Non-Toxic Building Materials
Current Status: In Progress with Preliminary Successes Achieved
The Problem: Energy efficient insulation materials found in green buildings often contain toxic flame retardant chemicals. Polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, and polyurethane are energy efficient insulation materials whose use in green buildings is increasing. However, due to building flammability codes, flame retardant (FR) chemicals must be added. Most of these FRs have not been adequately evaluated for their impact on human health and the environment. When tested, many are found to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and/or toxic. Some are carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive, neurological, thyroid, and/or developmental toxicants.
Stage 1: Collaboration with Scientists
The Green Science Policy Institute is working with a team of green architects, builders, planners, chemists, and the Healthy Building Network to promote alternatives to flame retardants in building insulation and to include reduction of toxics in assigning LEED points. Additional plans include developing and distributing educational materials, researching chemicals used in building materials, and measuring chemical levels in air and house dust.
Stage 2: Publications, Presentations, and White Papers
Dr. Blum was a Master Speaker at Greenbuild 2010
Master Speaker Video from Greenbuild, November, 2010
(Lecture starts at minute 18, slides to accompany video are below)
Greenbuild Slide Presentation - Blum: On the toxicity of flame retardants in buildings and what to do about it
Stage 3: Communication of Findings to the Public and Decision-Makers
We have prepared the following fact sheets that we have distributed to staff and members of the USGBC and the green building community:
Flame Retardants in Insulation Materials
Alternative Insulation Fact Sheet
Policy Outcomes to Date:
GSP's work to reduce toxics in buildings has contributed to Pilot Credit 11: Chemical Avoidance In Building Materials which will give a LEED credit for not using halogenated flame retardants and phthalates inside buildings.
View interview in Healthy Building News.