Avoiding Toxic Chemicals
There are tens of thousands of unregulated chemicals used in our building products, so how do you know which ones are hazardous?
These articles look at some of the most-toxic chemicals, why they are hazardous, which product groups contain them, and alternatives to using them.
You’ll learn about:
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the burgeoning green chemistry movement
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tools like Health Product Declarations that tell us what’s in products
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formaldehyde
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polyvinyl chloride
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bisphenol-A
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flame retardants
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perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
We also offer guidance on design decisions that can reduce or eliminate the need for many of these problematic compounds.
Avoiding Toxic Chemicals
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Protect Your Spec: 14 Strategies
Feature Article
You’ve selected the ideal materials for your project: now get them into the building.
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The Great Eight: High-Impact Material Choices for Green Building
Feature Article
We’re at a tipping point in insulation, flooring, textiles, and other product categories. Here’s what to spec and what to avoid.
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A Guide to Selecting Sustainable Textiles
Feature Article
Textiles’ good looks hide an ugly environmental legacy, but there are five straightforward ways to make responsible design choices.
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What Makes the Building Envelope Green? BuildingGreen’s Guide to Thermal & Moisture Protection Products
Feature Article
From insulation to flashing tape to cladding, we look at the attributes of the greenest building envelope products.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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TSCA Reform: Chemical Regulations, at a Cost
Primer
In a world where we can’t even ban asbestos, a new law revamps how the federal government regulates chemicals—but some worry it steps on the toes of progressive states.
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Phthalate Plasticizer Toxicity Explained
Primer
Phthalates are used as plasticizers in vinyl. Some are toxic, some less so—yet many manufacturers are avoiding them altogether.
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The High Price of Stain Resistance: Environmental Persistence
Primer
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances increase product longevity. Though these PFAS don’t last forever on our textiles and carpets, they do stick around in our bodies.
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Green Chemistry Meets Green Building
Primer
What is green chemistry, and how does it fit into LEED? We explain the relationship—and some tensions.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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PVC-Free Sun-Control Textile with No Halogenated Flame Retardants
Product Review
Mermet offers a fiberglass textile for interior rollershades that has good performance and material transparency.
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Polystyrene Insulations Are Now HBCD-Free
Product Review
Dow, Owens Corning, and Kingspan have joined the EPS industry in eliminating the hazardous halogenated flame retardant HBCD from their XPS insulations.
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New Insulated Metal Panels without Halogenated Flame Retardants
Product Review
Kingspan and Centria IMPs are using halogen-free flame retardants, resulting in less toxic, better performing insulated cladding.
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Composite Wood: EPA, California, and LEED v4 Requirements
Product Review
EPA criteria are similar to CARB’s and create a federal formaldehyde standard for composite wood. We explain the LEED ramifications of these emission standards.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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California Approves Flame-Retardant-Free Insulation Below Grade
News Brief
Though products are not yet on the market, a state commission has given the go-ahead for select foam insulation without flame retardants or fire testing.
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California Law Bans Future Flame Retardants
News Brief
AB 2998, by prohibiting whole classes of flame retardant chemicals, aims to reduce regrettable substitutions.
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Asbestos Rule Is Tip of Chemical Regulation Iceberg
News Analysis
The updated Toxic Substances Control Act could be crippled by updated EPA review methods.
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AIA Writes ‘Prescription’ for Healthier Materials
News Brief
A new publication published by AIA provides guidance on how to put healthier material selection into practice.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Plastics Industry Still Shouting "Fire" At Its Own Peril
Op-Ed
The foam insulation industry's united stand against code changes could backfire in the marketplace.
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Adhesives and Sealants: Performance First, but Materials Matter
Blog Post
Exterior adhesives and sealants are formulated for performance, but some contain chemicals that pose risks to unprotected workers or the environment.
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EBN's Position on Fly Ash
Op-Ed
EBN is concerned about heavy metals leaching from products made with fly ash, and thinks these products should only be used if they reduce greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere or if the risk of leaching is very low.
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Chemicals Article Lacked Balance
Op-Ed
Reader Ross Leonard challenges us on our reporting in the recent article on chemicals in green building.
Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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VOCs: Why They’re Still Here and What You Can Do About It
Feature Article
“Sick building syndrome” was one of the first problems the green building community tried to solve. We’ve come a long way, but we’re not done yet.
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Protect Your Spec: 14 Strategies
Feature Article
You’ve selected the ideal materials for your project: now get them into the building.
-
The Great Eight: High-Impact Material Choices for Green Building
Feature Article
We’re at a tipping point in insulation, flooring, textiles, and other product categories. Here’s what to spec and what to avoid.
-
A Guide to Selecting Sustainable Textiles
Feature Article
Textiles’ good looks hide an ugly environmental legacy, but there are five straightforward ways to make responsible design choices.
