TOXICOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS IN EVALUATING INDOOR AIR-QUALITY AND HUMAN HEALTH - IMPACT OF NEW CARPET EMISSIONS

This review article considers evidence regarding the toxicological imp act of new carpet emissions on indoor air quality and human health. It compares emissions data from several studies and describes the domina nt compounds found in those emissions. The toxicity of each of these c ompounds is assessed for animal and human data, with a focus on inhala tion exposure. Data for acute and chronic exposures are presented, and synergistic effects are considered. Differences and similarities betw een health responses caused by toxicity and/or by immunological reacti ons are discussed. Possible neurogenic pathways and associations betwe en these and immune changes are considered as they might relate to inf lammatory-based human reactions. Additionally, factors affecting human odor responses are described. The roles that a variety of psychologic al factors may also play in the etiology of potentially related phenom ena, such as the sick building syndrome, pathogenic illness, and multi ple chemical sensitivity, are considered. Gaps in the literature are i dentified within the article and suggestions for future research are o ffered. In particular, it is noted that few, if any, prior studies hav e evaluated both neurogenic and immune-mediated inflammation status wi thin the same study. Based on the present information available, it is concluded that under normal environmental circumstances, VOC emission s from new carpets are sufficiently low such that they should not adve rsely affect indoor air quality or pose significant health risk to peo ple.