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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VOCs in LEED and Other Rating Systems
Feature Short
Most building certifications encourage low-emitting and low-VOC products, but they all do it differently. Here’s how it all fits together.
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How to Get from VOC Certifications to Better Products
Feature Short
The FDA regulates flies in our soup, but no one regulates VOCs in our indoor air. Somehow that’s a designer’s job to figure out.
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Why “Zero VOC” Was Never Enough
Feature Short
We used to look for coatings, adhesives, and sealants that contained no VOCs. Great for smog prevention, but IAQ and installer health are also important.
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In Search of High-Quality Hazard Data: HPDs Have Promise, but Most Aren’t Helpful Yet
Feature Short
HPD version 1.0’s promise of greater material transparency didn’t always deliver, but version 2.0 should provide accurate reporting.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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EonCoat: Durable Corrosion Resistance with No VOCs or Primer
Product Review
Fifteen years of corrosion resistance without VOCs or HAPs? A revolutionary coating could change everything.
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Air Renew Wallboard Absorbs Formaldehyde from Indoor Air
Product Review
Using a common building product to clean indoor air? AirRenew drywall claims to improve indoor air quality by absorbing formaldehyde and trapping it chemically in the gypsum core.
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Sansin and Vermont Natural Coatings Debut Low-VOC Stains
Product Review
Two new low-VOC interior stain systems were recently released: Vermont Natural Coatings' zero-VOC Woodtone Series Concentrated Tints and Sansin's Purity Interior 0-VOC Stain. Both systems offer a competitive option over higher VOC choices.
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Armstrong Takes Formaldehyde-Free Cabinets Mainstream
Product Review
Armstrong's Origins line of formaldehyde-free cabinets ends a long wait for a mainstream, affordable cabinet meeting both LEED and CARB indoor air quality standards.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Even Dust Is Fattening, Thanks to Phthalates
News Brief
Household dust is laden with plasticizers and flame retardants that can trigger fat storage, researchers find.
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Recycled Vinyl Flooring May Contain Lead
News Analysis
Recycled PVC inside vinyl floor tiles often contains lead and other additives from rubber-covered wiring, according to researchers.
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UN: Manufacturers Turn Blind Eye to Hazardous Chemicals At Their Peril
News Brief
Knowing the chemical ingredients in a product’s supply chain just makes good business sense, according to a United Nations report.
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USGBC, Chemical Industry Begin Talks
News Analysis
You say “risk” and I say “hazard,” but we can’t call the whole thing off. So the Supply Chain Optimization Working Group is set to begin its work.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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