Previous studies have found that carpets are capable of collecting more dust and allergens than non-carpeted surfaces, highlighting further studies that suggest that the presence of carpets can worsen indoor air quality and certain respiratory conditions. However, counterarguments to these studies note that modern carpets do not present these issues, and their use should be reconsidered. A review of published research is needed to weigh these arguments and gain insight into the nature of modern carpets.
To review previous studies concerning the cleanliness issues and potential health outcomes associated with carpets.
Literature reviewed in this study spanned from 1980 to 2017. A total of 49 peer-reviewed resources were pulled from PubMed and Google Scholar for comparative analysis. Search terms included: allergen levels, carpets, adverse health effects, smooth floors, asthma, indoor environment, respiratory disease, and health impact. All studies were assessed for strength of study design and relevance of concluding data. Carpets were generally assessed for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and were compared to a variety of smooth flooring surfaces.
In the majority of studies included in this literature review, there were significantly higher levels of dust and allergens detected in carpets as opposed to smooth surfaces. A number of studies suggested that dust may be trapped in carpets for extended periods of time, regardless of vacuuming or other cleaning efforts. Some studies indicated that dust trapped in carpets might not become airborne very easily, suggesting that they may not post an immediate risk in certain environments.
This study was a literature review that compared and summarized data from previously published research; accordingly, no original data were collected through field observations or other quantitative methods.