Is danger lurking in your living room?

Recent EPA studies have shown that air pollution inside homes can be a shocking two to five times higher than outdoor levels. But what kind of pollution are we talking about, and where is it coming from? Well, you might be standing, sitting, or looking at it right now.

The following guide will help you identify polluting agents lurking in your home and the best ways to avoid or take care of them. So get ready to clean up your home environment, while doing some favors for the planet at the same time.

Your walls have fumes

If you have recently painted your living room you may be in danger. Most paint contains volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which are emitted as gases.

VOCs include an assortment of chemicals such as the known cancer-causing agent methylene chloride. Concentrations of VOCs can be 10 times higher indoors than outdoor because of the lack of ventilation.

The scary part is that the VOCs emitted while painting, or even from a paint can in storage, can attach themselves to your carpet or furniture and continue to pollute your home.

Paint solution
Fortunately there are a few simple solutions for avoiding run-ins with the sickening chemicals most paints contain. The best solution is to avoid VOC paint from the beginning.

Mainstream paint brands like Benjamin Moore and the Sherwin Williams Co. offer low or zero VOC paints, and there are many other brands who have been offering them for years, such as AFM’s Safecoat.

You can read more about earth-friendly paints here. Also, when painting, it’s always a good idea to open a window when you can to allow fresh air in, and stale air out.

The fireplace that warms you

Your living room fireplace can warm up the winter, but it can also fill up your house with carbon monoxide and other dangerous fumes.

A dirty chimney, closed damper, or an open flame doesn’t allow the fire to properly ventilate and can cause health problems in your home.

Fire solution
Always make sure that when starting a fire you have the damper open, and that it stays open until the embers have completely stopped burning. Every winter season you should have your chimney and flue inspected for any cracks or debris.

Buildup in your chimney can allow fumes to seep into your home, or even worse, can start a chimney fire. Also, make sure you have a glass covering or door over your open flame. This will help keep the wood burning more efficiently and keep excess carbon monoxide out of your lungs.

The carpet beneath your feet

Whether your carpet is a hand-me-down from your grandmother or brand new from the store, it probably has more bad things in it than you realize. If you have recently purchased your carpet, it has most likely been fitted to be flame-retardant, stain-resistant, moth-proof, and bacteria-free. But the way manufactures “protect” you from all of this is by loading tons of chemicals and preservatives into the carpet.

Remember the dangerous VOCs from the wall paint? Well, carpets have them too, as well as 4-PC, associated with respiratory problems, and benzene, formaldehyde, ethyl benzene, styrene, and acetone, all known carcinogens that can cause cancer and reproductive problems.

Flooring solutions
So how do you stay safe from threats such as fires, while staying healthy in the meantime?  The first best step is to get rid of the carpet. You may have beautiful hardwood floors under those wall-to-wall carpets, which are a lot easier to keep clean and don’t have any of the same chemicals.

If you must have a carpet, look to buy those made of either natural fibers, such as wool, or from recycled materials. Interface Global, a leading carpet manufacturer, has designed FLOR, an environmentally conscious line of recycled and chemical-free modular carpeting. As a bonus, the modular design allows you to replace only a part of their carpet at a time. Interface’s dedication to lowering its own carbon footprint through energy efficiency and waste minimization is icing on the cake.

If you already own a carpet and can’t digest the thought of throwing it away or replacing it, the American Formulating and Manufacturing Company has designed a carpet sealer to prevent the outgassing of the harmful chemicals.

The furniture you sit on

In your home, some of the most significant polluters are your sofas, chairs, and tables. Furniture that is made from pressed wood also uses adhesives that contain high concentrations of urea-formaldehyde (UF) and other types of formaldehyde resins.

These resins can begin to slowly seep into the air over time and have been linked to asthma problems with children.

Furniture solutions
The rule of thumb when buying furniture is, if it smells -- don’t buy it. Most furniture will have some sort of formaldehyde on it, whether from the adhesive or from flame retardants, but you can inquire about which resins in particular the furniture was made with.

Phenol formaldehyde and methylene resins emit much less toxins in the air than say UF, so choosing a wood product with these is better than most. Also, you can buy a veneer or water-resistant coating to put on your furniture, which will reduce the emissions of toxins.

Remember though, unless the furniture appears to be certified natural, it will contain some level of chemicals regardless of the strength of odor. It’s because of this that your best option is to buy from a green furnishing company such as Furnature and Vivavi. These two companies have designed lines of sustainable furniture and fabrics that promise to be chemical free.

Safe home, healthy planet
Now don’t be afraid of the dangers lurking in your living room:  Yes, they can be scary, but now you know what to do about them. A clean home environment will not only reduce your family’s exposure to harmful elements; every healthy choice you make in your own home will go a long way in protecting the planet’s health, too.

So kick your feet up and rest easy knowing your home is as safe as can be.

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