health
Written by: Liang Qimin
2020-12-04 21:03
Last update date: 2020-12-04 21:03
The end of the year is the peak season for decoration, and new furniture and decorations are ready to welcome the new year.
However, decoration materials are varied, some of which contain carcinogens, and there are countless types. Among them, the most familiar or most exposed to formaldehyde.
How do we know that formaldehyde in the home exceeds the standard?
What are the carcinogenic risks of formaldehyde?
Is there any easy way to remove formaldehyde?
Written by: Dr. Tsang Wai Kwong, Specialist in Clinical Oncology
In order to create more living space, many Hong Kong people renovate their homes from time to time. There are a variety of decoration materials in the shop, and there are many types of carcinogens. The most common one is formaldehyde. Inhalation of high concentrations of formaldehyde can cause nausea. , Vomiting, cough, chest tightness, asthma and even emphysema.
(Screenshot of "Home Furnishing. Building Rules" TV)
In order to create more living space, change the style of home design, and meet the needs of different families, many Hong Kong people renovate their homes from time to time, such as customizing furniture, painting walls, replacing or adding wooden floors, etc., to create a larger space Transformation.
There are many kinds of decoration materials in the shop, and the types of carcinogens contained in them are also numerous. The common ones are formaldehyde, toluene, radon, ammonia, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and so on.
At present, formaldehyde has been identified by the World Health Organization as a carcinogenic and teratogenic substance.
▼Types of carcinogens in common decoration materials: (click the picture 👇👇👇)
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Among the many carcinogens above, formaldehyde is the most familiar, so this article will focus on the health risks and removal methods of formaldehyde.
Where is formaldehyde commonly used?
Formaldehyde is widely used in various building materials, including
plywood, blankets, insulation materials, wooden products, flooring,
etc.
In the use of decoration and building materials, formaldehyde has strong adhesion and can strengthen the hardness of the board, so most construction glues contain formaldehyde.
In addition, formaldehyde is used as an organic solvent in paint to make the paint more soluble. For example, latex paints used in general households and blending paints for walls contain chemical components such as formaldehyde.
Although formaldehyde was classified as the first category of carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2004, it is widely used and cheap, so most decoration building materials can be found in it. It is also difficult for the general public to know the chemical composition and concentration when purchasing decoration materials.
▼What are the symptoms of inhaling high concentrations of formaldehyde? (According to the picture 👇👇👇)
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Formaldehyde overdose symptoms
Formaldehyde is a
colorless gas
with a
pungent odor
.
According to the latest indoor air quality indicators of the Indoor Air Quality Information Center of the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department, only 100μg/m3 or less formaldehyde in the air is good, and 30μg/m3 or less formaldehyde is excellent.
If you are in an indoor space with excessive formaldehyde, you will generally smell peculiar smells, or irritate your eyes and throat, and you will
experience symptoms such as itching and redness of the eyes, sore throat and tracheal constriction
; if the skin comes into direct contact with formaldehyde solution, it may also cause
Occlusion of pores, reduced sweat, or even ulceration
; inhalation of higher concentrations can cause
nausea, vomiting, cough, chest tightness, asthma and even emphysema,
etc.; pregnant women who inhale or contact high concentrations of formaldehyde will harm the fetus and
cause teratogenesis
.
In addition to the symptoms listed above, long-term inhalation of formaldehyde is more likely to cause
leukemia, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and lymphoma
.
The patient's white blood cells will increase or decrease abnormally, causing
symptoms such as
skin bleeding or anemia
, as well
as
symptoms accompanied by infection such as fever.
If you suffer from acute leukemia, the patient will develop the above symptoms within a short period of time (a few days or a week).
Formaldehyde removal method
Formaldehyde is an indispensable industrial element in the chemical industry. Most man-made wood contains formaldehyde; it is necessary to reduce its content as far as possible without using this ingredient.
▼How to reduce the carcinogenic risk of formaldehyde? (According to the picture 👇👇👇)
When choosing decoration materials, it is advisable to choose composite wood products that meet the formaldehyde emission limit certification, such as ANSI / HPVA HP-1-2009 (for hardwood plywood), ANSI A208.1-2009 (for particleboard) or ANSI A208.2-2009 (For MDF).
If long-term in the room, must always
open the windows through
the wind, and after the completion of renovation, also suggested that
vacant flats at least one to two weeks, even a month
, while all the windows, nice new office doors,
drawers all open
to allow air to flow away Formaldehyde pollutants.
Can plants or activated carbon absorb formaldehyde?
As for the market, it is said that placing plants or activated carbon in newly decorated places can help absorb formaldehyde. There is no relevant data to prove its effectiveness, so this method is not recommended.
Dr. Zeng Weiguang, Specialist in Clinical Oncology (provided by the author)
The team experts of the Hong Kong Comprehensive Cancer Center will regularly share new knowledge about life, health and cancer on the website. For more information, please visit: https://www.hkioc.com.hk/zh-hant/blog/
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