sustain

creating better environments

Health issue 2015 - Spring

The Health of our Educational Facilities…

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Americans take for granted that
our schools are safe, healthy, andproductive environments in whichchildren can learn, grow, anddevelop into the next-generationof leaders who will proudly carryour nation forward.
As the foundation of American
society, our nation’s 100,000+
public and private K-12 schools
and 5,000 colleges anduniversities are central forces in
the lives of some 60 million pre-K,
elementary, middle, and highschool-age kids, 20 million college
students, and 13-15 million

Are our halls of academia

a hotbed of
faculty members and support staff-- more than one-third of the U.S.
population at any given time.
But within this institution central to
our nation’s very ideals and cultural
fabric, however, solid scientificevidence is increasingly linking
the epidemic rise in serious healthissues among our nation’s youth
to exposure to toxins emitted
by what have been considered“standard” school building
construction materials,
cleaning products, andmaintenance practices.
The alarming reality is that ourhallowed halls of education may
in fact be a hotbed of hazards thatare compromising the health oftheir occupants and our children’sability to learn.

2

toxi

creating better environments

A Flawed Foundation
The dramatic rise in the incidence of chronic
illnesses such as asthma, autism and otherdevelopmental disabilities, ADHD, and avariety of endocrine-related disorders
among our nation’s children has been linked
to exposure to toxic chemicals emitted bycertain noxious building materials, as well as
to the presence of allergens such as moldand mildew. School settings are among the
key culprits behind this disturbing trend,
based on the use of certain hazardous
building and cleaning products, less-thanoptimal maintenance procedures, a historic

xic hazards?

The unwitting employment of toxic
hazards in schools is often based on
misinformation and lowest-first-costdecisions, but at what price to the healthand welfare of America’s school children?
For the sake of our students andteachers, the use of safer and moresustainable products and maintenanceprocedures in schools is a valuablelesson to learn.

sus·tain·a·bil·i·ty
the ability to meet the needsof the present generation
without compromising theability of future generations
to do the same

disconnect between school capital andoperating budgets, and school building
construction practices that promotemoisture and/or the retention of heat.

The troubling truth is that the nation’s
educational environment may bethreatening the health and welfare of thevery consumers our schools are designed
to embrace, support, and nurture.

The Cost to our Children
According to a recent study by the Mount
Sinai School of Medicine and the National
Children’s Study New York-Northern New
Jersey Center, childhood health issues
caused by environmental hazards such as
air pollution and exposure to toxic
chemicals cost the U.S. $76.6 billion in 2008
and are on the rise, up 40% from $54.9
billion nearly a decade earlier.1

Touching the lives of 100
million students, faculty,
and staff – over one-third of
the U.S. population – at any
given time, schools may be
unknowingly exposing these
individuals to toxic
building materials and moldon a regular basis

3Consider the
Following Facts about
our Nation’s Schools:• According to the National Center for
Education Statistics, the typical American
school was built in the 1950s-1960s, is anaverage of 50-60 years old, and is often arundown facility hosting outdated building
products and maintenance procedures that
could increase the risk of toxic exposure forstudents.
• A 2008 21st Century School Fund study
conducted in conjunction with American
School & University’s 36th Annual
Maintenance & Operations Cost Study for
Schools revealed that U.S. public schools
spent only about $5 per square foot per
year to maintain and operate the school.
– Furthermore, the average school
reportedly spent less than half of themoney on maintenance, repair, andcapital renewals than would benecessary to bring it into a stateof good repair and optimal
environmental conditions for students.
– With only this amount to spend on
building maintenance, schools would be
wise to invest in products that require
minimal maintenance and postinstallation outlay. However, growing
financial pressures and a historic
disconnect between capital andoperating budgets, especially in the K-12
arena, have often driven less-thanoptimal investment decisions involving
building materials and cleaning andmaintenance practices and supplies.
• According to the EPA study Indoor Air
Quality Tools for Schools: Actions to
Improve Indoor Air Quality, up to half of ournation’s schools have problems associatedwith indoor air quality, most notably fromthe growth of mold and mildew createdby damp indoor environments. The
presence of these hazards is further
exacerbated by school buildings that are
tightly sealed and/or poorly ventilated(a condition prevalent in both old as well as
newly-constructed facilities).
4

The State of our Nation’s schools…

With more children(23.5 million) eligible for free or
reduced meals, kids are
spending more time in schoolbuildings than ever beforecreating better environments

Children spend:
35-40 hours per week,
9-10 months per year,
Up to 3 years of their formative lives
in school buildings with potential
toxic exposure

School Kids

and
nd
d

Children are at greater riskof breathing in or ingesting
toxic chemicals fromsuspect building andmaintenance productsChildren at Greater Risk for Toxicity
A number of factors render children
especially vulnerable to chemical
toxins emitted from building
construction materials, cleaning
and maintenance products, andschool/office supplies:• Studies confirm that children
consume more food, liquid, and air for
their size and body weight thanadults, making them more susceptible
to the absorption of chemicals – andpotential harm to their stilldeveloping immune systems, brain
functions, metabolisms, endocrine
systems, etc. – than their older
counterparts.

• Based on their highly tactile and oral
nature – e.g., sitting on, playing with,touching, or even tasting objects or
surfaces containing toxic substances –children are at greater risk of breathingin or ingesting toxic chemicals
emitted by suspect building materials,
maintenance products, and schoolsupplies.2• Compounding this vulnerability is thefact that children are spending moretime in school buildings than everbefore. At 35-40 hours per week
for 9-10 months per year, along withan increasing amount of time spentin school settings for after-school
activities, day care, meals, andcommunity events, children are

spending the equivalent of 2-3 yearsof their formative lives in schoolbuildings with potential toxic
exposure.
Overall, said author Aviva Glaser in her
2005 report for the National Coalition
Against the Misuse of Pesticides,“Children’s developing organs create
early windows of great vulnerability
during which exposure to toxins cancause great damage.”35The Fallout:
School Kids Experiencing
an Epidemic Risein Health Problems

Since (and despite) the enactment of the Toxic SubstanceControl Act of 1976, over 80,000 potentially harmful
chemicals are currently allowed for use in the U.S., theoverwhelming majority of which don’t require testing
and less than five of which have been regulated orbanned under this law.4

Chemicalsin buildings
directly link to:

A dozen chemicals
commonly used inbuilding products can
impair the developmentof the lungs andimmune system.
Bill Walsh,
Executive Director,
Healthy Building Network

6

Highly-respected medical and scientificorganizations worldwide – including
the U.S. National Institutes of Health,the Harvard School for Public Health/Harvard Medical School, the Healthy
Building Network, the U.S. Green
Buildings Council (USGBC), the Centerfor Health, Environment & Justice(CHEJ), the Asthma Regional Councilof New England (ARC), and the statelegislatures of California, New York,and others -- have begun tracking theimpact of exposure to toxic chemicals
such as those found in certain schoolbuilding materials, cleaning andmaintenance products, and schoolsupplies on adults and children. They
have revealed the following findings
concerning the rising incidence of
health concerns among children:
Cases of autism spectrum
disorders increased by 78% since
2002 and currently affect 1 in 88
children, a number still on the rise.
A 2009 study found a statisticallysignificant link between polyvinyl
chloride (PVC) andcreating better environments

phthalates in building materials
and school/office supplies and theincidence of autism spectrum disorders,concluding that children continuously
exposed to these toxins may be twice
as likely to have autism.5

The number of childrenclassified with learning
disabilities increased by 191%
between 1977 and 1994; today, as
many as 1 in every 6 children isbelieved to have a learning ordevelopmental disability of some kind.

The prevalence of asthma amongchildren nearly doubled between
1980 and 1995 and currently affects

Exposure to phthalates has been
linked to the rise in attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which

Leukemia, brain cancer, and otherchildhood cancers have increasedby more than 20% since 1975 and early
puberty and other signs of endocrinerelated disruption is now experiencedby 1 in 10 girls, a condition which posesa risk factor for breast cancer later in life.

Asthma among children nearly doubled between 1980 and 1995
Autism increased by 78% since 2002
Exposure to phthalates has also been linked to

1 out of 6 Children haveObesity

Learning Disabilities

Childhood Cancers increased by more than 20% since 1975
Phthalate exposure linked toDrop in IQ scores

ADHD increased six-fold between 1985 and 2000
7 million children, or 1 in every 13.
Considered the #1 chronic childhood
illness, asthma is a leading cause ofschool absenteeism, with some 14.7
million school days missed each year
due to this condition.
A Healthy Building Network study
identified a dozen chemicals
commonly used in building products,
foam insulation, paints, adhesives, floors,and carpets that can lead to thedevelopment of asthma in children,
especially the presence of phthalates,
which can impair the development of
the lungs and immune system.6

has increased six-fold between 1985
and 2000 and may affect as many as
1 in 6 children today.7
Exposure to phthalates has also
been linked to obesity, which currently
affects 16-33% of U.S. children andteenagers.8
A recent South Korean study
found that children with higher
concentrations of two common
phthalates in their urine had lower
IQ scores than their peers.9

Along with exposure to dangerous
mold and mildew, says Frances Gilmoreof the Asthma Regional Council of
New England, “VOCs may contributeto any of a full range of health effects,
including triggering an asthma attack
in someone who already has asthma,
gradually leading to the developmentof asthma in someone who doesn’t
have it, or contributing to healtheffects ranging from minor irritation
to cancer.”107The Chemicals andHazards of Concern

Experts worldwide confirm that avariety of toxins known as volatileorganic compounds, or VOCs –which include substances such asformaldehyde and glycol ethers aswell as plasticizers known as
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or
phthalates, which are often usedin everything from vinyl flooring,carpets, building materials, floor
strippers/finishes, and school

Exposing our
supplies such as binders, backpacks,
lunchboxes, and laptops -- canbe emitted from certain building
construction materials, cleaning andmaintenance products, or schoolsupplies and absorbed through therespiratory system or through skincontact, leading to potential healthhazards for those exposed.
The Healthy Building Network, anorganization dedicated totransforming the market forbuilding materials to advance thebest environmental, health andsocial outcomes, confirms thatthe presence of mold and mildew
caused by standing water or damp
conditions in school environments
increases the risk of chronic allergies
and asthma among children.
This moisture can further
accelerate the emission of
hazardous chemicals into the airfrom building materials -- allincreasing the risk of serious healthconsequences for the children,

8Childrenfaculty and staff to harm?

teachers, staff, and community
members who use these facilities.
Through their analyses of human
exposure to air pollutants, EPA
studies have officially confirmedthat indoor levels of pollutants may
be two to five times — and in somecases more than 100 times —higher than outdoor levels, resulting
in indoor air quality that’s more‘polluted’ and concentrated withtoxins than the air outside.

Enhance School
Environments for our
Nation’s YouthThe reality is that, because building
materials are processed products,
few are completely VOC-free andmost contain ingredients
possessing some degree of toxicity
to those who are sensitive. For thisreason, the real issue surrounding
toxins in school buildings involves
quantifying the toxic substances
within building products andcleaning/maintenance supplies anddetermining an acceptable levelof exposure for students and otherbuilding occupants.

creating better environments

EPA studies confirm that indoor levelsof pollutants may be over 100 times higher
than outdoor levels

Toxicity Label Facts
How the product impacts your health
USEtox as found in Forbo’s EPD
Impact Category: USEtox

Units

Production

Transport

Installation Use (1yr)

End of Life

Ecotoxicity

PAF m3.day

1.33E-03

8.40E-04

4.78E-04

8.69E-05-2.59E-04

Human toxicity, Cancer

cases

2.02E-10

6.75E-13

1.47E-11

1.36E-11-1.14E-10

Human toxicity, non-Cancer cases

2.52E-11

2.90E-13

1.18E-10

7.45E-13-2.15E-12

Ingredient List
Complete list of what is in the product
Ingredients of Marmoleum: (HPD)
Linseed oil, Gum resin, Tall oil, Wood flour, Calcium caronate, Reused Marmoleum,
Titanium dioxide, Jute, Lacquer

The Collaborative for High
Performance School’s (CHPS)
Operations Report Card™, which
utilizes the California Standard
Section 01350 Specification, wasamong the first science-based
standards designed to measure thehealth of schools’ indoor air quality.
But, even this progressive initiativereflected a flaw in testing.
It measured phthalate emissions ina dark chamber under ‘controlled’
conditions of 23°C (75°F) room
temperatures. In reality, during warm
weather months and especially inthe summer, when schools tend to
be closed up, temperatures can soar
well into the 90-100°F range and thishot air can stagnate within tightly

sealed and/or poorly ventilatedbuildings. This is a significant concern
in light of the fact that studies11 havefurther shown that the emission of
PVCs is accelerated in the presenceof heat, with every 10°C rise intemperature driving a 10-foldincrease in phthalate emissions.
Products that may have once passed
the well-meaning CHPS toxicity
standard may in fact fail underreal-life building conditions, exposing
students to untold toxic hazards
in the normal operating cycle of theaverage school.

Environmental ProductDeclarations (EPDs), open standards
by which manufacturers or third
party testers can report on the healthor environmental impact of products
to help quantify and communicate
their degree of toxicity or safety.
The increasingly popular USEtox®
standard represents yet anotherscience-based tool used tocharacterize the impact of chemicals
on humans and the environment.
It is similar to a nutritional label forfood.

As a result, the building industry ismoving towards the use of Health
Product Declarations (HPDs) and
9

The Factson School Flooring
Considered among the most
toxic chemicals in the school
setting, polyvinyl chloride(PVC) is largely found in
vinyl flooring, the adhesives
used in its installation, thesupplies used to clean, andby the processes employed
to maintain vinyl floors.

Out ofAre
thesourcesof theproblems

A recent study of over 10,000 children
confirmed that the presence of floor moistureand PVC significantly increased the risk ofasthma.

10

creating better environments

PVCs – Too Hot to Handle

Sight ...

Heat has also been found to accelerate
the emission of VOCs from vinyl flooringand its related products. According to a2013 study,11 the emission of phthalate
plasticizers from vinyl flooring increased
200-fold as ambient temperatures in theand out of mind?

Seething Below the Surface
While it’s believed that the ‘normal’ emission of VOCs
from vinyl flooring products under standard use andmaintenance can pose significant health risks to occupants,
recent studies show that the presence of excessive water orheat can further accelerate those emissions and expose
occupants to even greater levels of toxicity. For example,
the use of lower-quality adhesives and/or outdated
application practices can create airspaces and ridges that
promote the collection of dirt and water and subsequently
foster the growth of dangerous mold and mildew under
the surface. In addition, water pooling under impermeablesurfaces such as vinyl flooring can potentially pop theflooring, leading to emission of PVC from sub-floor
adhesives.

test setting rose from 20°C to 60°C (68°F
to 140°F), confirming that temperature
has a strong influence on phthalate
emissions. This reality poses an increased
risk to students and other occupants
during warm-weather months as wellas in areas of buildings that rely on
daylighting for illumination or during
the winter, when the school operates
its heating system.
Further compounding the alreadyhazardous presence of damp and hot
conditions in schools is the fact that, inan effort to drive enhanced energy
efficiency, modern construction
practices incorporate the use of greaterlevels of insulation than in the past,creating facilities that are more
tightly-sealed and less well-ventilated
than ever before. Ironically, based on thistrend, the much-publicized ‘backto school’ time at the end of eachsummer – after the nation’s schools havebeen closed up for the hottest months ofthe year – may in fact be the most toxic
environments we could be exposing ourstudents and faculty to all year.

Further highlighting the hazards created by these
conditions, a recent study of 10,851 children
confirmed that the presence of floor moisture and
PVC significantly increased the risk of asthma.12

11

Grounded in Fact:

theTruthon Flooring

Flooring Economics:
Revealing theGreat Misconception
Alhough vinyl flooring appears to delivera lower first-cost than other flooring options,the occupancy-ready and total life cycle cost of thisproduct is, in fact, much higher than Marmoleum sheet
or tile (MCT). This is due to the expense of the productsprescribed to clean, seal, and maintain vinyl flooring frominitial installation through its life, which ironically, issignificantly shorter than other options.
The following economic analysis, based on a landmark study
by the University of Florida13 as well as current cost
information, confirms that vinyl flooring carries a higher
lifetime cost compared to linoleum.

MCT

Initial Cost Versus - 50 Year Life Cycle Cost

All cost based on ($/SF)

Occupancy Ready Costs
Initial Clean

3-7 coats for Commercial Use@ 25¢ per coat =$.75 — $1.75$.15* Call for current prices$150.00$100.00$50.00Occupancy Ready =$3.20 – $4.20 Occupancy Ready = $3.40

Vinyl Sheet

$.15
$.50
$.25

Vinyl Composition Tile

Occupancy Ready Costs
Initial Clean
2 coats after installation
Scrub for next coating$200.00

Cost ($/SF)

Material Cost
$2.25*
Adhesive Cost$.25
Installation Cost (National Average) $.75

Rubber Sheet$250.00

Material Cost$.85
Adhesive Cost$.07
Installation Cost (National Average) $.63

Cork

vs

MCT / Linoleum

VCT

$0.00
(Source: University of Florida)

Initial Cost

Life Cycle Cost

Total First Cost
In many instances Marmoleum/linoleum carries a lower Total First Cost and has been proven to carry a lower lifetime costthan vinyl and other flooring materials. In addition to being free from toxins, Marmoleum represents a smarter, healthierinvestment for schools in terms of the comprehensive benefits it delivers to students, faculty, staff, and the environment.
Savings achieved from the use of lower maintenance and more environmentally-friendly flooring options can then be
redirected to support other critical needs facing our schools.
12creating better environments

Best in Class – a Real-World Lesson“When I started at
Kenton County, ourstaﬀ was stripping
and reapplying
seven coats of wax,
year in and yearout.
We were slaves to

Rob Haney, Executive Director of
Support Operations for a Kentuckybased school district and a key
decision maker in the Kenton County
building programs, revealed that“our staff was stripping and reapplying
seven coats of wax, year in and year
out.” The additional cost of strippers
and floor finishing products necessary
to clean and maintain the vinyl floors
were also taxing the school system’s
constantly challenged operating
budgets. “We were bringing in
stripping agents and floor finish byThanks to the school’s use of
Marmoleum Composition Tile (MCT)by Forbo, made of durable, 100%
BioBased and natural antimicrobial
ingredients in classrooms andhallways, the school enjoyedsignificant costs savings, reduced
maintenance requirements, freedom
from the environmental toxins
associated with vinyl flooring, andreceived nationwide recognition for
its commitment to environmental
sustainability and the health andwelfare of its occupants.

the semi-truck load, which was atremendous cost in material as wellas labor,” Haney said, adding that theburden was multiplied by difficulties
connected with safe disposal of spent
floor care chemicals. Concerns overhealth hazards to students and faculty
as well as to the environment from theuse of vinyl flooring created even morecompelling reasons for the proactive
school system to investigate theiralternatives. “In education, striving forthe healthiest possible environment is
a given,” noted Andrew Piaskowy, AIA,
of PCA, the architecture firm thatdesigned the county’s highperformance schools, Caywood
Elementary and Turkey Foot Middle
School.

“I’m excited about all the ways thisprocess has paid off for our district,for the parents and kids, as well as forthe staff and community,” concluded
Haney of their new environmentallyfriendly Forbo flooring, the installationof which helped contribute to suchsavings that the district was able topresent its teachers with a pay raise.

the floor.”
Rob Haney
Executive Director of
Support Operations

An Ounce of Prevention
Research has proven that indoor
air quality issues resulting from theuse of hazardous products andpoor maintenance practices can
not only threaten the health of its
occupants, but can lead toexcessive facility costs. According
to a 1999 EPA report entitled Indoor
Air Quality Tools for Schools:
Actions to Improve Indoor Air
Quality, one study of an elementary
school showed that if $8,140 had
been spent over 22 years on
preventive maintenance,$1.5 million in repairs could havebeen avoided.

13

Tips for Creating Healthier
School Environments
Tools for Schools – When it comesto improving the health and safety ofeducational settings, a great first stepis to analyze the health of a school
environment using resources such as
the HPD, EPD, and USEtox tools.

Choose the Right Flooring and Adhesives – Among the mostcritical decisions for schools is the choice of flooring materials that utilize“low-VOC products and flooring surfaces less likely to exacerbate
moisture/mold and allergen issues,” according to the Asthma Regional
Council of New England. Based on an assumed lower cost, for example,
vinyl composition tiles (VCT) are frequently chosen for school flooring.
However, phthalates and other chemicals contained within these flooringmaterials, along with the commonly- prescribed adhesives and cleaningproducts used in their installation and maintenance, have been provento significantly contaminate indoor air quality, particularly underconditions of moisture and heat.

Now that you know...

Schools are encouraged to replace
products that add to the problem withones that reduce the risk naturally,
without the need for toxic chemical
additives, expensive installation, or
costly and time-consuming upkeep.
Support and use of HPD and USEtox
toxicity disclosure tools by school
administrators and procurement
personnel not only enables schools
to make the best and safest building
product decisions for their students,
but will also hold building productmanufacturers increasingly accountable
for the toxicity of their products andhelp drive industry improvement.

14

By choosing the right flooring product, a quality adhesive that doesn’tallow moisture to accumulate under the flooring, and a proper maintenanceregime, schools can enjoy safer, healthier, and longer-lasting flooring thatfurther avoids the need for toxic finishes and harsh chemical cleaners.
Understand the True Economics –Today, many safer and moreenvironmentally-friendly flooring alternatives can be highly cost-effective
to install and maintain while making your facility safer and healthier.
In addition, stronger connections between capital and operating budgets
will help schools make more well-informed investment decisions up-front
that take into account not only the quality and cost of initial building
products themselves, but all financial and environmental considerations
associated with their life cycle and maintenance. Given the budgetarychallenges faced by the average K-12 school today, schools are wise to invest
in quality, environmentally-friendly flooring that requires minimal
maintenance and post-installation outlay.

creating better environments

Proper Flooring and Adhesive Products
In a recent independent test of Forbo’s Marmoleum Composition
Tile (MCT) and Sustain 885M wet-set adhesive versus another resilient
flooring product used with a traditional dry-set adhesive, the Forbo systemachieved 100% contact between the back of the tile and substrate,
creating a water-resistant layer that fully sealed all areas of the backing
and filled all cracks and joints. When both tiles were exposed to water,
the dry-set adhesive used with vinyl tile achieved only 50% adhesive
contact, producing channels and tunnels that allowed water totravel and pool under the flooring, creating opportunities forthe growth of mold and mildew.

You Do?
What canSustaining the Health of
Future Generations
As a company which has served theeducational sector for over a century,
Forbo understands and sympathizes
with the challenges that schools face andthe difficulties of managing rising costs inan era of increasingly tightening budgets
and limited resources. For that reason, it’s
become even more imperative for schools
to make the smartest choices possible on
behalf of their students, faculty members,
community, and environment.

Stronger connections between
capital and operating budgets
are helping schools create
healthier environments

Marmoleum – Forbo’s Marmoleum sheet and tile floor coverings and100% solvent free adhesive products are the ideal products for school
applications and allow building occupants to enjoy healthier, safer, andlonger-lasting flooring solutions with the following benefits:• The lowest-toxicity flooringproducts in the marketplace thanks
to Forbo’s use of naturally
antimicrobial, mold and mildewresistant, toxin and biocide-free,
and 100% BioBased andbiodegradable ingredients• Tighter, safer, and easier-to-install
seams that require no welding• No toxic, time-consuming, costly
finish or maintenance required• Fully guaranteed and occupancyready product and installation priceof $3.55 per square foot* is morecost-effective to install andmaintain over entire life cycle thanother solutions• Ideal for other school applications
including furniture surfaces, walls,
and bulletin boards

Through our dedication to creating
better environments, the Forbo team is
fully committed to creating innovative
new products that help ensure thewell-being of our children andgrandchildren for generations to come.
We invite you to join us in awareness,
advocacy, and action as it relates to theinvestments we make in our children’s
future. The small changes wemake today can create a world ofdifference tomorrow.

For more information on Forbo Marmoleum,
visit www.forboflooringna.com.
*visit website to download the full guarantee
15Forbo Flooring Systems is the global market
leader in commercial floor covering solutions.
Marmoleum, our flagship brand is the global
leader in the linoleum market, while Flotex
is the industry leader in the rapidly growing
flocked textile market. In addition tolinoleum-based products, Forbo develops,
manufactures and markets a diversity of highquality vinyl and textile floor coverings, as well
as Coral & Nuway entrance system solutions.
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Alan Brow

1. Leonardo Trasade and Yinghua Liu, “The Staggering Cost of Environmental Disease in Children, Estimated at $76.6 Billion in 2008”,
Health Affairs, no. 2011/ doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.1239
2 “PVC Flooring & Toxic Cleaning Products in Schools” PVC Factsheet published by Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
3 Aviva Glaser, “Asthma, Children and Pesticides: What You Need to Know,” published by the National Coalition Against the Misuse of
Pesticides, Vol. 25, No. 2, 2005
4 “The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act: Executive Summary,” published by Women’s Voices for the Earth
5 Marla Cone, “Scientists Find ‘Baffling’ Link Between Autism and Vinyl Flooring,” Scientific American, March 31, 2009
6 Sarah Lott and Jim Vallette, “Full Disclosure Required: A Strategy to Prevent Asthma Through Building Product Selection,” published by the
Healthy Building Network, December, 2013
7 “PVC-Free Schools,” published by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
8 “Childhood Obesity Is Linked to Chemicals in Plastics” Jennifer Lee, New York Times April 17, 2009 article citing research by the
Mount Sinai Medical Center
9 “Phthalates Linked to Lower IQ Scores in Children,” published by Building Green and in the “Relationship between Environmental
Phthalate Exposure and the Intelligence of School-Age Children” reported in Environmental Health Perspectives July, 201210 Frances Gilmore, “Health Considerations When Choosing School Flooring,” published by the Asthma Regional Council of New England
11 “Emissions of Phthalate Plasticizers from Vinyl Flooring: The Impact of Temperature, Ventilation and Surface Sorption,” published byEnvironmental Health Perspectives in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, August 2013
12 “Our Health and PVC: What’s the Connection?” PVC Factsheet, published by the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ)
13 Helena Moussatche and Jennifer Languell, “Flooring Materials – Life-cycle Costing for Education Facilities” Facilities,
Volume 19 – Number 1, 2001 (www.emerald-library.com/ft)
Additional resources and references include the following:“Creating Healthier Furniture and Building Materials by Minimizing Chemical Emissions,” published by Underwriters Laboratories, 2013
“Towards Healthy Schools 2015,” published by the Coalition for Healthier Schools“Why Green Schools are so Important,” published by the U.S. Green Buildings Council“Shaping Chemical Policy Reform: Public Health Advocates vs. the Chemical Industry,” published by Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
Healthy Building Network, a 501(c )(3) founded in 2000. HBN can be found at http://www.healthybuilding.net

More Information on this subject?
If you would like to quickly access the sources cited in this issue of
SUSTAIN as well as nearly 50 other closely related resources, please
go to www.forboflooringna.com.
You will find a complete library of studies and papers on the subject.

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email: info.na@forbo.com
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