In recent years, environmental protection in home decoration has garnered the attention of residents in Tianjin. Complaints about indoor decoration pollution have become a hot topic of discussion in the home and environmental protection sectors. Pediatricians point out that indoor pollution caused by the inappropriate use of decorative materials in pursuit of luxurious finishes is a major factor affecting health, particularly increasing the likelihood of leukemia and upper respiratory infections in children. It's crucial to address formaldehyde issues early on.
Home decoration pollution first affects children and the elderly.
Aunt Zhao moved to her son's new house to care for her grandson, but soon after, she began suffering from a persistent cough. Whenever her daughter-in-law is on vacation, she returns to her old house for a few days. "The throat feels very uncomfortable in the new house, I keep coughing," Aunt Zhao said. The symptoms disappear once she returns to her old house. However, the responsibility of taking care of her grandson remains a priority, and she has no choice but to stay in her son's new house. Lately, her cough has become more noticeable, prompting her to see a doctor. The doctor, learning that Aunt Zhao's house was recently renovated, suggested she spend more time outdoors, breathe fresh air, and if possible, move out of the newly renovated house for a while.
Ji Xiang Decoration Company General Manager Yan Xiaobo explained, although the decoration company used eco-friendly materials, these materials are not completely free of formaldehyde; they simply have a low formaldehyde content. However, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde, and moving into a newly decorated house would exacerbate Aunt Zhao's respiratory condition.
According to pediatricians, the rate of birth defects in newborns is on the rise, with pollution factors such as indoor decoration and long-term exposure to radiation-emitting equipment playing a significant role, in addition to family heredity and viral infections.
New statistics reveal that children aged 0 to 14 are a high-risk group for leukemia, with environmental pollution, particularly indoor pollution, being a significant trigger. The China Indoor Environment Committee's statistics show that over 80% of newlywed and family rooms in 6,000 households exceeded the safety standards in indoor environmental tests over the past five years. Additionally, 90% of families with children experiencing health issues have indoor environments that fail to meet safety standards. In the study of the medical history of children with leukemia by the National Children's Health Institution, it was found that nearly 90% of the children had recently undergone home renovations, and many of these homes were luxury renovations.
Formaldehyde's Harm to Humans: How Significant Is It? Environmental experts caution that at 0.1 mg/m³ (PPM) indoors, there's a noticeable odor; at 0.5 PPM, it can irritate eyes and cause tears; at 0.6 PPM, it may lead to throat pain; higher concentrations can cause nausea, vomiting, coughing, chest tightness, asthma, and even emphysema; reaching 230 PPM in the air can immediately cause death. Long-term exposure to low doses of formaldehyde can lead to chronic respiratory diseases and conjunctivitis, among other chronic conditions.
Substandard construction materials and furniture are the culprits.
"Substandard construction materials are the primary cause of interior decoration pollution." Yan Xiaobo explains that there are many reasons for decoration pollution, including substandard materials, improper decoration methods, and the lack of awareness among people about testing indoor environments. Among these, substandard materials pose the greatest harm to human health.
Data reveals that modern indoor air contains over 300 types of volatile organic compounds, with more than 20 being harmful to humans, potentially causing cancer. Pediatricians indicate that building and decorative materials are the primary sources of indoor air pollution, while painted furniture, coatings, and synthetic fiberboards are the main indoor pollutants.
Many homeowners believe that using eco-friendly building materials can avoid the hazards of装修污染. However, this is a significant misconception. In fact, excessive use of eco-friendly materials can lead to the accumulation of formaldehyde pollution, as they cannot eliminate zero formaldehyde. Overusing building materials can result in formaldehyde levels exceeding safety standards.
Yan Xiaobo stated, "Even with floorings that meet environmental standards, the construction boards can still exceed limits due to the synergistic effect. 'When several such environmentally friendly materials are indoors, the harmful substances they emit accumulate, resulting in a significant increase in the release of harmful substances like formaldehyde and benzene. Therefore, even if individual products meet standards, indoor decoration pollution can still exceed limits.'"
Additionally, while considering whether decorative materials meet the standards, attention is often overlooked to the adhesives used during the renovation process, which often contain high levels of formaldehyde. It is also not uncommon for products claiming to meet environmental standards to fall short of the mark.
Determining pollution by smell is inaccurate.
Many families do not take pollution seriously during home renovations, ignoring environmental protection and opting for cheap装修 materials. Yan Xiaobo said, after the entire renovation is completed, environmental protection monitoring should be conducted, but this last step is often skipped. Some families simply open windows to "air out" the smell, while others move in directly.
Pediatricians caution that relying solely on smell to detect contamination is unreliable; absence of odor does not equate to absence of pollution. Toxic gases like formaldehyde are odorless but can cause a pungent sensation, while radon is colorless and odorless. Sensitivity varies from person to person, leading to different perceptions. Professional environmental testing is necessary. Harmful substances include formaldehyde, benzene, ammonia, and radon. If construction is not well-controlled, exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde can severely irritate the respiratory tract.
Formaldehyde in decorative materials can sometimes have a挥发 period of over 7 years. It is recommended to conduct an environmental protection inspection before moving into a new house, hire a professional formaldehyde removal company for treatment, and place some formaldehyde-eliminating items in the home. Increasing the frequency of indoor air ventilation is also a measure to reduce indoor air pollution, with the best ventilation time being from 6 am to 11 am each day. It is advisable to cultivate some flower and plant species indoors, such as aloe vera, spider plants, cacti, and ivy, preferably after completing the air treatment.
