Green Seal will no longer certify any paints and coatings, floor care products, adhesives, and degreasers containing any per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called “forever chemicals.”
Green Seal has long prohibited products containing one type of PFAS, long-chain PFAS. The ban will now extend to the other category, short-chain PFAS. Green Seal says it is taking this action because short-chain PFAS have “the same harmful health and environmental effects as the legacy PFAS they are replacing.”
PFAS break down slowly in the environment and are found in the blood of people and animals. Studies have linked PFAS to many harmful health impacts such as decreased fertility, development delays in children, increased risk of cancer, diminished immunity to infections, and hormonal interference, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“A recent study found that half of tested paint products contain PFAS, which may be used for glossiness, to reduce peeling, or for stain resistance or water repellency,” according to a Green Seal news release. “Most acrylic and wax floor finishes on the market contain PFAS as leveling and wetting agents, and PFAS are also used to increase wettability in adhesives or the reduce flammability in cleaning and degreasing agents.”
Green Seal certified paints and coatings qualify toward points for both the LEED Low-Emitting Materials credit and the LEED v4.1 Material Ingredient Optimization credit.
Related Stories
| May 27, 2013
Bill would mandate contractors use subs identified in bids on federal projects
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) filed a bill in May that would require prime contractors that bid on federal construction projects over $1 million to list each subcontractor they plan to use for $100,000 or more of work.
| May 27, 2013
Maryland law on codes for wind resistance will take effect in October
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety says that Maryland citizens will be safer due to legislation passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Martin O’Malley.
| May 23, 2013
AGC Contractors Environmental Conference focuses on compliance issues
The 2013 AGC Contractors Environmental Conference June 13 and 14 in Arlington, Va., will include cost-effective strategies for firms to remain compliant and competitive.
| May 23, 2013
ASTM releases new carbon steel hollow structural sections
ASTM has released a new HSS standard, A1085 - 13 Standard Specification for Cold-Formed Welded Carbon Steel Hollow Structural Sections (HSS).
| May 23, 2013
Group Health Puyallup medical center first project to achieve 'LEED for Health Care' certification
The Group Health Puyallup (Wash.) Medical Center is the first facility to be certified under the LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) rating system, earning LEED Gold.
| May 17, 2013
LEED v4 has provision to reduce water use in cooling towers
The next version of the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED rating system will expand water-savings targets to appliances, cooling towers, commercial kitchen equipment, and other areas.
| May 15, 2013
New York City Council okays plans for Cornell's huge net-zero tech campus
Cornell University's proposal to build a two million sf tech campus on Roosevelt Island has been approved by the New York City Council.
| May 15, 2013
Center for Green Schools, Architecture for Humanity release new tool for green schools
The 70-page guide demystifies the processes of identifying building improvement opportunities and finance and implementation strategies.
| May 15, 2013
AAMA extends NAFS certification on fenestration products
The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) announced the release of an interim procedural guide that will provide a documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification to any edition of AAMA/WDMA(/CSA) 101/I.S.2(/A440), North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS).
| May 9, 2013
New developments would face tougher stormwater rules than redeveloped sites under EPA proposal
New developments would have to meet more stringent stormwater-retention standards than redeveloped sites under a forthcoming Environmental Protection Agency proposal.