Lee, the major problem with carpeting is that it becomes a reservoir for a variety of allergens that collect on/in it. This problem can be addressed by frequent (weekly) vacuuming using a HEPA vacuum (available now from most of the major brand makers such as Hoover). If one installs carpeting, it would be best to install it with tack strips rather than glue. Glue produces higher emissions of undesirable vapors than carpet. When carpet is newly installed, it will have an odor for about three months. Carpet vapors offgas by more than 90 percent in that period of time. Offgassing can be accelerated by ventilating your home by cracking windows. This is desirable in a new house to reduce the odor of newness associated with paints, varnishes, caulks, etc. The newness odor is due to a variety of organic chemicals which collectively can cause nasal and sinus irritation in sensitive individuals.

Wool carpeting is not environmentally friendlier than synthetic fiber carpeting. It goes through most of the same processing as regular synthetic carpeting and catches and serves as a reservoir for allergens. As a protein material, wool can itself cause allergic responses in sensitive individuals. As such, I cannot recommend it.

Linoleum can liberate a variety of contaminants mostly notably plasticizer compounds such as phthalic acid esters. There is some European research that suggests that low-level plasticizer exposure may cause localized inflammatory responses in the respiratory system that may contribute to asthma. A limited quantity of vinyl floor covering in small rooms (like bathrooms and kitchens) is unlikely to result in a significant exposure concerns; a whole house floor covered by linoleum, on the other hand, has the potential to cause significant plastisizer exposures.

Wood floor covering, in theory, would pose fewer environmental concerns, as such floors are easier to keep clean. However, it is common to apply finish coatings to wood materials. Such coatings will offgas a variety of contaminants for at least several months. This includes wood materials and water-based varnishes as well. Such finish coatings don't have the initially high vapor emissions of oil-based products; they do, however, produce low-level emissions of a variety of organic vapors for a longer period. Pre-finished wood flooring would produce fewer emissions than flooring materials that have been coated on site and are a good choice if one wants to minimize potential organic vapor exposures.

(Feb. 3, 2000)