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KARRIE IN DELAWARE ASKS:
There are so many polyester and polypropylene rugs being touted as “family-friendly” and “nontoxic.” What’s the deal with them? Are they truly a safe choice for our families?
MOM DETECTIVE ANSWER:
Thanks, Karrie, for your question about these rugs. Depending on the material, carpets and rugs can and do pollute the air in our homes. Considering the average person spends about 70–90% of their time indoors, paying close attention to indoor air quality is smart.
Tell EPA: Protect Families From Vinyl Chloride
What are plastic rugs?
Polyester and polypropylene are essentially plastic fibers derived from petrochemicals. Rugs made with these materials include the cute and often highly patterned indoor-outdoor rugs that have flooded the market recently, seemingly out of nowhere. Various chemicals are used in their manufacturing process, and once in a home, the rugs can release toxic fumes, such as formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Given this, I am not sure why anyone sells these as “nontoxic” rugs.
VOCs are nasty compounds; they’re associated with eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as damage to the liver, kidney, and central nervous system, among other health impacts. These chemicals enter our bodies through inhalation and can also be absorbed through the skin, like when children spend time playing on the floor or when you’re on the floor playing with your kids or pets or maybe doing some yoga. Plastic rugs are not readily recyclable, depending on where you live, and are likely to become landfill at the end of their useful-to-you life.
Added chemical treatments
Synthetic carpets, including those made from polyester and polypropylene, are usually also treated with various chemicals to prevent things like bacteria, mold, or fungi, as well as fires. Flame retardants are typically endocrine-disrupting chemicals. In recent years, there has been a growing body of research on plastic building materials, including firefighters’ exposure to burning flame retardants and their health impacts. Carpets or “nontoxic” rugs labeled as “stain resistant” are also often treated with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are linked to a wide range of human health effects—and are best avoided.
The issue of microplastics
Consumers understandably gravitate toward polyester and polypropylene rugs because they’re so widely available and marketed as high performing. Unfortunately, they may not be aware of their potential indoor air pollution risk. But there’s another concern too. Plastic rugs can also shed unwanted microplastics in our homes—and our bodies. Research about microplastics and their impacts on human health is still fairly new—it’s a burgeoning arena with much to study—but so far, microplastics have been found in everything from human placentas to testicles to brains to baby poop.
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles. To officially be defined as a microplastic, the particles must range in size from 5 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) to 1 nanometer. For comparison, a strand of human hair is about 80,000 nanometers wide. Some of these little bits aren’t even visible.
Petrochemical materials, like polyester and polypropylene rugs, are a significant source of indoor microplastics. Other sources include clothes, furniture, and curtains. In a study, researchers in Australia found almost double the amount of microplastic fibers (from polyethylene, polyamide, polyacrylic, and polyester) in homes where carpet was predominant, in comparison to homes without carpet.
Children are primarily exposed to rug microplastics by ingesting household dust. They’re known for their hand-to-mouth behavior and for snacking on the floor as they play. This adds up. Airborne microplastics can also be inhaled, depending on particle size; they have been detected in human blood and lung tissues.
Safer alternatives to plastic “nontoxic” rugs
I think, reading all of this, that it goes without saying that my to answer your question is, no, I don’t consider polyester and polypropylene rugs to be particularly family-friendly.
Luckily, there are safer, natural alternatives to conventional carpets and rugs that emit little to no harmful VOCs.
As an alternative seek out carpets or rugs made of responsibly sourced natural fibers:
- Wool
- Jute
- Sisal
- Organic cotton
Avoid any rugs, carpets, or rug pads advertised as water- or stain-resistant, as this usually indicates the presence of potentially toxic chemical additives. Keep in mind that even if a rug is made of natural fibers, this does not guarantee the backing is safe. Rug and carpet backings are typically made of synthetic rubber, which can also pollute indoor air. Better backing options include jute or wool.
If you’re shopping in person, flip over a rug to see if there is a backing, and ask questions about what it is if you see one. You can always reach out to a rug seller or manufacturer if you’re unsure whether harmful chemicals were used in the production process, especially if you’re shopping online. If you do not receive transparent answers, I’d opt for purchasing from a different company with nothing to hide.
Shop for carpets that
- emit no VOCs or are low-VOC;
- use safer dyes, backing, and adhesives;
- use recycled materials to reduce the need for petrochemical-based raw materials; and
- have end-of-life take-back programs from the manufacturer.
Find more tips for purchasing rugs free of toxic chemicals from the Green Science Policy Institute.
Keep it clean
Regardless of the material you choose, carpets and rugs are good at trapping dirt, dust, and pollutants. This can be a big issue if anyone in your household has asthma or environmental allergies. It’s important to vacuum regularly. Pollutants can become airborne if the carpet or rug is agitated, through typical use, and even vacuuming, which is why using a HEPA filter is important.
Opting for leaving wood or tile floors bare is also an option. So is covering them with machine washable 100% cotton rugs. If you’re considering new flooring, wood or tile floors with low-VOC finishes are a low-tox option, much better than, say, wall-to-wall plastic carpeting.
One final thought is that no matter what you have on your floors—bare or carpeted—it is always a good idea to take your shoes off at the door. Public health experts agree that this is a simple and free way to avoid tracking unwanted pollutants into your home.