Based on the present information available, it is concluded that under normal circumstances there is no evidence to suggest that emissions from new carpet pose any significant health risk to people. The report includes a selective literature review of the toxicology of each of the predominant volatile organic compounds which have been found in emissions from carpets. The review focuses on the most recent toxicological evidence, and it includes both animal and human studies. To avoid overburdening the reader, multiple studies which have confirmed precisely the same effect or effects are not exhaustively cited, but rather only the most recent or highest quality literature generally is cited. Some of the studies have been included because they appear to be directly relevant to carpet emissions, even though these may have serious methodological flaws.
Critical comment is included where appropriate.
The cited literature is publicly available and, for the avid reader, a full list of references is presented. The views expressed and the conclusions drawn in this report are solely those of the authors.