Antimicrobial building products marketed as “healthy” or beneficial to human health contain ingredients that may have adverse environmental or human health impacts, and alternative products should be considered whenever possible, according to a new white paper by global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will and the Healthy Building Network (HBN).
Healthy Environments: Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials exposes the lack of scientific evidence supporting claims that so-called antimicrobial products like paints, kitchen countertops, door handles, flooring, and other interior finishes help ward off communicable diseases. In fact, the report highlights a growing body of research suggesting potential negative impacts of antimicrobials on both the body and the environment. Potential impacts include the possible proliferation of “super bugs” caused by microbial resistance, contamination of aquatic ecosystems, and potential exposure to known or suspected carcinogens like formaldehyde.
“What consumers don’t realize is that the federal government considers antimicrobials pesticides because they are agents used to kill or control living organisms—and they should therefore be used with great care,” says Suzanne Drake, a senior interior designer at Perkins+Will and co-author of the white paper. “Because we caution against using building products containing ingredients suspected of hazardous health impacts, we should avoid products containing antimicrobial ingredients. That includes building products intended for healthcare settings.”
Perkins+Will is placing “Products Marketed as Antimicrobial” on its Precautionary List, urging designers to consider alternatives before specifying them. The move reflects the position of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and other credible organizations that have reviewed antimicrobial agents and found them to be both ineffective and unnecessary.
“The fact is, there’s zero evidence that antimicrobial additives provide a health benefit,” says Drake.
Building products with antimicrobial additives are relatively new in the marketplace, but their recent surge in popularity has been fueled by manufacturers looking to differentiate themselves and tap into consumer demand for healthy products and healthy built environments. The number of antimicrobial consumer products on the market grew from just a few dozen in 1994 to more than 2,000 in 2014. In some cases, manufacturers add antimicrobial ingredients to a product as a preservative to protect the product from decay, yet they still market the product in ways suggesting that the benefits of the antimicrobials may extend to human health.
“Because the identity and intended purpose of antimicrobials used in building products is often poorly disclosed, it can be difficult to understand what you’re buying,” says Melissa Coffin, principal investigator with HBN and co-author of the white paper. “Perkins+Will’s approach to consider alternative products to those marketing antimicrobial attributes categorically is a good strategy for navigating a complicated issue.” A dedicated appendix in the white paper explains the legal framework that makes the issue so complicated, Coffin adds.
To read a quick overview of the white paper’s top 10 findings, click here.
To read the full white paper, click here.
Related Stories
ProConnect Events | Apr 23, 2024
5 more ProConnect events scheduled for 2024, including all-new 'AEC Giants'
SGC Horizon present 7 ProConnect events in 2024.
75 Top Building Products | Apr 22, 2024
Enter today! BD+C's 75 Top Building Products for 2024
BD+C editors are now accepting submissions for the annual 75 Top Building Products awards. The winners will be featured in the November/December 2024 issue of Building Design+Construction.
Building Materials | Apr 22, 2024
Tacoma, Wash., investigating policy to reuse and recycle building materials
Tacoma, Wash., recently initiated a study to find ways to increase building material reuse through deconstruction and salvage. The city council unanimously voted to direct the city manager to investigate deconstruction options and estimate costs.
Brick and Masonry | Apr 4, 2024
Best in brick buildings: 9 projects take top honors in the Brick in Architecture Awards
The Ace Hotel Toronto, designed by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects, and the TCU Music Center by Bora Architecture & Interiors are among nine "Best in Class" winners and 44 overall winners in the Brick Industry Association's 2023 Brick in Architecture Awards.
Products and Materials | Mar 31, 2024
Top building products for March 2024
BD+C Editors break down March's top 15 building products, from multifamily-focused electronic locks to recyclable plastic panels.
Sustainability | Mar 21, 2024
World’s first TRUE-certified building project completed in California
GENESIS Marina, an expansive laboratory and office campus in Brisbane, Calif., is the world’s first Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE)-certified construction endeavor. The certification recognizes projects that achieve outstanding levels of resource efficiency through waste reduction, reuse, and recycling practices.
Building Tech | Feb 20, 2024
Construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks wins global innovation award
A new construction method featuring LEGO-like bricks made from a renewable composite material took first place for building innovations at the 2024 JEC Composites Innovation Awards in Paris, France.
Industry Research | Jan 31, 2024
ASID identifies 11 design trends coming in 2024
The Trends Outlook Report by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is the first of a three-part outlook series on interior design. This design trends report demonstrates the importance of connection and authenticity.
Products and Materials | Jan 31, 2024
Top building products for January 2024
BD+C Editors break down January's top 15 building products, from SloanStone Quartz Molded Sinks to InvisiWrap SA housewrap.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | Jan 17, 2024
Waterproofing deep foundations for new construction
This continuing education course, by Walter P Moore's Amos Chan, P.E., BECxP, CxA+BE, covers design considerations for below-grade waterproofing for new construction, the types of below-grade systems available, and specific concerns associated with waterproofing deep foundations.