GREENGUARD to Give Away $10K Worth of GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified Nursery Products!

ATLANTA, Sept. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Calling all new or expectant Moms and Dads! You could be the next winner of $10,000 worth of GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified(SM) products for your baby's nursery!

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The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute's second Big Bundle of Joy $10,000 Nursery Giveaway kicked off Saturday, giving new and soon-to-be parents the chance to take home their choice of low-emitting nursery products from participating manufacturers, such as Young America, Sherwin-Williams, Natart, Naturepedic, IdeaPaint, HP Wall Art, Home Legend, Eclipse Shutters, Colgate Mattress, and Bona.

"Everything from cribs, changing tables, and dressers to mattresses, and wall art can be included in the grand prize. It's like a virtual $10,000 shopping spree. Whoever wins the grand prize gets to pick out exactly which products he or she wants," says Susan Heil, director of marketing at the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. "And it's all GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified for low chemical emissions, so parents can rest easy knowing they're creating a healthier indoor environment for their baby."

While there will be only one grand prize winner, 10 second-place winners will win a Naturepedic mattress and 50 third-place winners will win a Bona Hardwood Floor Cleaning System.

GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified products are scientifically tested and held to some of the most rigorous chemical emissions standards in the world. This is important because research has shown that children who are regularly exposed to VOCs, or volatile organic compounds—such as those that can be released from common household products and furniture—are up to four times more likely to develop asthma than those who are not exposed. Asthma is the fastest-growing incurable, chronic disease in children, responsible for more than 14 million missed school days each year, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

Other health risks associated with exposure to VOCs include upper respiratory irritation, cough, headache, nausea, dizziness, and loss of concentration.

"Children are particularly susceptible to health risks associated with airborne chemical exposure because their bodies and vital organs aren't fully developed—they're still growing—and because children actually inhale a greater amount of air relative to their body size than adults," says Dr. Marilyn Black, founder of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute. "That's why it's so important to choose products that are low-emitting—to help reduce that exposure risk."

A complete listing of GREENGUARD Certified products can be found by visiting www.greenguard.org and clicking on the "Quick Product Search" button on the homepage. Products are searchable by category, manufacturer name, and keyword.

Parents can enter to win the Big Bundle of Joy $10,000 Nursery Giveaway in two ways: find GREENGUARD on Facebook, "like" us, and click on the links to the sweepstakes entry page; or, simply visit www.greenguard.org/sweeps.

The sweepstakes runs today through January 31, 2012. All winners will be selected randomly and announced in February 2012.

About the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute aims to protect human health and enhance quality of life by improving indoor air quality and reducing chemical exposure.  As an ISO-IEC Guide 65:1996 accredited, third-party organization, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and serves as a resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments.  All certified products must meet stringent chemical emissions standards based on established criteria from key public health agencies. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by sustainable building programs and building codes worldwide.  For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.

SOURCE GREENGUARD Environmental Institute