IMPORTANT NOTICE: PBDE's & Polyurethane Rebond Carpet Cushion

Recently I attended the Carpet Industry Issues Council meeting in Chicago. One of the issues discussed was the recent controversy concerning a potentially hazardous environmental discovery of something called "PBDE" in POLYURETHANE REBOND CARPET CUSHION.

I am not sure this will have any effect on your business, unless you recycle this carpet cushion. Then it could have a drastic effect if you continue in this business. This PBDE has not been used in the production of Prime Polyurethane Foam in over a year. However, I understand. POLYURATHANE CARPET CUSHION containing "Post-Consumer" or pick-up scrap, may contain PBDE's. The use of PBDE has been outlawed in California beginning in June 2006.

There was a recent article in the New York Times that had a picture of a mother breast feeding a baby. The article stated "is she passing on to the baby by breast feeding this potentially harmful chemical ? Absorbed in her body because she had polyurethane Rebond Carpet Cushion under her carpet? This is a little scary, if in your business you recycle this cushion? I do not know the many ramifications of this, but the alarm is likely to spread. I suggest you check into this matter immediately.

This is only intended to inform you of a potential risk. I am trying to secure reprints of the article in the New York Times and of the Law passed in California #302, amended by #2587. For more information contact the Carpet Cushion Council at carpetcushion@msn.com or call FIANA at 888-883-4262.