{"hq_id":"hq-p-hom-000239","name":"Old Carpet and Pad Removal (Accumulated PBDE Dust, Mold, Allergens)","category":{"primary":"household","secondary":"renovation","tags":["carpet","removal","dust","PBDE","mold","allergen","renovation","indoor air"]},"product_tier":"HOM","overall_risk_level":"moderate","description":"Carpet and pad removal releases decades of accumulated household dust — a concentrated mixture of PBDE flame retardants (from furniture foam), phthalates, pesticides, pet allergens, dust mites, mold spores, and heavy metals. Old carpet pad (rebond/bonded urethane) is the primary PBDE reservoir: made from recycled furniture foam containing legacy flame retardants. EPA study: carpet dust contains 10-100x the PBDE concentration of mattress dust. Wet the carpet before rolling, wear N95, ventilate during and after removal.","synthesis":{"derived_risk_level":"high","synthesis_confidence":0.703,"synthesis_method":"compound_composition","context_used":"human_child","context_source":"product_users","exposure_modifier":1.1,"vulnerability_escalated":true,"escalation_reason":"Child exposure group","compounds_resolved":1,"compounds_total":1,"synthesis_date":"2026-05-09","synthesis_version":"1.2.0","methodology_note":"exposure_modifier and adjusted_magnitude are computed from ALETHEIA-calibrated heuristics (route × duration × frequency multipliers, clamped to [0.5, 1.4]). Multipliers are directionally informed by EPA Exposure Factors Handbook (2011) and CalEPA OEHHA but are not regulatory consensus. See /api/methodology for full disclosure."},"hazard_summary":{"sensitive_populations":"children (floor-level exposure to dust), asthmatic occupants, pregnant women","overall_risk":"moderate","primary_concerns":["Decades of accumulated PBDE flame retardants, phthalates, pesticides in carpet dust","Old carpet pad (rebond) is the primary PBDE reservoir in homes","Mold under carpet in moisture-prone areas","Lead dust in carpet of pre-1978 homes"],"exposure_routes":"Inhalation (dust plume during removal); dermal (handling old carpet/pad)"},"exposure":{"routes":["inhalation","dermal"],"contact_types":["inhalation","skin_brief"],"users":["adult","child"],"duration":"hours","frequency":"event-based","scenarios":["Ripping up old carpet: dust plume with PBDE, allergens, heavy metals","Old carpet pad crumbling: yellow foam fragments are concentrated PBDE reservoir","Mold under carpet in moisture-prone areas","Lead dust in carpet of pre-1978 homes"],"notes":"PBDE flame retardants in carpet pad: pentaBDE (banned 2004) and decaBDE persist in recycled foam pad indefinitely. Rebond carpet pad (multicolored chunks): made from recycled furniture foam — highest PBDE concentration. Carpet removal best practices: mist carpet with water before rolling (suppresses dust), cut into 4-foot strips, roll and bag immediately, N95 respirator, ventilate room. Post-removal: HEPA vacuum all surfaces, wet-mop hard floor underneath."},"consumer_guidance":{"usage_warning":"Mist carpet with water before rolling (suppresses dust cloud). Wear N95 respirator. Cut into 4-foot strips and bag immediately. Ventilate room during and after. In pre-1978 home: test carpet dust for lead first. After removal: HEPA vacuum all surfaces + wet mop.","safer_alternatives":["N95 respirator + eye protection during removal","Mist carpet with water before rolling (dust suppression)","HEPA vacuum + wet mop all surfaces after removal","Professional removal if pre-1978 home (lead dust concern)"]},"regulatory":{"applicable_regulations":[{"jurisdiction":"USA","regulation":"No specific regulation for residential carpet removal","citation":"N/A","requirements":"No federal regulation. In pre-1978 homes with lead dust in carpet, EPA RRP Rule may apply if contractor performs work.","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":null,"enforcing_agency":"N/A","penalties":null,"source_ref":null}],"certifications":[],"labeling":{"required_disclosures":[],"prop65_warning":{"required":null,"chemicals":[],"endpoint":null,"notes":null},"ghs_labeling":{"required":null,"signal_word":null,"pictograms":[],"hazard_statements":[],"notes":null},"hidden_ingredients":{"trade_secret_protected":null,"categories_hidden":[],"estimated_count":null,"known_concerns":null,"notes":null},"notes":null},"recalls":[],"regulatory_gap":null,"notes":null},"lifecycle":{"recyclable":true,"disposal_guidance":"Old carpet: some recycling programs (CARE). Pad: landfill. Bag dust and pad fragments.","hazardous_waste":false,"expected_lifespan":"varies"},"formulation":{"form":"varies","key_ingredients":[],"certifications":[]},"materials":{"common":[],"concerning":[],"preferred":[]},"compound_composition":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000223","compound_name":null,"role":"accumulated_dust","typical_concentration":"varies — decades of accumulation"}],"identifiers":{"common_names":["old carpet and pad removal (accumulated pbde dust, mold, allergens)"],"aliases":[],"manufacturer":null,"brands":[]},"brand_examples":[{"brand":"Skip Hop","manufacturer":"Carter's Inc.","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Designer play mat brand"},{"brand":"Baby Care","manufacturer":"Baby Care","market_position":"premium","notable":"Large foam play mats"},{"brand":"Lollaland","manufacturer":"Lollaland","market_position":"premium","notable":"Non-toxic play surface"}],"brand_examples_disclaimer":"Representative branded products of this category. Concerning ingredients listed in materials.concerning[] apply to the category, not necessarily to every named brand. Specific formulations vary by SKU and may have changed since this record was written; consult the brand's current ingredient label before drawing brand-level conclusions.","sources":[{"type":"expert_curation","name":"ALETHEIA Safety Database","date":"2026-03-25"},{"type":"regulation","title":"No specific regulation for residential carpet removal (N/A)","jurisdiction":"USA","citation":"N/A","id":"src_9e5c5d83"},{"id":"stockholm_decabde_2017","type":"regulatory","title":"Stockholm Convention: Decabromodiphenyl Ether (DecaBDE) Listed under Annex A (Elimination), COP-8 Decision SC-8/12, Debromination Concern, Arctic Contamination, RoHS Interaction, Aircraft Exemptions (2017)","year":2017,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000223"},{"id":"eu_rohs_decabde","type":"regulatory","title":"EU Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS Recast): DecaBDE Restricted in EEE; DecaBDE REACH SVHC Identification; Debromination Products BDE-47/BDE-99 Metabolite Pathway in Humans and Wildlife (2011)","year":2011,"inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000223"},{"type":"regulatory","title":"US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)","jurisdiction":"USA","id":"src_defdd418","extraction":"description_reference"}],"meta":{"schema_version":"4.0.0","last_updated":"2026-03-25","timestamp":"2026-05-14T01:24:44.566Z"}}