Ten questions concerning the implications of carpet on indoor chemistry and microbiology.

Details

• Personal Author:
  Adams RI ; Alkhayri C ; Boor BE ; Bope A ; Bruton TA ; Cochran S ; Cox J ; Dannemiller KC ; Donohue A ; Downey J ; Ferro AR ; Gall E ; Green, Brett J. ; Haines SR ; Hegarty B ; Horner E ; Jacobs DE ; Lemieux P ; May AA ; Misztal PK ; Morrison G ; Nastasi N ; Nishioka M ; Perzanowski M ; Renninger N ; Reponen T ; Rush RE ; Tian Y ; Uebel-Niemeier C ; Virgo T ; Wilkinson D ; Wu T ; Zambrana J
• Description:
  Carpet and rugs currently represent about half of the United States flooring market and offer many benefits as a flooring type. How carpets influence our exposure to both microorganisms and chemicals in indoor environments has important health implications but is not well understood. The goal of this manuscript is to consolidate what is known about how carpet impacts indoor chemistry and microbiology, as well as to identify the important research gaps that remain. After describing the current use of carpet indoors, questions focus on five specific areas: 1) indoor chemistry, 2) indoor microbiology, 3) resuspension and exposure, 4) current practices and future needs, and 5) sustainability. Overall, it is clear that carpet can influence our exposures to particles and volatile compounds in the indoor environment by acting as a direct source, as a reservoir of environmental contaminants, and as a surface supporting chemical and biological transformations. However, the health implications of these processes are not well known, nor how cleaning practices could be optimized to minimize potential negative impacts. Current standards and recommendations focus largely on carpets as a primary source of chemicals and on limiting moisture that would support microbial growth. Future research should consider enhancing knowledge related to the impact of carpet in the indoor environment and how we might improve the design and maintenance of this common material to reduce our exposure to harmful contaminants while retaining the benefits to consumers. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Microbiology Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Carpet; Flooring; Dust; Resuspension; Indoor Microbiology; Indoor Chemistry Floors; Indoor Environments; Chemicals; Microorganisms; Microbiology; Environmental Contamination; Environmental Exposure; Dusts; Dust Particles;
• ISSN:
  0360-1323
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; District of Columbia ; Georgia ; Indiana ; Maryland ; Michigan ; New York ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 2 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  170
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20064886
• Citation:
  Build Environ 2020 Mar; 170:106589
• Contact Point Address:
  Karen C. Dannemiller, Department of Civil, Environmental & Geodetic Engineering, Environmental Health Sciences, Ohio State University, 470 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210
• Email:
  Dannemiller.70@osu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Building and Environment
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5d5fc59d9f336e0a46ea568e52f8a629825ea903f3402d012bea65bbea571b03e3483a730e38a0123b4b86c94450546aef55bfd63ddb97da6d495ee89198f2bf
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/249265/cdc_249265_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.26 MB ]