difficult to get. But for safety’s sake, do not do so before making sure that you have working fire/smoke alarms outside your bedrooms; and promise yourself that you’ll regularly check that the batteries are fresh.

Organic or natural cotton mattresses may also have steel springs or a filling of natural latex rubber instead of polyurethane foam. Springless, rubber-free options can be found.

No matter what kind of mattress and bedding you have, you may still be vulnerable to asthma and allergies unless dust mites are contained. These microscopic mites, which ingest our shed skin, multiply in both foam- and cotton-stuffed furniture and thrive in warm, humid conditions and wherever dust accumulates--in carpets, for instance. The droppings of dust mites are one of the most potent allergens and asthma triggers around.

To kill mites, wash bedding every two weeks in hot water. It’s also a good idea to encase your mattress in a tightly woven barrier cloth that prevents mites from reaching your skin. A washable organic cotton encasement is the most environmentally sound; while vinyl is commonplace, it does not breathe, making it uncomfortable to lie on, and can offgas VOCs.

Living and Dining Rooms

Wood Furniture

Most conventional furniture is made, not of solid wood, but veneers glued to a core of plywood or particleboard. These offgas formaldehyde.

Although preferable from the standpoint of your personal health, solid wood furniture needs a further vetting for its environmental impact. Steer clear of products made from old growth or endangered forests. Look for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified wood dining tables, chairs and other pieces. Also look for Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)-certified, composite wood furniture that is formaldehyde-free or uses recycled or reclaimed wood. (See the companion article). Wood furniture finishes, like those for wood floors, can emit unhealthy VOCs. These are available in no- and low-VOC products.

Forgoing Foam

Many couches, armchairs and other upholstered furnishings are stuffed with polyurethane foam, an unpleasant substance made of petrochemicals that eventually crumbles into a yellow dust, adding lung-congesting particles to the air you breathe. Polyurethane furniture foam is also typically treated with fire-retardant, and potentially toxic, PBDEs.

PBDEs can best be avoided by buying furniture stuffed with natural fibers such as cotton, wool and old-fashioned horsehair. Flat cotton or wool cushions can be secured with ties to the seat and back of a wood-frame sofa. Less-toxic fire retardants can be used on foam.

You’ll breathe easiest if you pick furniture covered in untreated fabric. Permanent press, fire retardant, water- and stain-repellant finishes may create headaches or worse by releasing formaldehydes or perflurorochemicals (PFCs.) Select removable, washable slip covers and you won’t have to worry about stains or dust mites. The same goes for window treatments.

Decorating/Maintenance

Paints

Unfortunately, the heady “clean” smell we associate with fresh paint is really the evaporation, or offgassing, of toxic petrochemical solvents known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These include benzene, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene, which are known carcinogens or neurotoxins. The strong odors can also bother asthmatics and those with allergies. Both conventional oil-based and water-based, or latex, paints can contain petrochemical-based solvents that control drying time; latex paints also use fungicides and preservatives to prevent mold and mildew.

Happily, much cleaner and less malodorous paints are available. Look on labels for “no-VOC,” or “low-VOC.” If you don’t mind a strong natural fragrance, what’s best for the environment--but often more expensive--are all-natural and even certified organic plant-based paints. These use aromatic solvents made from citrus and other plant oils, and can release natural VOCs, so use with caution. And read labels carefully: Some natural paints do contain small amounts of petrochemical solvents. For the most chemical-sensitive people, natural, old-fashioned milk paints and whitewashes are VOC-free and virtually odorless.

Natural milk paints must be used quickly after mixing. And remember, water-based paint without fungicides may not be long-lasting, and can be a rich habitat for mold and mildew, so don’t use in areas exposed to damp.

When painting interiors, throw open windows to let out fumes. It takes most paints at least six weeks to fully dry and offgas. Pregnant women and people with asthma or allergies should not do the painting, and should stay out of the area until after paint has dried. Patch-test any paint and have sensitive family members give it a sniff.

Cleaning and Laundry Products

Conventional cleaning products, rather than producing pristine homes as advertised, actually leave indoor air polluted with a toxic smog of petrochemical VOCs and the synthetic fragrances used to mask them.

Think, then, what damage cleaning products used on a regular basis year-round can do in the enclosed space of a home, where VOCs can build up for months. “When they evaporate, they are transported directly to the brain, where they can be as intoxicating as ether or chloroform. These are palpably dangerous to health,” says Kaye Kilburn, professor of internal medicine at the University of Southern California medical school. In other words, when someone complains of being knocked out after cleaning house, it’s likely more than just a turn of phrase.

Cleaning product VOCs, many of which are neurotoxins and known or suspected carcinogens and/or hormone disruptors, have been implicated in headaches, dizziness, watery eyes, skin rashes and respiratory problems. A Spanish study published in 2003 surveyed more than 4,000 women and found that 25 percent of asthma cases in the group were attributable to domestic cleaning work.

Here are some ingredients to avoid in cleaning products, and safer, simpler alternatives.

• Detergents for Dishes, Clothes, Floors and Countertops. Most conventional soaps are made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource. Some contain alkyphenol ethoxylates (APEs), suspected hormone disruptors that can threaten wildlife after they go down the drain. Inhalation of vapors from butyl cellosolve, used as a solvent to dissolve grease, may irritate the respiratory tract and cause nausea, headaches, dizziness and unconsciousness. The synthetic fragrances in these products can make you sneeze and wheeze. “Fragrances are common allergens and repeated exposures can lead to onset of allergies, including symptoms such as skin and respiratory tract irritation, headache and watery eyes,” says Dr. Harvey Karp, a Los Angeles pediatrician and assistant professor of medicine at UCLA. A family of chemicals known as phthalates, used in synthetic fragrances, have been found to produce cancer of the liver and birth defects in lab animals. Look on labels for safer and more eco-friendly ingredients such as grain alcohol as a solvent, and natural plant oils (olive, palm, pine, coconut, eucalyptus, citrus, peppermint or lavender) as a soap base. Choose soaps and detergents labeled “fragrance free.”
• Chlorine Bleach. Also known as sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide, this common disinfectant, found in liquid bleach, drain cleaners and oven cleaners (combined with caustic lye), can burn skin and eyes and be fatal if swallowed. When it goes down the drain, it can produce organochlorines, which are suspected carcinogens as well as reproductive, neurological and immune-system toxins. Instead, use non-chlorine bleaches based on hydrogen peroxide, sodium percarbonate or sodium perborate. Borax, washing soda or white vinegar in water can also clean and remove stains. For ovens, coat surfaces in a paste of water and baking or washing soda and let stand overnight, then scrub off while wearing gloves.
• Glass and Bathroom Cleaners. Ammonia, the main ingredient in many window, tub, toilet and tile cleaners, is caustic and poisonous if ingested--and, if combined with chlorine, present in many scouring products, produces toxic chlorine gas! Instead, use chlorine-free scouring powders or baking soda. For windows and mirrors, mix white vinegar with water. Safer toilet bowl and other cleaning solutions are sold by Seventh Generation, Earth-Friendly Products, Ecover and others.