What poisons the atmosphere in the house
Vadim Rukavitsyn, Associate Professor of the Department of Ecology and Nature Management of the Moscow State Institute of Natural Resources, explains that poisoning occurs mainly through air pollution.
“The main resources in the room are some building materials (paints, linoleum, vinyl wallpaper), low-quality furniture (chipboard), a piece of decor (formaldehyde-impregnated cotton fabric for durability, faux PVC leather) and simply damaged items. becomes dangerous when destroyed (broken thermometer or mercury lamp),” explains Rukavitsyn.
According to him, in order to recognize toxic objects, one must pay attention to an unpleasant, sharp chemical odor and a change in one’s well-being. A universal way to find out the level of pollution in the house is laboratory analysis.
“Laboratory analysis is the most accurate of all the above methods and excludes the subjectivity of personal perception by pointing only to real facts, but also not free,” says the ecologist.
Noting that the product has passed independent environmental certification, he recommends looking for eco-labels on goods on the shelves in stores. For example, the signs “Leaf of Life”, Ecomaterial and “Blue Angel”.
Having noticed a poisonous object, you should not throw it into a tank near the house – in order not to harm the health of others, according to Rukavitsin, it must be handed over for processing or destruction.
“Items such as furniture or textiles can be delivered to private organizations that collect and process them. It is better to call the demercurization service to dispose of items such as a broken thermometer or mercury lamp at home. As for the building materials used, unfortunately, at the moment they can only be sent to the construction waste landfill by searching a container for removal, ”explains the ecologist.
types of pollutants
What to look for in your apartment? Ecoraznos project founder and eco-activist Inessa Generalova lists the seven most toxic products found in any home.
Checks from the store
“Something as simple as cash receipts can be found in every home. They adversely affect health and the environment. The composition of the thermal paper on which they are printed contains dangerous bisphenol A or C. It penetrates subcutaneously, affects the reproductive and endocrine systems, provokes oncology, diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems,” says Generalova.
He also noted that even the handling of checks must be private, because if they get on normal waste paper, they can deteriorate and make the entire batch toxic.
foil for baking
Housewives love foil because it does not leak, retains heat well, and dishes cooked with it turn out tasty and juicy. However, it also has properties that adversely affect human health.
“When heated, the aluminum in the foil actively penetrates our food. However, aluminum becomes extremely dangerous. It causes irreversible changes in organs and tissues, affects the functions of the central nervous system, causes the development of osteoporosis, kidney failure, gastrointestinal disorders and many other unpleasant consequences,” warns the eco-activist.
air fresheners
Air fresheners help remove unpleasant odors, but they are often sprayed into poorly ventilated bathrooms and toilets. This is wrong and sometimes even dangerous.
“In most cases, air fresheners contain critical components, the inhalation of which adversely affects health. These include toxic phthalates, which accumulate in the body and can lead to hormonal and endocrine disorders, malfunctions of the liver, kidneys and respiratory tract, and the development of oncology, ”says Generalova.
Toilet paper
“Even such a simple household item can be dangerous. Flavored toilet paper contains the same phthalates. They are harmful not only when inhaled, but also in contact with the skin. The solution is simple – choose ordinary toilet paper: the simpler, the better, ”says the eco-activist.
chipboard furniture
Chipboard furniture may contain dangerous components that are slowly released into the atmosphere and literally poison homes. The main danger is formaldehyde, a dangerous carcinogen.
“This is one of the most common household pollutants and can cause a scratchy throat, burning eyes, nausea, and skin irritation. You can be sure that the formaldehyde release from the chipboard is controlled and is an important quality parameter. When buying furniture, you should pay attention to the formaldehyde emission classes,” he says. generalova
Teflon pans
Teflon-coated non-stick pans that housewives love can be fraught with real dangers.
“The main danger of Teflon pans is perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is a carcinogen. All self-respecting companies have refused to use it, but there are still doubts about its safety. High temperature and uneven heating of the surface contribute to the release of substances, the effect of which on our body has not been fully studied, ”explains the expert.
Plastic flatware and utensils
Many potentially hazardous chemicals such as phthalates, formaldehyde, styrene and bisphenols are added to container plastic during manufacture.
“When they enter the body, they affect the functioning of the endocrine and reproductive systems, cause an increase in blood pressure, the development of cancer and much more. Many of the consequences of its effects on us are mostly unknown. Pay attention to the plastic labels and symbols on the packaging. But it is better to store and heat food and drink in containers made of other materials such as glass,” Generalova advised.