• Children spend much of their time close to or on the floor in their rooms, which are often covered with rugs. Synthetic rugs and rug backings can emit chemicals that are toxic (often referred to as outgassing). According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, these toxins can irritate your child's skin, eyes and airways. If your child is asthmatic, allergic, has chemical sensitivity or a respiratory illness, toxic rugs are of even more concern. The good news is that there are natural, nontoxic rugs that you can purchase for children's rooms.
  
  

What Makes Rugs Toxic

• Many synthetic rugs that are made of material like olefin and nylon contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). These compounds are in the fire retardants, stain guards and moth proofing insecticides with which the rugs are treated. VOCs can also be released from the styrene rug backing. The synthetic fibers themselves can also give off toxic gasses.
  
  

Test Results

• Clean Production Action (CPA), is an organization that advocates for green chemicals and sustainable materials, and they launched a study of household chemicals called the Safer Products Project. According to their study and the CPSC, known carcinogens such as styrene, formaldehyde, toluene, benzene and xylene can be found in synthetic rug and rug backings. PVC (polyvinyl chloride plastic) and phthalates in rugs are linked to incidences of childhood asthma. In addition, the PBDEs (Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers) in fire retardants can disrupt the thyroid hormone, and have been shown in animal studies to disrupt the development of the nervous system.
  
  

Nontoxic Alternatives

• Rugs that are made of natural fibers like sisal, cotton or wool and have natural backings are an excellent nontoxic alternative to synthetic rugs. Untreated and undyed fabric is your best bet. According to Green Building Supply, wool rugs are a natural alternative that will last longer and clean better than synthetic rugs, and are naturally flame resistant. If you already have a synthetic rug that you'd like to keep, you can purchase nontoxic rug shampoos and sealants that prevent or reduce outgassing of harmful chemicals.