Antimicrobial building products marketed as “healthy” or beneficial to human health contain ingredients that may have adverse environmental or human health impacts, and alternative products should be considered whenever possible, according to a new white paper by global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will and the Healthy Building Network (HBN).
Healthy Environments: Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials exposes the lack of scientific evidence supporting claims that so-called antimicrobial products like paints, kitchen countertops, door handles, flooring, and other interior finishes help ward off communicable diseases. In fact, the report highlights a growing body of research suggesting potential negative impacts of antimicrobials on both the body and the environment. Potential impacts include the possible proliferation of “super bugs” caused by microbial resistance, contamination of aquatic ecosystems, and potential exposure to known or suspected carcinogens like formaldehyde.
“What consumers don’t realize is that the federal government considers antimicrobials pesticides because they are agents used to kill or control living organisms—and they should therefore be used with great care,” says Suzanne Drake, a senior interior designer at Perkins+Will and co-author of the white paper. “Because we caution against using building products containing ingredients suspected of hazardous health impacts, we should avoid products containing antimicrobial ingredients. That includes building products intended for healthcare settings.”
Perkins+Will is placing “Products Marketed as Antimicrobial” on its Precautionary List, urging designers to consider alternatives before specifying them. The move reflects the position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other credible organizations that have reviewed antimicrobial agents and found them to be both ineffective and unnecessary.
“The fact is, there’s zero evidence that antimicrobial additives provide a health benefit,” says Drake.
Building products with antimicrobial additives are relatively new in the marketplace, but their recent surge in popularity has been fueled by manufacturers looking to differentiate themselves and tap into consumer demand for healthy products and healthy built environments. The number of antimicrobial consumer products on the market grew from just a few dozen in 1994 to more than 2,000 in 2014. In some cases, manufacturers add antimicrobial ingredients to a product as a preservative to protect the product from decay, yet they still market the product in ways suggesting that the benefits of the antimicrobials may extend to human health.
“Because the identity and intended purpose of antimicrobials used in building products is often poorly disclosed, it can be difficult to understand what you’re buying,” says Melissa Coffin, principal investigator with HBN and co-author of the white paper. “Perkins+Will’s approach to consider alternative products to those marketing antimicrobial attributes categorically is a good strategy for navigating a complicated issue.” A dedicated appendix in the white paper explains the legal framework that makes the issue so complicated, Coffin adds.
To read a quick overview of the white paper’s top 10 findings, click here.
To read the full white paper, click here.
Related Stories
| Mar 28, 2012
Meridian Design Build Begins work on 38 acre redevelopment project
The project includes construction of a new 150,585-sf cross dock facility that will include full service truck maintenance and repair bays, a truck wash, and approximately 20,000-sf of corporate office space.
| Mar 28, 2012
Ideas and input drive stories in online community, noraXchange
Community designed to help building and design professionals address challenges they face in their jobs.
| Mar 27, 2012
Skanska hires aviation construction expert Bob Postma
Postma will manage Skanska’s nationwide in-house team of airport construction experts who lead the industry in building and renovating airport facilities and their essential features.
| Mar 27, 2012
Precast concrete used for affordable, sustainable housing in New York
Largest affordable housing development in the nation will provide housing for close to 500,000 people.
| Mar 27, 2012
Groundbreaking held for Valencia College West Campus Building 10 in Orlando
Project led by design-build team of SchenkelShultz Architecture and McCree General Contractors, both of Orlando.
| Mar 26, 2012
Jones Lang LaSalle completes construction of $536M Parkview Regional Medical Center
Hospital ushers in new era of local access to advanced medical treatments in Northeast Indiana.
| Mar 26, 2012
McCarthy tops off Math and Science Building at San Diego Mesa College
Designed by Architects | Delawie Wilkes Rodrigues Barker, the new San Diego Mesa College Math and Science Building will provide new educational space for students pursuing degree and certificate programs in biology, chemistry, physical sciences and mathematics.
| Mar 22, 2012
Hawaiian architecture firm chooses FRP trellis system over traditional materials
MGA Architecture plans to add five more trellis systems on the neighboring building.
| Mar 22, 2012
Moline Public Library uses copper as an exterior building material
Architects incorporate decorative copper panels to create the look of a heavy plate copper shingle.
| Mar 20, 2012
FMI releases 2012 first quarter construction outlook
The last time construction put in place was at this level was 2000-2001.