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Adhesive Guide
Detailed information about how adhesives affect your health— plus a rating system you can use to keep it all organized.
Adhesive Ratings
I use these rating scales to stay consistent and unbiased as I rank products in the Interior Medicine shop from healthiest to least healthy. You can also use it as a guide when choosing furniture, mattresses, or wallpaper that contain glues or adhesive backings. Scroll down to see all the information behind these scales.
Adhesive Information
Click on bolded statements for links to information and research.
Glue Types
What are glues made with natural materials?
There are a few plant based glues: cellulose glue is water mixed with wood pulp, and can be used for light hobby wood projects. It sounds strange, but flour can be used as a glue when mixed with water, since the gluten in it acts as a binder. Some people use this mixture to hang wallpaper.
Hide glue is water mixed with connective tissue from animal hides. It produces no VOCs and is one of the safest adhesives for human use, and was the “original glue,” used for thousands of years. It’s not commonly used on manufactured or commercial wood furniture that must be extra durable, but it is an option for use at home. Titebond is a brand that makes a modern hide glue.
What is a water-based adhesive made with synthetic polymers?
Most furniture glue is a water-based, synthetic adhesive. This is means water is mixed with polymers (plastics). The most common type is PVA, or polyvinyl acetate— this is what Elmer’s craft glue, “wood glue” or “carpenters glue” are typically made of. These options are much lower in VOCs and other toxic chemicals than solvent-based glues, described below, and are some of the least toxic types of glues even when wet.
Is EVA self-adhesive safe?
Generally, yes. EVA adhesive is also called “hot melt adhesive” and is a mixture of EVA and other ingredients. EVA is what shower curtains are made of, and is generally inert and pretty non-toxic to people. The other ingredients can vary somewhat, but are generally low VOC resins and waxes. And, you come into contact with them very rarely (you may touch an adhesive backing once or twice ever, as in applying peel-and-stick wallpaper, for example). It’s not perfectly healthy, but pretty good, and would fall under the “water based, synthetic, zero VOC” rating.
What are solvents?
Solvents are chemicals that keep glues in liquid form in the tube and they are one of the main reasons that glues off-gas VOCs. They help keep substances liquidy and evenly dispersed until application. They evaporate from products as they dry, and inhalation is one of the ways we are exposed. They can also be absorbed through the skin if you come into contact with them.
Why are solvent-based glues toxic?
Solvents are one of the priority chemicals to avoid because of their toxic impacts on the respiratory system, neurological health, and links to cancer. Many of these are made with polyurethane, formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene, all harmful VOCs that off-gas strongly.
What are biocides and why are they in adhesives?
Biocides are a group of chemicals that kill organisms, so pesticides, fungicides, mildewcides, etcetera. Biocides are added to glues for mildew- and mold- proofing. These usually aren’t used in furniture or mattresses, but show up in wallpaper adhesive a lot. This is because if you’re applying a synthetic wallpaper, it can trap moisture in the wall and promote mold growth. The solution has been to use a biocidal adhesive to prevent this (though of course I strongly recommend using a wallpaper that is breathable, with natural adhesive.)
VOCs
No-VOC vs Low-VOC
There is no formal set of rules for what qualifies as no-VOC or low-VOC, and different companies and standards define it differently.
Typically, zero-VOC or no-VOC means there are less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter and the smell is undetectable (though not all VOCs have a smell!) low-VOC means there are less than 50 grams of VOCs per liter of paint.
Ideally, a company that states their products are no- or low- VOC also has certifications from Green Seal, GreenGuard, Master Painter’s Institute’s (MPI) Green Performance standards, or SCS Indoor Advantage verifying their claims are true.
What is GreenGuard GOLD certified?
GreenGuard certification is useful for finding wood products that do not off-gas VOCs excessively.
To meet the standard GreenGuard level, VOCs must be less than 500 ug/m3. To meet the elevated GreenGuard GOLD level, VOCs must be less than 220 ug/m3.
A GreenGuard certification does not mean it is healthy, and it does not mean there are no VOCs off-gassing from the product. Sometimes I see companies say “It’s GreenGuard so it’s healthy!” which is simply not true. There are harmful chemicals in stains, glues, and finishes that don’t off-gas as VOCs.
That said, it is still a useful certification when choosing between a standard wood product and one with GreenGuard certification. It is still a step in the right direction.
Other
What kinds of adhesives aren’t glue-based?
Thread, nails, screws, and even joinery are ways of connecting materials together without relying on glue at all. The glue-free options can often be the most natural and healthy choice.