Toxic Materials: how to make your home safe

Every man wants his property was protected not only from outside but also from internal threats. Today's manufacturers offer a wide range of different building materials (natural and synthetic). natural materials are expensive and, therefore, many consumers are choosing artificial analogues, which are not always are safe for the human body. Editorial HouseChief.ru prepared for you an overview of the most toxic building materials that can cause significant harm to health.

Synthetic insulation materials

Polystyrene foam, polyurethane foam, and - the most popular synthetic materials used for thermal insulation work. Increased demand caused by low thermal conductivity levels, Ease of use and relatively low cost. However, experts warn of the harmfulness of these materials, which when exposed to heat, oxygen, water, and other factors are oxidized and decomposed. For example, the foam even at room temperature oxidizes and releases a highly toxic styrene, which even in small doses, have a negative effect on the heart, liver and mucous membranes.

Of particular danger synthetic thermal insulating materials are in the ignition. Secreted by combustion smoke contains hydrocyanic acid, which leads to fatalities. Sometimes when burning some synthetic materials produced poison gas phosgene, which was widely used during the First World War.

Flight paints (coatings)

For the production of paints and varnishes used a lot of various fillers, volatile solvents, and additives. Among the common components - gasoline, various alcohols and acetone. In some paints contains lead, mercury compounds and toxic waste. All this is getting into the body through the skin, respiratory tract and digestive tract causes a significant deterioration in health. Symptoms are bouts of breathlessness and asthma, irritation of the mucous membranes, nausea and dizziness, and impaired coordination. Poisoning by toxic vapors can occur not only when dealing with paintsBut after their complete drying.

Above all solvents and paint products in most cases has a high flammability and explosion. Therefore, when choosing a paint should be studied composition on the packaging carefully. You should only use the corresponding, interior finish paint and give preference to safe water-based formulations. When working with paints must observe safety and often ventilate the room.

Finishing materials PVC

The composition of these decorative materials include polyvinyl chloride (PVC). For proper operation of the material harmless. Hazards include degradation products, as well as chemical additives that improve the characteristics of the finished product. Upon heating, including burning, PVC allocates phenol, dioxin, formaldehyde, cadmium and other toxic substances which may cause problems with the liver and kidneys, and also provoke infertility and cancer. it is recommended not to draw children's rooms, bathroom, the kitchen and areas with poor ventilation.

Cheap laminate

Laminate It is a popular and inexpensive substitute parquet and furniture boards. The material has a quite good performance, look modern and stylish. The popularity is due to more and a high content of sawdust from natural wood. However, the laminate is not as harmless as it may seem at first glance. In the production of the upper protective and decorative layer of synthetic substance used with a slight turning of toluene, phenol and formaldehyde. Under normal operating conditions, this is harmless, as a toxic gas released during combustion of the material.

The problem is still and that unscrupulous manufacturers when manufacturing laminate formaldehyde is used in high concentration, much higher than allowable standards. Determine substandard and harmful material can be of strong odors and a very low price. When you purchase should pay attention to the presence of the security certificate. Marking E2 and E3 is increased content of toxic formaldehyde material. Use in a residential area of ​​the laminate products is impossible.

Slate

Asbestos cement slate is a traditional roofing materials. It includes a strong carcinogenic asbestovolokno that exposure to the sun, moisture and temperature gradients converted to the smallest and harmful dust. When injected into the human body and it does not dissolve practically derived from it, because of which there are inflammatory processes and formation of various tumors. That is why in 63 countries, this material was banned in construction.

Granite, brick and glass

Some building materials, such as glass fibers, calcium silicate brick or phosphogypsum have some radiation properties. Also harmful qualities attributed to normal concreteProduced through the addition of granite crushed stone. The natural granite has a really small proportion of radiation, and is harmful and not so much the rubble, and emit toxic gas radon. Usually, however, the stone being tested in quarries and comes to the production with a maximum permissible radiation background.

How to protect yourself when buying building materials

In order to protect yourself and your family when purchase of building materials you must:

• purchase materials only from trusted reputable manufacturers;
• scrutinize the structure of purchased materials;
• just follow the manufacturer's instructions;
• pay attention to the certificates of quality and sanitary-epidemiological safety;
• of the material must be absent unpleasant and pungent smell "chemistry."

A few words in conclusion

We have listed the main types of construction and finishing materials that can be hazardous to human health. But this does not mean that you can build or make repairs. Should adhere to several recommendations made in this article, and you'll be safe.