I find it interesting that there are people who hold positions they know are untenable, illogical and downright stupid. They refuse to recognize facts, resist intelligence and ignore truth. These people are not easy to deal with and more difficult to understand. This character flaw comes to mind because of an incident between the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) and Health magazine, which published an article, “Could your rug make you sick?” The story made the CRI sick, though it tried from the beginning to set the record straight.
First, Werner Braun, CRI’s president, gave a Health reporter, who was writing a story on “Keeping Carpets Healthy in the Home,” a 20-minute interview in which he covered carpet’s emissions of VOCs, CRI’s Green label and Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality testing programs, CRI’s Seal of Approval testing and certification programs, and much more. Then, the organization sent the reporter a huge packet of information and support material on a myriad of subjects, especially debunking carpet’s role in causing illness or discomfort. This was followed by 15 or so emails. All this in search of the truth.
The final truth test was a series of questions submitted by a “fact-checker” at the magazine before the article was published. It must be noted that the Braun interview was predicated on an article titled “Keeping Carpets Healthy in the Home,” but the headline of the published story was switched to “Could Your Rug Make You Sick?” A classic deception. Anyway, here are some of the fact-checker’s statements and CRI’s responses:
Fact-Checker: Certain carpet materials give off gas volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can cause headaches and respiratory problems for sensitive people.
CRI: Many synthetic materials will off gas—carpet is one of the lowest-emitting products in a home. Choosing CRI’s Green label certified carpet assures users the products are emitting the lowest levels of VOCs available. Remember, all VOCs from carpet are off gassed within 48 to 72 hours and are 99.9% gone at that time—gone forever.
Fact-Checker: The larger and plusher the rug, the harder it is to remove allergens from it.
CRI: Not necessarily. The CRI’s Seal of Approval (SOA) vacuum testing program certifies the ones that remove dirt and hold on to it, without damaging the carpet. So, much depends on your vacuum. Low pile or plush, proper cleaning and maintenance are absolutely critical to refreshing carpet for the consumer. CRI’s SOA program tests cleaning solutions, vacuum cleaners and deep-cleaning extractors.
Fact-Checker: Wall-to-wall broadloom carpet is typically made with synthetic fibers, backings and adhesives that release VOCs. This is also known as a “new carpet smell.”
CRI: The phrase, “wall-to-wall broadloom” is redundant. Broadloom carpet can be installed in a room wall-to-wall or it can be cut and fashioned into area rugs. Wall-to-wall indicates installation style. Broadloom differentiates the carpet from carpet tile, or 6-foot carpet manufactured for cars, trailers, boats, etc.
Fact-Checker: Wall-to-wall carpet made with natural fibers like wool, or synthetic products that have earned the Green Label or Green Label Plus from the CRI ensure that rugs have low VOC emissions.
CRI: This is a true statement.
Fact-Checker: Professional carpet cleaning agents are now nontoxic.
CRI: This is true, but I question the use of the word “now.” What evidence does the writer have that they were ever toxic? I am not aware of past toxic substances used to shampoo carpet.
There was additional fact-checking, but you get the idea. The magazine was not going to be deterred by truth. Simply put: If you believe, proof is unnecessary. If you don’t believe, proof is impossible.
First, Werner Braun, CRI’s president, gave a Health reporter, who was writing a story on “Keeping Carpets Healthy in the Home,” a 20-minute interview in which he covered carpet’s emissions of VOCs, CRI’s Green label and Green Label Plus Indoor Air Quality testing programs, CRI’s Seal of Approval testing and certification programs, and much more. Then, the organization sent the reporter a huge packet of information and support material on a myriad of subjects, especially debunking carpet’s role in causing illness or discomfort. This was followed by 15 or so emails. All this in search of the truth.
The final truth test was a series of questions submitted by a “fact-checker” at the magazine before the article was published. It must be noted that the Braun interview was predicated on an article titled “Keeping Carpets Healthy in the Home,” but the headline of the published story was switched to “Could Your Rug Make You Sick?” A classic deception. Anyway, here are some of the fact-checker’s statements and CRI’s responses:
Fact-Checker: Certain carpet materials give off gas volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which can cause headaches and respiratory problems for sensitive people.
CRI: Many synthetic materials will off gas—carpet is one of the lowest-emitting products in a home. Choosing CRI’s Green label certified carpet assures users the products are emitting the lowest levels of VOCs available. Remember, all VOCs from carpet are off gassed within 48 to 72 hours and are 99.9% gone at that time—gone forever.
Fact-Checker: The larger and plusher the rug, the harder it is to remove allergens from it.
CRI: Not necessarily. The CRI’s Seal of Approval (SOA) vacuum testing program certifies the ones that remove dirt and hold on to it, without damaging the carpet. So, much depends on your vacuum. Low pile or plush, proper cleaning and maintenance are absolutely critical to refreshing carpet for the consumer. CRI’s SOA program tests cleaning solutions, vacuum cleaners and deep-cleaning extractors.
Fact-Checker: Wall-to-wall broadloom carpet is typically made with synthetic fibers, backings and adhesives that release VOCs. This is also known as a “new carpet smell.”
CRI: The phrase, “wall-to-wall broadloom” is redundant. Broadloom carpet can be installed in a room wall-to-wall or it can be cut and fashioned into area rugs. Wall-to-wall indicates installation style. Broadloom differentiates the carpet from carpet tile, or 6-foot carpet manufactured for cars, trailers, boats, etc.
Fact-Checker: Wall-to-wall carpet made with natural fibers like wool, or synthetic products that have earned the Green Label or Green Label Plus from the CRI ensure that rugs have low VOC emissions.
CRI: This is a true statement.
Fact-Checker: Professional carpet cleaning agents are now nontoxic.
CRI: This is true, but I question the use of the word “now.” What evidence does the writer have that they were ever toxic? I am not aware of past toxic substances used to shampoo carpet.
There was additional fact-checking, but you get the idea. The magazine was not going to be deterred by truth. Simply put: If you believe, proof is unnecessary. If you don’t believe, proof is impossible.
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Thursday, March 28, 2024