Are “Green” Buildings Killing Us?

They might be energy efficient, but that doesn’t mean they’re free of toxic chemicals.

BY KATHARINE SCHWAB

Does calling a building “green” mean it’s healthy? Not according to researchers from the nonprofit research institution Silent Spring, who found dozens of harmful chemicals in newly renovated, LEED-certified low-income public housing in Boston. While some of these chemicals came from outside products the residents brought when they moved in–like cleaning supplies, beauty products, and even furniture–many others came from the building itself.

“We often slap this word ‘green’ in front of things and assume that means something,” says Robin Dodson, the lead author on the paper who studies chemical exposure at Silent Spring. “It was renovated according to ‘green’ standards, and if you could see me, I’m putting that word in quotes.”

The researchers at Silent Spring aren’t alone in calling attention to the harmful chemicals in building materials. The U.S. Green Building Council has come under fire from researchers in the past for presenting a false assurance of health and safety in its LEED-certified buildings. Meanwhile, Google is building a green materials database and decision-making tool meant to make our buildings less poisonous. Dodson’s research, which took years to complete, is a glimpse into an aspect of green architecture about which little is known.

In 2013, Dodson and her team took air-quality samples at a low-income public housing development in Boston that was being renovated to achieve the LEED certification. It presented the perfect chance for the researchers to test the apartments’ air quality before anyone moved in, and then after residents were occupying each space. The comparison was crucial, since it helped distinguish which chemicals came from external products and which came from the building. They tested for almost 100 different chemicals including phthalates (commonly found in nail polish remover), flame retardants, pesticides, and formaldehyde, which have a variety of adverse health effects like hormone disruption, reproductive disorders, lower IQ, asthma, and cancer.

Ultimately, the researchers found harmful flame retardants, including a carcinogen that can cause lower fertility in men, that appeared to come from building materials. Meanwhile, another flame retardant found in their tests had been banned from use in 2005, but was likely used in an old piece of furniture that a resident brought into their new apartment–an example of how pervasive harmful chemicals can be once they’re used. The scariest finding: In all 37 tests they did, the researchers found formaldehyde–coming from the building and from the residents–that exceeded safe levels determined by the EPA. Formaldehyde is used in a wide range of products and building materials, and it’s been shown to cause cancer in lab animals. High exposure might also cause cancer in humans.

Dodson argues the study is proof that the building industry needs to dramatically shift how it thinks about health as an element of sustainability. “Green building standards need to do a better job thinking about the chemicals and materials being used,” Dodson says. “Why not be more comprehensive in your thinking? It’s not just about energy efficiencies–are we improving health?” 

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https://www.fastcodesign.com/90142917/are-green-buildings-killing-us