New Carpet

Freshly installed wall-to-wall carpet.

52Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapLow-VOC hard flooring or untreated wool rugs

How this score is built

100Start
81.6Chemical hazard 4 × 4.6−18.4
68Everyday exposure 4 × 3.4−13.6
52Persistence 6 × 2.6−15.6, then rounded to 52
ModerateThe band52 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	4/10	unsourced input
Everyday exposure	4/10	In NHANES 2005-2006, people in homes with low pile carpet had significantly higher serum PFHxS and MeFOSAA than those with smooth floors; about 24% and 19% of those body burdens were attributed to carpeting. The study did not separate new from old carpet. Household low pile carpet usage was associated with increased serum PFAS concentrations in 2005-2006 · Environ Res 2021 DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110758 · PMID 33549621 · Abstract, Results · read 2026-10-02
Persistence	6/10	unsourced input

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

New carpet can off-gas VOCs and often carries PFAS-based stain treatment that ends up in house dust. Hard flooring or untreated natural fibres avoids the stain chemistry.

Evidence strength: moderate

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Lower-exposure choices

Vinegar & Baking Soda CleaningMinimal · Home

All 36 home entries, highest burden first →