New Carpet Smell Allergy

Of course this isn t the only culprit.

New carpet smell allergy. Ask to have the carpet aired out in advance in a warehouse prior to installation to help cut down on the concentration of chemicals entering your home. Individuals also have reported problems such as cough fatigue and breathing problems. If you have carpet allergies you can either be allergic to allergens that get trapped in your carpet or the carpet itself or both. Likewise all new flooring may emit vocs.

There has been no evidence that specifically supports an allergy to carpet but some people believe that it is possible. Generally the new carpet odor is the off gassing of 4 pc which is found in the latex backing of 95 of commercial carpeting. As a new carpet gradually releases or off gasses chemical residue the chemicals enter the air where we can smell them. Often people assume the fibers of the carpet are what cause the allergic reaction but the fiber whether synthetic or natural is rarely the issue.

In addition to the carpet the padding and adhesives all emit volatile organic compounds. New carpet shouldn t contain mold mildew or large amounts of dust or hair which can induce an allergic reaction. With new carpet this is thought to be the result of breathing 4. This is the chemical that creates new car pet smell four days after installation levels fall to about 10 ppb and after about two months levels decrease to approximately 1 to 2 ppb.

New carpet can be a source of chemical emissions. Within a few days to a few weeks these fumes dissipate and the carpet no longer smells. But many people experience an allergic reaction after a new carpet installation. Nylon polyester and other synthetic fibers dyes and adhesives used to glue carpeting down is loaded with chemicals.

Levels of 4 pc to 20 parts per billion ppb have been mea sured in new carpet. Ask your carpet installer to vacuum the new carpet with a hepa filter and clean it with a hot water extraction immediately after installation to remove some of the harsh strong smelling chemicals. You can smell 4 pc down to about 5 ppb. These compounds may trigger allergy and asthma symptoms.

Overall the evidence shows that carpet increases airborne pollutants more so than hard floors. I want to have new carpet installed in my home but my husband seems to be allergic or at least very sensitive to the smell of new carpet. But this effect is less common in newer carpets. The vocs responsible for new carpet smell are 4 phenylcyclohexene 4 pch and to a lesser extent styrene.

Typical allergens that get trapped in carpet include pet dander.