new carpet toxicity...

[breezyhill]

has anyone had this experience...

the county office building where i work installed new carpet over the weekend, and of course the windows are unable to be opened and of course, i work in a room where there aren't even any windows. yesterday i was sneezing all day from the smell and felt funny, eyes watering. i thought it was just sinus, from the outside stuff. however, i woke up now at 1 am, and the roof of my mouth and inside cheeks feel raw, like i scrubbed them too much with a toothbrush.

the last time i checked i wasn't a hypochondriac.

breezyhill

 

[Dinghy]

You aren't imagining things! There are a lot of chemicals in new carpeting and curtains. Some people are very sensitive to them.

 

[ChainedLightning]

My aunt became asthmatic when they put new carpet in - she was in the hospital for over a week in an oxygen tent before they had things semi-under-control.

They said the new carpet was the trigger.

She's now sensitive to perfumes and chemical of all kinds. Never was before they new carpet incident that started it all.

 

[closet squirrel]

The smell in the carpet will go away within about a week. It is not the glue, like many people think, it is the chemicals that are used to coat the backing of the carpet. All commercial carpet adhesive is now made to be non-toxic (wont make you high like it used to!)

Some people are just more sensitive to the carpet than others.

I work for a commercial carpet installation company, let me know if you need any saftey data sheets for the carpet in your office. I would just need the manufacturer and the style

 

[ShepInTheValley]

I have the same problem with new carpeting... I can't handle the smell of paint either... we have to do the painting on cooler months so we can ventilate the house.

I've had that happen at work when they were doing various things like carpeting, painting, etc., but the worst was when they were cutting concrete and the dust was everywhere. A co-worker and I had to go get face masks at the local medical supply store cause this went on for a few weeks. Miserable.

 

[Sarrah]

I can only reply with the experience DH and I had with new carpeting 7 years ago. We installed new carpeting and within a week or so started getting ill. Asthma, flu like symptoms, extreme fatigue. So many symptoms I can't remember them all. I vacummed daily sprinkled baking soda on the carpets and that would help for a few hours. There was no noticeable odour that I recall. I opened the house daily and let fresh air flow through. After a couple of months we were so ill we simply tore out the carpet and threw it away. Don't think that isn't desperation because it cost a lot of money.
We have never completely recovered from it and I don't expect we ever will. I don't know your solution in the work place. I feel very sorry for you if you are effected it will be a big problem. Talk to your employer now, record all the facts daily in a diary regarding your health. This is serious but many people will poo poo anything you say about it. Welcome to the world of people accusing you of being a slacker. I do hope this isn't so, I do hope we are finally beyond this. I really don't think we are though.

 

[blue gecko]

New carpet off gasses formaldehyde. You can neutralize it by setting out glass bowls filled with ammonia. As the ammonia evaporates it combines with the formaldehyde to form a neutral salt. Your appholstry and sized clothing off gasses as well. You can add ammonia to your wash (but absolutely do not combine it with bleach!!) to help reduce the gas. Something to remember is that if you get exposed to formaldehyde your body can absorb lead easier...so stay away from old window blinds and old lead-based paint. Dietarily you can increase your calcium and magnesium intake, eat plenty of fresh vegies and get some exercise to help your body balance its pH. Good luck! BG