OTHER NEWS - Nov. 3, 1993

Label to Warn of New-Carpet Fumes: Besieged by complaints that fumes from new carpet make people sick, a leading industry group said that it is preparing a label to tell consumers how to protect themselves. However, at the same time it is suggesting that carpet makers use the label, the Carpet and Rug Institute is not acknowledging that any carpet is unsafe. “This is not a warning label, because there is nothing to warn,” said Ron VanGelderen, president of the group, which represents manufacturers of 95% of the carpet made in the United States. “This is a consumer information label that fits into a continuing program of consumer information.” News that the label was being prepared was first reported Tuesday in the the News & Observer of Raleigh, N.C. About 70% of the nation’s carpet is made in northern Georgia.