People are exposed to harmful substances at every stage of the building materials lifecycle, from extraction and manufacturing to construction, occupation, and demolition. Exposure can occur through inhalation of airborne contaminants, ingestion of contaminated water or food, and dermal contact. Substances of concern that pose health risks at various lifecycle stages include cadmium, mercury, phthalates, dioxins, and lead. These substances are linked to issues like cancer, neurological and reproductive harm, and impaired development.

1. Human Exposure Points in
The Lifecycle of Materials
Building materials have indirect health impacts. Extractor
People in the extraction and
Contaminants released in extraction, manufacturing, synthesis industries, and in
construction and demolition contribute to health surrounding communities,
are at risk of exposure to
and environmental concerns. Substances of substances of concern
via inhalation, ingestion
concern can leach from products in landfills of contaminated drinking
and enter the environment and food chain via water, and dermal contact.
ground water. People in many contexts are Manufacturer
People in the manufacturing
exposed at every step of the process. industries and in surrounding
communities are at risk of
exposure to substances of
concern via inhalation, ingestion
Extractor of contaminated drinking
water, and dermal contact.
Contractor
Building materials containing
substances of concern are
transported around the world.
Demolition People in the construction
Contractor Manufacturer
industry are exposed to
substances of concern via
inhalation and dermal contact.
Occupant
People in buildings are
exposed to substances of
concern via off-gassing and
leaching into drinking water.
Demolition Contractor
People in the demolition
industry are exposed to
substances of concern via
inhalation and dermal contact.
Occupant Contractor

2. Cadmium
Exposure
– ia ingestion of food
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contaminated by phosphate
fertilizers or sewage sludge
applied to farm fields.
Cadmium is an elemental metal, commonly – ia inhalation of cadmium
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used in electronics as a corrosion in the air from burning fossil
fuels such as coal or oil.
resistant coating for metal fittings, and
as a pigment for paints and plastics. Health Impacts
Pigments from cadmium and cadmium – rritation of the lungs
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compounds provide brilliant and long- (short-term effect).
– idney disease caused by
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lasting yellows, oranges and reds. cadmium build-up in the
kidneys (long-term inhalation
Life-in-Action Items or oral exposure).
– Request Health Product Declarations (HPD) from – ssociated with lung cancer.
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product vendors and manufacturers. EPA has classified cadmium as
An HPD is a listing of product ingredients a probable human carcinogen.
and associated health concerns. – evelopmental and
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reproductive toxicity.
– Specify stainless steel or galvanized finishes in lieu
of cadmium coatings for fittings and other hardware materials.
– Specify controls and electrical/electronic materials
and equipment which are compliant with the
European Restriction of Hazardous Substances
Directive (RoHS).
The RoHS restricts the use of six hazardous materials, including
cadmium, in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipment.
California law has adopted much of the RoHS content; other
US states and Canadian provinces will likely follow in time.
– Set tight goals for electricity use.
Cadmium is released when coal is burned, so each
kilowatt hour saved represents an avoidance of
cadmium released into the environment.

3. Mercury Exposure
– nhalation of mercury vapors
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occur when mercury is
spilled or products that
contain mercury break and
Mercury is an elemental neurotoxin expose mercury to the air.
commonly found in fluorescent lighting, – onsumption of contaminated
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fish is a common cause of
non-digital switches and HVAC controls. mercury poisoning. Fish are
contaminated by mercury
Life-in-Action Items released into the environment
by the burning of coal for
– Select low-mercury fluorescent lamps and mercury- electricity. The U.S. EPA has
free lighting options and HVAC controls. published consumption limits
Low-mercury fluorescent lamp options and mercury-free and advises women of child-
controls are readily available, often at no additional cost. rearing age and children younger
than 15 to avoid certain species.
– Support our clients’ mercury reduction efforts.
During planning discuss the client’s recycling program and
mercury clean-up and disposal procedures. Though mercury- Health Impacts
containing medical devices are common in older healthcare
facilities, many hospitals have implemented mercury reduction Adults, children, and developing
programs as safer options have become available. fetuses are at risk from
exposure. Associated human
– Set tight goals for electricity use. health risks include:
Mercury is released when coal is burned, so each kilowatt hour saved
– mpairment of neurological
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represents an avoidance of mercury released into the environment.
and reproductive systems
– levated risk of birth defects
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– isruption of growth
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and development.
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4. Phthalates
Exposure
Due to widespread use and
release, and the global transport
of plastics, phthalates are found
in air, water, soil, and organisms
Phthalates are plasticizers, chemicals which nearly everywhere in the world.
are added to PVC and other plastics to – ndustrial workers may be
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exposed to phthalates by
make them soft, flexible, and durable inhalation and, more prevalently,
absorbed though dermal contact.
In our business, some relevant products include:
– he highest exposures are from
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– inyl flooring and base
V contact with consumer products.
– arpet backing
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– inyl upholstery and wall covering
V mother’s ingestion of phthalates.
Young children (always putting
– ire and cable jacketing
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plastic things in their mouths)
– heet roofing
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Beyond buildings, phthalates are widely used in consumer
products such as toys, personal care products, fragrances, and Health Impacts
plastic dishes. The European Union has banned 6 highly suspect
phthalates from toys and food packaging, and the US has started – ny anatomic system
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to regulate certain phthalates in children’s toys and personal care influenced by hormones can
products. Use of phthalates in building materials is essentially non- be detrimentally affected
restricted, and very little information on alternatives is available. by endocrine disruptors,
such as phthalates. Most
Life-in-Action Items sensitive is the immature
male reproductive system.
– Request Health Product Declarations (HPD) from – ay increase risk of
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product vendors and manufacturers. developing Type 2 diabetes.
An HPD is a listing of product ingredients
– hthalates released in the
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and associated health concerns.
month of October can lead
– Support our clients’ PVC reduction efforts. to a rising of the undead.
As hospitals embark on eliminating PVC from medical
devices and supplies (especially in the NICU), propose
ways that your project can compliment their efforts.
– Avoid plastics where reasonable alternatives exist.
Prefer non-plastic based wall coverings,
upholstery and flooring options.
courtesy of Walmart Stores
courtesy of SupremeCrete

5. Dioxins Exposure
Dioxins are released into the air,
and settle on soil and in water.
Nearly every living creature has
been exposed to dioxins.
Dioxins are a group of toxic bioaccumulative – he most common
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chemical compounds. They are present exposure path is through
food – crops absorb dioxins
around the world and do not readily degrade. which settle on the soil.
Though dioxins are naturally occurring at relatively low levels, – ioxins which settle in water are
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the vast majority of dioxins are released by certain industrial ingested by micro-organisms
activities. Most relevant to our industry is PVC production. and work their way up the food
chain. Dioxins accumulate in
In building materials, PVC is a common component of resilient the body fat of fish, animals,
flooring, carpet backing, piping, waterproofing, door and window and ultimately, people.
frames, wire cable sheathing, wall covering and much more.
– hough dioxins spread great
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distances, exposure risk
Life-in-Action Items through inhalation is especially
– Ask product reps about PVC-free options. high in and near communities
Many manufacturers offer PVC-free alternatives to where dioxins are released.
exterior components, interior finishes, piping, conduit,
and electrical cable and wire jacketing. Health Impacts
– ervous system impairment
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– mmunologic impairments
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– ormonal alterations
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– ancer
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6. Lead I
Exposure
– ngestion of lead which has
leached into drinking water.
– opper alloy plumbing
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components leach lead into
Lead is a bioaccumulative heavy metal drinking water over time,
found in a variety of consumer and building especially when corrosion
occurs. Lead is also a common
products because it provides flexibility component of solder and flux.
and machineability to the material. – ngestion of lead-containing dust
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particulates is still a risk in pre-
Lead is a common ingredient in copper 1978 buildings, especially to
alloys, such as brass and bronze. children. Lead as an additive in
most paints has been banned for
Life-in-Action Items many years, but exposure to lead
dust remains a risk where older
– Specify lead-free piping, fittings and fixtures where buildings are being renovated.
metal piping will be used to deliver water intended
for human consumption. Health Impacts
New low-lead national requirements per the U.S. Safe Drinking
Water Act will go into effect in January 2014. Many faucet Lead is a neurotoxin which can
manufacturers offer products now which meet these standards. damage the developing brain and
nervous system, lowering IQ and
– Specify lead-free solder and flux. increasing hyperactivity. While
– Specify electrical wire and cable which are adults are susceptible to lead
poisoning, children are most at risk.
compliant with the European Restriction of
Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).
The RoHS restricts the use of six hazardous materials, including
lead, in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipment.
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