TOXIC CHEMICALS - THE RED LIST

Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in rock and soil composed of thin, needle-like fibrous crystals. It is non-combustible and was widely used as insulation before regulations stopped this practice, but it can also be found in vinyl asbestos floor tiles, cement, shingles, siding, drywall, roofing felt and ceiling materials, adhesives, sealants and coatings, reinforced plastics, HVAC ductwork and plumbing. The danger of asbestos is its shedding behavior: the shed fibers can be inhaled and accumulate in the body over decades.

Exposure to asbestos can cause inflammation, scarring, and cancer, such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis (progressive lung disease)

Strategiestopreventasbestoscontaminationininteriorenvironments:

Utilize the LBC “Red List Free” guide when specifying building materials. Use alternative insulation, such as InsulBase NH, which contains no halogenated flame retardants. Asbestos that is found in insulation can be safely removed and replaced by rigid roof insulation panel composed of a closed-cell polyisocyanurate foam core bonded on each side to glassreinforced felt (GRF).

Cadmium

Cadmium is a soft malleable, bluish white metal found in zinc ores and zinc byproducts, and recovered from nickel-cadmium batteries. Cadmium and its compounds are highly toxic. Nonetheless, it is used to give tint to plastics and ceramics, create long-lasting pigments used in paints and coatings (brilliant yellow, orange, and red colors), and cadmium stabilizers are used for PVC in building and construction, solar cells, and electroplating (corrosion protection coating for iron and steel) and electronics (rechargeable batteries for cell phones, laptops, etc.) Businesses and industrial applications will continue the use of cadmium in Ni-Cd batteries and solar panels despite the highly toxic effects. Exposure to cadmium can have dire health consequences, such as cancer. Cadmium also affects the body's cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, neurological, reproductive, and respiratory systems.

Strategiestopreventcadmiumcontaminationininteriorenvironments:

Choose alternative materials that are cadmium-free such as LED lighting, crystalline-silicon solar panels, photo detectors, batteries (recycling and proper disposal) and energy storage systems, and display devices.

Ensure that all paints and ceramic products are colored with non-toxic pigments.