Interested in making healthier materials choices but not sure where to start? In this webinar you will learn practical information about selecting healthy materials for your next project. For those of you who attended the 2014 Build It Green Healthy Homes Conference and asked for more specifics on materials, this is the webinar you've been waiting for! You'll learn what health factors are important to consider when building a home, where to source healthy materials, and a few health-focused manufacturers to try.
2. Melanie Loftus
• Healthy Materials
• Green Building
Consultant
• LEED AP BD+C
• Living Building
Challenge Volunteer
Ambassador
• Contributor
• Yale School of Forestry
and Environmental
Studies
4. ACOG/ASRM Committee Opinion “Environmental exposures can have a
profound and lasting impact on the health of our patients and future
generations”
Courtesy of Tracey Woodruff, UCSF School of Medicine
5. U.S. Regulatory Environment
• The U.S. Toxic Substances
Control Act (1976)
• 62,000 chemicals in
commerce
“grandfathered”
• 20,000 new chemicals
have been introduced
o 85% have no health data
o 67% have no data at all
• 700 new chemicals added
each year
Michael Wilson, Green Chemistry in California: http://coeh.berkeley.edu/news/06_wilson_policy.htm
8. Marketing Terminology
• Safe
“Safe is not a scientific word, it is a political word.”
• Non-toxic
• Low VOC
May only mean it is compliant with SCAQMD rules, but PVC glue
limits are 510 g/L and architectural coatings’ limits are 250 g/L.
• Recycled Content
Consider the waste stream. Often hazardous waste from
industrial processes is resold as recycled content.
9. Marketing Terminology, continued
• Zero VOC
Still can contain significant amounts of non ozone-forming or
“exempt” volatile organic compounds.
• Biodegradable
Without meeting ASTM D6400, this may only mean that the
product breaks down into infinitely smaller particles without
actually degrading.
• Bio-based (i.e. soy-based)
For some product categories, products can be marketed as bio-
based with a minimum of 7% bio-based ingredients per USDA
guidelines.
10. USDA Biobased Products
• Look for label:
• Consider the source
Source: USDA BioPreferred Program
11. Identifying Health Hazards in the Built
Environment
• Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs)
• Semi-Volatile Organic
Compounds (SVOCs)
• Halogenated Flame Retardants
• Phthalates and plasticizers
• Fluorochemicals
• Bisphenol A
• Other hazards
• Polyurethanes (Isocyanates)
• Nanomaterials
• Antimicrobials
• EMF
Photo: Topos Architecten
12. Volatile Organic Compounds
• Easy to quantify and
measure (g/L and
EPA Method 24)
• Overall, a lot of
progress
• By creating smog
rules, we “backed into”
improving Indoor Air
Quality
Photo: Michael Cory
13. Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
• Large, heavy molecules attach
to particles in the air and settle
into household dust
• No regulations to measure
SVOC content in materials
• SVOCs behave less predictably
than VOCs and do not decrease
off gassing over time
• PBTs, endocrine disruptors
• Avoidance is best policy
Photo: Interface FLOR
14. Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds
• Halogenated Flame
Retardants
• Phthalates and
plasticizers
• Fluorochemicals
• Bisphenol A
Photo: Interface FLOR
15. Other Issues of Concern
• Nanomaterials
These materials are so small that they bridge cell walls. Current science
finds behavior is similar to endocrine disruptors.
• Antimicrobials
Triclosan levels already found in the urine of Americans are high enough to
potentially cause health effects, including allergies, hypothyroidism.
Endocrine disruptors, thyroid-blocking. Not bioaccumulative, but persistent.
• Isocyanates
Includes MDI, Severe respiratory irritants.
• EMF
AC Magnetic Fields and Radio Frequency Radiation (2012 Bioinitiative
Report). Radio Frequency Radiation is classified by the International Agency
for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
19. Concrete: Form Release
• High VOC form
release agents
• Inability to reuse
formwork for interior
applications
• Use:
• Low and zero VOC form
release
• Biobased form release
Photo: Chris McSorley
20. Concrete: Stains and Sealers
• High VOC stains and
sealers
• Polyurethane finishes
• Epoxy sealers
• Maintenance
• Use:
• Low and no-VOC stains
and finishes
• Biobased finishes
• Can you finish concrete
without epoxy or
polyurethane?
Photo: Sam Javanrouh
21. Concrete: Manufacturers
Form Release Manufacturers
WR Meadows SoyClean
Real Milk Paint
Company: Linseed
Oil
• Low VOC • Low VOC • Zero VOC
• Biobased • 100% Biobased
Stain and Sealant Manufacturers
WR Meadows EcoProcote Ecos Paint Company
• Low VOC • Zero VOC • Zero VOC
• Biobased (Soy
based)
• Health Product
Declarations
22. Stone and Grout
• Grouts
• Grout Sealers
• Stone sealers
Photo: floorsmk
23. Grout, Stone and Grout Sealants
• Antimicrobials in grouts and
admixtures
• High VOC grout and stone
sealants
• Fluorochemical grout and
stone sealants
• Nanoparticle coatings
• Polyurethane grouts do not
require sealant but contain
isocyanates, antimicrobials
Photo: floorsmk
24. Stone and Grout: Manufacturers
Grout Manufacturers
Laticrete and TEC Accucolor Bostik
• Sanded and Unsanded grout
without admixtures contain no
antimicrobials but require sealing
• Quartzlock polyurethane grout
does not require sealant but
contains antimicrobial
Stone and Grout Sealant Manufacturers
Miracle
Sealants (511)
Aqua Mix
Sealer’s Choice
AFM Safecoat EcoProcote
• High VOC
penetrating
sealer
• Low VOC • Low VOC • Zero VOC
• No fluoro-
chemicals or
nano
• Contains
fluoro-
chemicals
• No fluoro-
chemicals or
nano
• No fluoro-
chemicals or
nano
26. Structural Framing: Plywood, OSB, and
Engineered Lumber
• Formaldehyde
• Use:
• Lower-emitting sheet
goods
• Consider encapsulation
for sensitive owners
• Consider 2x decking,
open web trusses,
laminated timber, and
other design changes to
avoid formaldehyde
Photo: nfg25
27. Formaldehyde In Composite Wood
Structural (Softwood) Architectural (Hardwood)
Uses Subfloor, sheathing, roof deck Cabinetry, vanities, trim and
woodwork
Formats Plywood: flat strips of wood
glued together in a stack to
make a board
Plywood: flat strips of wood glued
together in a stack to make a
board
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
contains scraps of wood glued
together.
Medium Density Fiberboard
(MDF) contains tiny pieces of
wood glued together.
Highest CH2O-
Emitting Glues
Urea formaldehyde Urea formaldehyde
Lower CH2O-
Emitting Glues
No Added Urea Formaldehyde
(NAUF), or CARB Phase II
“exempt”
No Added Urea Formaldehyde
(NAUF), or CARB Phase II
“exempt”
Non CH2O-
Emitting Glues
N/A No Added Formaldehyde (NAF),
also CARB Phase II exempt
28. Formaldehyde in Composite Wood
Highest Formaldehyde
Emissions
Lower Formaldehyde
Emissions
Lowest Formaldehyde
Emissions
Urea formaldehyde No Added Urea
Formaldehyde (NAUF)
No Added Formaldehyde
(NAF)
Phenol formaldehyde Soy-based binder or
Isocyanate binder
Highest Potential
Emissions
Lower Potential
Emissions
Lowest Potential
Emissions
Medium density
fiberboard (MDF)
Oriented Strand Board
(OSB)
Plywood
I first became interested in green building while I was in graduate school. I also had an interest in environmental pollution, waste issues, toxicity issues, and it took a number of years before those two interests were brought together in a formal sense. With increasing demand in the marketplace for transparency and healthier materials, I’ve been able to merge my passion for green building with my interest in lifecycle environmental impacts.
I have worked in green building and the materials marketplace since 2008. I am a LEED AP in BD+C. I am also a volunteer ambassador for the Living Building Challenge. Last year, had the opportunity to contribute to Houzz.
Old paradigm: we are either “upstream” or “downstream” of another person/community. In today’s world, we see again and again that those flows are multi-directional. Our pollutants are being found in the arctic, PBTs are found in Polar Bears.
We also cannot draw lines between each other anymore: saying that is primarily an occupant exposure, a contractor exposure, a factory worker, a community in the vicinity of a plant, or a fireman. We have to look at these lifecycle impacts as a whole, because we are all being connected to these waste streams on some level.
Tom Lent said “We Eat Out Buildings.” Chemicals found in our dust children crawl around and hand-to-mouth, adults also had to mouth more than we realize what we put in our buildings ends up in our bodies.
So today, I will spend some time delving into the toxicology, but ultimately, this webinar assumes that you have an understanding of the need for healthy materials in your buildings, and you would just like to understand where to start.
3000 chemicals manufactured/imported > 1 million pounds
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Because of this, they have been observed to persist in the environment, to be capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, bioaccumulate in food chains, and to have potential significant impacts on human health and the environment. No known degradation pathway, continue to build up in environment and our body.
Endocrine disruptor: Endocrine effects include not only direct effects on traditional endocrine glands, their hormones and receptors, but also all other hormones and signaling cascades that affect the body’s systems and processes. These include reproductive function and fetal development, the nervous system and behavior, the immune and metabolic systems, gene expression, the liver, bones, and many other organs, glands and tissues. Signals at parts per trillion create cascading effects that trigger organ formation, sexual maturation, mood and bonding behaviors, appetite and thirst, blood sugar, fat storage, and more.
Mutagens cause mutations in our DNA.
Reproductive toxicant and neurotoxicants cause effects to the reproductive system and nervous system, respectively.
Carpet minimum: 7%, but for non-carpet minimum is 91%. http://www.biopreferred.gov/BioPreferred/faces/pages/ProductCategories.xhtml
News ink and printer ink and sheetfed ink minimum biobased content: 20-67%.
Membrane concrete sealers Minimum Biobased Content: 11%. Penetrating liquid sealers Minimum Biobased Content: 79%.
There are certain chemical classes that come up time and again when looking at health hazards in our buildings. I will walk through the health affects associated with these different chemical classes.
I will share some high-level health impact research, but my intent is not to make you a toxicologist. It is to provide somewhat of a background on why in the next section, I have tried to find products with as few of the hazards I’ve listed in this slide as possible. If you feel overwhelmed, consider starting with VOCs, then on your next project, bite off a few SVOCs, then jump into other hazards after that.
Halogenated Flame Retardants: mutagens, carcinogens, neurodevelopmental effects including decreased memory, learning disabilities, hyperactivity; reproductive toxicants, delayed conception, reduced sperm count; immune suppression; lower birth weight. More than 4,000 scientific studies documenting PBDE’s persistence, bioaccumulative properties, and toxicity to human and animal subjects. Direct relationship between PBDE concentration ad lower IQ. Children’s HFR concentrations are 3 times that of their mothers.
Phthalates: make plastics softer and more flexible; damages sexual development in prenatally exposed boys; increased abdominal obesity, reduced sperm viability, earlier breast development, and asthma
Fluorocarbons: phasing out longer chain C-8 chemicals; shorter chain less persistent but almost no information on health effects. Semi-volatile forms migrate out from products into indoor and outdoor air. Cord blood disproportionately transfers shorter chain fluorocarbons to fetuses. Stain repellants have been found in Polar Bears. Cancer, thyroid disease, decreased fertility in women and early menopause. Reduced testosterone levels in men.
Bisphenol A, Bisphenol S: endocrine disruptor, reduced sperm quality, diabetes, obesity; effects at 5000 times lower than government “safe” exposure levels.
Halogenated Flame Retardants: mutagens, carcinogens, neurodevelopmental effects including decreased memory, learning disabilities, hyperactivity; reproductive toxicants, delayed conception, reduced sperm count; immune suppression; lower birth weight. More than 4,000 scientific studies documenting PBDE’s persistence, bioaccumulative properties, and toxicity to human and animal subjects. Direct relationship between PBDE concentration ad lower IQ. Children’s HFR concentrations are 3 times that of their mothers. The flame retardant HBCD (HBCDD) is found in EPS and XPS, it has been banned by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, but is currently under a grace period of 5 years.
Phthalates: make plastics softer and more flexible; damages sexual development in prenatally exposed boys; increased abdominal obesity, reduced sperm viability, earlier breast development, and asthma.
Fluorocarbons: Phased out longer chain C-8 chemicals PFOA and PFOS; shorter chain less persistent but almost no information on health effects, but cord blood disproportionately transfers shorter chain fluorocarbons to fetuses. Stain repellants have been found in Polar Bears. Cancer, thyroid disease, decreased fertility in women and early menopause. Reduced testosterone levels in men. Semi-volatile forms migrate out from products into indoor and outdoor air.
Bisphenol A, Bisphenol S: endocrine disruptor, reduced sperm quality, diabetes, obesity; effects at 5000 times lower than government “safe” exposure levels.
Nanomaterials: Standard toxicological analysis for non-nano versions of a chemical are not sufficient to model the behavior of a nanomaterial in the body. These materials are so small that they bridge cell walls. Current science finds behavior is similar to endocrine disruptors.
Antimicrobials: Triclosan levels already found in the urine of Americans are high enough to potentially cause health effects, including allergies, hypothyroidism. Endocrine disruptors, thyroid-blocking. Not bioaccumulative, but persistent. Feminizing effects, estrogen enhancing and testosterone blocking.
Isocyanates: Includes MDI, Severe respiratory irritants. Asthma triggers and asthmagens. NOT just during application, though that is primary. Concern also as the finish wears down and ends up in dust. Can cause some of the same respiratory problems, asthma attacks that curing isocyanates cause.
EMF: EMF is a term encompassing AC Magnetic Fields and Radio Frequency Radiation (2012 Bioinitiative Report). Radio Frequency Radiation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The United States is not taking these issues seriously, but if you would like to learn more, I highly recommend reading the 2012 BioInitiative Report. There are a host of non-carcinogen, non-lethal developmental effects being documented in the literature, and are simply not being addressed by our regulatory environment or our green building industry.
HPD: creation of a standard format to report building product content and associated health information. The objective is to establish a standard format to (1) support consumers’ informed decisions about the products they purchase and their impacts on human health, and (2) to reduce the burden on product manufacturers juggling multiple types of information requests and reporting formats.
Some practitioners are favoring manufacturers that publish HPDs? Some smaller manufacturers don’t have staff or budget to do HPD, so I tend to favor those that provide greater disclosure of ingredients through their website or MSDS.
Now we will talk about specific health hazards and material choices by product category.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is a place to start. Remember that with ANY product or manufacturer I list on a slide, before putting them into your specifications, test the products for performance and appropriateness for a given application. Also call manufacturers and talk to them about what products they would recommend for your project.
If you are dealing with a chemically sensitive individual, if you yourself are chemically sensitive, not all of these are appropriate. Test before applying anything in your home.
Finishes: avoid fluorochemicals and nanosealants. When picking thermal mass/flooring, ask, what will the sealant be?
Polyurethanes: problem during cure and break down over time releasing asthmagens
Epoxies: contain carcinogens and BPA, maintenance schedule for re-applying finishes n-methyl pyrrolidone
Plan ahead when choosing stone, because as with concrete, the sealant can effect maintenance and the overall health of your home.
Quickdrain: polyethylene
Phthalates: make plastics softer and more flexible; damages sexual development in prenatally exposed boys; increased abdominal obesity, reduced sperm viability, earlier breast development, and asthma
Fluorocarbons: phasing out longer chain C-8 chemicals; shorter chain less persistent but almost no information on health effects. Semi-volatile forms migrate out from products into indoor and outdoor air. Cord blood disproportionately transfers shorter chain fluorocarbons to fetuses. Stain repellants have been found in Polar Bears. Cancer, thyroid disease, decreased fertility in women and early menopause. Reduced testosterone levels in men.