What are volatile organic compounds?
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’S) – organic chemical compounds used to produce engineered and laminate floor covers. VOC’s originate when off-gas from either a solid or a liquid substance leaks into surrounding atmosphere, or your house. While most VOC’s are not harmful, some link to serious health issues in humans and substantial environmental damage.
Types of VOC’s
The two types of VOC’s are Biogenic, naturally occurring and Anthropogenic, or man-made. Of course, the latter damages us, the one WE made. VOC’s are produced by fossil fuels, benzine, cigarettes, machine lubricants, paint strippers adhesives (glue) and of course formaldehyde.
Health risk of VOC’s
Potential health risk include minor problems such as eye irritation and dizziness to name a couple. However, exposure to some of the more toxic VOC’s can lead to birth defects, Parkinson’s disease, Leukemia, and a dozen forms of cancer. This dangerous category is highly regulated in the United States by the EPA and OSHA. However, Vietnam and China (just to name two examples) have very few regulations on even the worst and most toxic. The evidence of this can be found on 60 minutes a few years ago, do your research.
Laminate = landfills
The least Green Floors
Laminate floors are not green, engineered floors are not green; in fact, they is the opposite of green. Laminate flooring has a huge carbon footprint based on the manufacturing process, which can include dangerous chemicals. Not to mention the massive energy output needed to product the product. Neither Laminate, nor engineered floors are renewable or recyclable; single use floors that end up in our landfills.
Laminate floors may not last forever, but VOC’s do
The chemicals used in engineered floor production are harmful, but laminate continues as the fastest growing component of our landfills. It’s difficult to quantify what chemicals, leach from laminate & engineered floors once they sit for a while; or what would be emitted into the air if placed in an incinerator. To put it simply, this stuff doesn’t decompose, because of all the chemicals (VOC’s) the material never breaks down organically.