Wrinkle Free Textiles and Formaldehyde

Wrinkle free fabric treatments have just been listed on the FDA's list
of known carcinogens. We all know that feeling of crispness on new textiles.
The main reason why we wash new clothes before we wear them, is getting
rid of the "sizing" that is put on textiles before being cut and sewn into clothing.

Now I want you to take a step back and think about the interior environment.
Every textile, or fabric that is being used to create a beautiful interior goes through
the same kinds of treatments. Added to this is the additional need for stain resistance
and we have a double jeopardy of treatments that can affect human beings.

Both treatments typically carry a Formaldehyde chemical in their makeup.
We touch textiles, all day every day, in the work environment and the home
environment. Without these treatments textiles can become wrinkled and dirty
faster.

As we make adjustments in our thinking to live toxin free, we have to create a new
picture in our interior lives. Organic textiles, usually cotton, or linen are not wrinkle
free. That means that our lives will be a bit more shabby chic if we choose to eliminate
toxins and create a neutral living space for our families. Wrinkles hang out in draperies,
especially if old fashioned steaming is used in the installation process. Organic cottons
press out from sitting, but pooling can be created where people sit. Again, a shabby
chic kind of look that must be embraced!

Another choice is vegetable dyed leather. This is a wonderful choice for this environment
because the hand is as soft as butter, and cuddly when used over soy foam. It can be taught
and tight on headboards for that look, or benches for more utilitarian uses. We use
alot of leather on barstools, dining chairs, and family areas where heavy use and the
introduction of food can be a maintenance headache. But remember, these are vegetable dyes.
Which means more subtle colors. More natural colors. No strong colors, or strong contrasts.
Those do not exist in vegetable dyes to date. This market will develope, but we will be limited to
colors that occur in nature and can be captured consistently in leather products.

Organic fabrics made into slip covers and totally washable is a great solution. A good upholsterer can make slipcovers look very fitted and can be attached with velcro for a snug fit. This gives the client the option to have the slipcovers laundered in soap of their choice by laundries that still exist. These slipcovers are hung to dry so that shrinkage does not routinely occur.

Formaldehyde: Who needs it?

Formaldehyde is not a safe interior material.

It is now a known carcinogen and causes cancer in humans.

The biggest culprit in interior environments that have an unsafe
presence of formaldehyde, is bonded wood products. MDF board now
on the list of known carcinogens ( by the FDA) is part of the story, but
plywood, and bonded woods used routinely for underlayment, and
structural stability are very common. Non - toxic plywood and bonded
wood board is available, but more expensive than regular material of this
kind.

In specification in Interior Design the designer must take the lead and
ensure to a client that non toxic materials are being used. As the director
in the construction and implementation phases, proof must be given by each
trade, that all materials used in the environment are in fact tested and do
not contain formaldehyde.

As the specifier, it is important for the Interior Designer to demand to see
materials before being covered with drywall, or finish materials. Our specifications
are for naught if ignored. That is why it is imperative that the Certified Healthy
Interior Designer has control over the purse strings of a project. In controlling the
budget and the sub contractor, we can insure to a client that our specifications
are being met.

We Made the List of New Carcinogens

Interior Design and the built environment made a huge leap forward in recognition of a couple of huge interior problems. Two items in the built environment were added to the list of carcinogens that exist in our environment. Those of us involved in healthy interior specification have known this for a long time, but here goes the news!
Wrinkle free fabric (fabric treated to have a non wrinkle hand and appearance) is stated to contain harmful amounts of Formaldehyde.
Particle Board (say it isn't so!) is also on this new list of 8 additional products containing harmful levels of Formaldehyde.

When exposed to these particulates cancer can occurr, or extreme trouble breathing.

New construction today is full of "bonded materials" which are combination products that are held together with inexpensive bonding agents for speed of production, and low cost. These bonding agents are typically the culprits in containing Formaldehyde and Volatile Organic Compounds which can cause poor air quality, and when breathed by humans, can lead to many other problems.

Making this list is a dismal, but first step. My predicition is that as this list grows and the public becomes more aware of how toxic our built environment is, that LEED standards for healthy interiors will change. If we catch up with Europe (1/2 of our toxins are allowed), or Japan (1/8 of our toxins are allowed) and head toward a neutral rating of toxicity, we are making forward progress.

Healthy Interior Design - a Division of Christy Collection Inc. lauds the expanded list and begs for our testing facilities to be ever more vigilent in the quest for neutral interior environments.

Non Toxic Materials Worth the Effort

In our continuing quest to creat non toxic and healthy environments, we have hit many brick walls and manufacturers that do not agree with our standards. When a manufacturer boasts about having "green" elements to their product lines, as a designer you must ask for the documentation. Green is in. Green sells. We all know this by buying organic foods and later
finding out that it is not.

Going beyond Green to Healthy gives even more credence to the quest.
We are keeping information organized to share with designers as we develope
training manuals and training courses to help other designers learn about healthy
design. The industry will change slowly if we demand it as professionals. Our clients
need to be educated by us to know that products that will not hurt their familes are out
there.

Doing the research for Healthy Interior Products takes alot of time and determination.
When I am ignored when asking for test data, the manufacturer is put on notice.
Claims of non toxic ingredients are always backed up with certified testing data, and
it must be provided for products to be specified.

The US is behind other countries in demanding non toxic materials. Designers need
to make the difference in this effort. Demand non toxic materials for your clients.
It may not save our world.. but it may save your little corner of it.

Washable Organic Cotton Textiles

As we specify healthy cleaner environments, a very important part of it is having healthy clean textiles surround us. If we use washable organic cotton textiles on our furniture and treat each piece of furniture to a slip cover design, we can keep our surroundings cleaner. Washing slipcovers monthly at least gives the user control over dust mites, mold, spills that can breed bacteria and allergens that can collect on textiles during use. The recommendation of using washable organic textiles is typically less expensive than the silks, wools, and combination fabrics around. Where the cost is driven upwards is the approach of slipcovering a piece of furniture as well as having a covering on the piece itself. This will do the most in keeping the environment clean and is money well spent. More organic cotton textiles are being developed everyday. I applaud Robert Allen, Kravet, and Designers Guild in thier research and developement!

Design Must get Healthier

As our built world becomes more and more unhealthy, it is up to the educated and experienced design professional to lead the way in changing the norm and expectations. There is an extreme push in the construction phase of any project where costs are weighed and the low bid typically wins out. With that low bid may come products that are manufactured either in the US or in Asia to lowest standards allowable. Typically lower standards for lower pricing bring toxins into the mix. We all heard about the FEMA trailers full of "Chinese Drywall" that offgassed formaldehyde into the interiors of displaced Katrina families. With that came asthma, and other respiratory problems. The US standards of what we will accept in the way of Volatile Organic Compounds and Formaldehyde is disturbing enough. If test results were provided with this low bid application of drywall, then those standards were met. Since this happened, it was revealed in subsequent studies that many drywall products made right here in the US have the same standards as the drywall that offgassed in the FeMA trailers and created a public outcry. The US has the lowest standards in the world. We will accept a very high standard of parts per million of all of these toxins that make us all sick. Europe allows half of what we do. Japan allows almost half again of Europe. When people are Auto Immune compromised they have a hyper sensitivity that allows even less to be acceptable in their environments. The problem is that exposure over time can build up in our bodies and express itself in many ways. Many experts have talked about the foods that we eat, the interior products that surround us, and the air quality that we breathe in our homes and in commercial environments and how it has effected our standard of living and our breathing. If it is true, as experts predict and the cases of autism, asthma, and related brain and breathing problems is growing at alarming rates because of these two factors, designers have a huge responsibility in the years to come. Cases of cancers reported in Erin Brokavitch situations of toxic waste spills, were proven to have poisoned whole towns. There is little difference between the Volatile Organic Compounds that surround us, leach into our air, and our water and their future effect on how we will live or die in our lifetimes. This is not a scare tactic. This is a call to action for designers to be aware of problems that exist in the products that we specify everyday. The solution can be as simple as asking for test results for the products that we as designers are specifying. The lab test results will show how much offgassing the products do. Then we can decide with the client what we can accept for the population. If you have a client that has immune system problems, the requirements are more stringent. The more compromised they are, the more dilligent we must be in taking care of them. It comes down to why the postion of interior designer has health and life safety as part of it's responsibility. I challenge interior designers on this planet to be aware, be dilligent and most of all ask the questions about what we are surrounding our clients with. Without the knowledge of the offgassing possibilities of the specifications that we produce, we are blind and leading a death march. I do not choose to do that.

Healthy Interior Design

The result of living within toxins accepted by US levels is not always acceptable to the client.

Interior Design that serves those that are immune system compromised has to address all levels of VOC's, and all toxins in water, and air in the interior project. We all face the reality of more exposure and more reactions to this as we live and breathe in badly polluted environments. As you are exposed to more and more interior toxins, you can develope a hyper sensitivity to light, temperature and sound. As you do this, your environment supports you less and less. The result is not a normal life style.

Most products that are assumed to be done offgassing and creating negative reactions in humans do not ever really stop offgassing. The biggest example of this can be insulation, stone surfaces, drywall, paint, and various bonded materials that are everywhere. Every solid surface that is used for countertops is a series of chunks of something bonded together with something. These bonding agents oftentimes create many problems for humans to live with. When you see the word epoxy, or resin, or bonding agent, dig deeper.

My role as an interior designer keeps expanding and growing. All markets have niche areas that are not being addressed. Most designers run from heavy research and exposure to giving advice with risks. Those of us that are highly educated and have created a measure of fearlessness are encouraged to keep expanding what we know and direct our clients to walk with us on this journey.

I have explored many interior environments in my history and have always focused on giving back to the education of interior design, their clients and their students. We are given chances to grow and learn. Embracing it can be extremely enlightening.