Old Carpet Hazards

They contain toxic chemicals that have now been banned from the market.

Old carpet hazards. Further carpets with pvc backing may contain plasticizers that can react with moisture or humidity resulting in an odor. The obvious preferred option would be to get rid of any carpeting to reduce your exposure to carpet toxins and replace carpeting with tiles wood or bamboo or alternative natural flooring. Respiratory issues mold pet hair old skin dust and dirt can all get trapped in your carpets. Older carpets accumulate toxins such as cigarette smoke pesticide sprays paint fumes etc and can slowly release them over time.

What can you do. Let s start with old carpets and their potential health hazards. Carpet can absorb and hold moisture making it a prime spot for biological pollutants like mold to grow. Choose alternative green flooring.

Carpets may trap pollutants like dust mites pet dander cockroach allergens particle pollution lead mold spores pesticides dirt and dust. Toxic gases in the air can stick to small particles that settle into carpets. Old carpet also increases your risk of asthma attacks. Also mould and other fungi living in dirty carpets can cause flu like symptoms and many different respiratory problems.

Can dirty carpets make you sick. The allergens in old carpet can reduce the indoor air quality of your home and trigger asthma attacks just like they trigger nasal congestion sneezing itchy eyes and other allergic reactions. Rugs and carpets trap allergens and are home to microorganisms that can release harmful fumes into the air you breathe. 1 these pollutants may become airborne during renovations vacuuming or even daily activities like walking on the carpet.

Older carpets can sometimes have more contamination than newer carpets. Daily activity such as walking or vacuuming can free these particles from the carpet and spread them into the air. Carpet padding carpet cushions and carpet underlayments used to improve carpet durability prevent carpet movement and for other purposes can also be a source of hidden mold or other building contaminants. This is especially true if the carpet is installed in a bathroom or other area exposed to lots of moisture or if it s placed over a concrete floor but even seemingly clean carpeting and its padding can harbor mold and other fungi.

They accumulate bacteria colonies chemical irritants and microorganisms like mold that can cause both short term and long term health effects. Some readers have also asked if carpet padding is likely to be an asbestos hazard in buildings as we discuss and illustrate here.