Harmful gases indoors
1. Radon
Radon is a radioactive noble gas that is colorless and odorless. Found in cement, sand, and gravel. Radon pollution, an indoor pollutant, is second only to smoking as a cause of lung cancer.
2. Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde has a strong smell. Artificial boards use adhesives that contain formaldehyde. Inhalation of high concentrations of formaldehyde can cause severe respiratory tract irritation. Direct skin contact with formaldehyde can cause dermatitis. Regular inhalation of small amounts of formaldehyde can cause chronic poisoning.
3. Benzene
Benzene is a colorless liquid with a special aromatic odor. Long-term inhalation of benzene can cause aplastic anemia.
4. TVOC
Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) mainly come from coatings, adhesives, etc. TVOC can cause symptoms such as dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, and chest tightness.
5. Ammonia
Ammonia gas is very soluble in water, rapidly affects the eyes, throat, and upper respiratory tract, and is highly irritating. Prolonged exposure to low-concentration ammonia can cause laryngitis, hoarseness, and pulmonary edema.
Source of harmful gases
1. Sources of radon
Harmful gases Radon is a radioactive, noble gas that is colorless and odorless. After radon gas is formed in cement, sand, and bricks, part of it will be released into the air. When inhaled into the human body, it will form radiation and destroy cell structure molecules. Radon's alpha rays can cause cancer. Among the 19 carcinogens recognized by the WHO, radon is one of them, second only to smoking. Radon mainly comes from inorganic building materials and fractures in underground geological structures.
2. Sources of formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is contained in man-made panels such as plywood, blockboard, medium-density fiberboard, and particleboard used for interior decoration. Because formaldehyde has strong adhesive properties, it also has the function of strengthening the hardness of the board and preventing insects and corrosion.
Therefore, it is used to synthesize a variety of adhesives such as urea-formaldehyde resin, melamine formaldehyde, amine formaldehyde resin, and phenolic resin. Various other decorative building materials that contain formaldehyde and may be emitted to the outside world, such as prefabricated panels using urea-formaldehyde foam resin as insulation materials, wall coverings, wallpapers, chemical fiber carpets, foam plastics, paints and coatings, etc. The adhesive currently used in the production of artificial boards uses urea-formaldehyde resin as the main component of formaldehyde. The residual and unreacted formaldehyde in the board will gradually be released into the surrounding environment, forming the main body of formaldehyde in indoor air. Decoration materials and new modular furniture are the main sources of formaldehyde pollution
What is formaldehyde? Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a colorless and soluble irritating gas. Formaldehyde can be absorbed through the respiratory tract, and its aqueous solution "formalin" can be absorbed through the digestive tract.
The dangers of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde has strong carcinogenic and cancer-promoting effects. A large amount of literature has recorded that the effects of formaldehyde on human health are mainly manifested in aspects such as abnormal sense of smell, stimulation, allergy, abnormal pulmonary function, abnormal liver function, and abnormal immune function. When its concentration reaches 0.06-0.07mg/m3 per cubic meter of air, children will suffer from mild asthma. When the formaldehyde content in indoor air is 0.1mg/m3, there will be odor and discomfort; when it reaches 0.5mg/m3, it can irritate the eyes and cause tears; when it reaches 0.6mg/m3, it can cause throat discomfort or pain. When the concentration is higher, it can cause nausea and vomiting, coughing, chest tightness, asthma, and even pulmonary edema; when it reaches 30mg/m3, it can cause immediate death.
Long-term exposure to low-dose formaldehyde is more harmful and can cause chronic respiratory diseases, nasopharyngeal cancer, colon cancer, brain cancer, menstrual disorders, genetic mutations in the nucleus, cross-linking within a single strand of DNA and cross-linking between DNA and proteins, and inhibiting DNA damage. repair, pregnancy syndrome, causing chromosomal abnormalities in newborns, leukemia, and memory and mental decline in teenagers. Among all contacts, children, pregnant women and the elderly are particularly sensitive to formaldehyde and are more harmful. The International Research Institute on Cancer has recommended that it be treated as a suspected carcinogen.
Benzene is a carcinogen. Mild poisoning can cause drowsiness, headache, dizziness, nausea, chest tightness, etc., as well as mild mucosal irritation symptoms. Severe poisoning can cause blurred vision, shallow and fast breathing, irregular heartbeat, Convulsions, and coma.
3. Source of benzene
Benzene in homes and office buildings mainly comes from a large number of chemical raw materials used in building decoration, such as coatings, fillers, and various necessary solvents. They all contain a large amount of organic compounds and are emitted indoors after decoration. Mainly higher among the following decorative materials:
Paint: Benzene compounds are mainly emitted from paint;
Tinna water and thinner: exist in large amounts in additives of paints and coatings;
Various adhesives: Some sofas purchased by families release a large amount of benzene. The main reason is that adhesives with high benzene content are used in production;
The original powder of the waterproof material was mixed with thinner to form a waterproof coating. When tested 15 hours after operation, the benzene content in the indoor air exceeded 14.7 times the maximum concentration allowed by the country.
What is benzene? Benzene is a colorless liquid with a special aromatic odor. Its boiling point is 80°C. Toluene and xylene are homologs of benzene. They are both products of coal char fractionation or petroleum cracking. At present, toluene and xylene are often used in interior decoration instead of pure benzene as solvents or diluents for various glues, paints, coatings, and waterproofing materials.
The harm of benzene to the human body: benzene is volatile and flammable, and the vapor is explosive. When a person inhales high concentrations of toluene and xylene in a short period, it may cause central nervous system anesthesia. In mild cases, dizziness, headache, nausea, chest tightness, fatigue, and confusion may occur. In severe cases, it may cause coma, respiratory and circulatory failure, and death. Long-term exposure to a certain concentration of toluene and xylene can cause chronic poisoning, and symptoms of neurasthenia such as headache, insomnia, lethargy, and memory loss may occur. Benzene compounds have been identified as strong carcinogens by the World Health Organization.
What people usually call "benzene" is a series of substances, including "benzene", "toluene" and "xylene". Benzene compounds have been identified as strong carcinogens by the World Health Organization, and it is also recognized by the medical community that benzene can cause leukemia and aplastic anemia. People who inhale high concentrations of toluene or xylene in a short period will develop symptoms of central nervous system anesthesia.
4. Source of ammonia
It mainly comes from the concrete admixtures used in construction. Especially during winter construction, concrete antifreeze containing urea and ammonia as the main raw materials is added to the concrete wall. These admixtures containing a large amount of ammonia substances are added to the wall along with the With changes in environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, it is reduced to ammonia and slowly released from the wall, causing a large increase in the concentration of ammonia in the indoor air.
In addition, ammonia in indoor air can also come from additives and whitening agents in interior decoration materials. However, this kind of pollution has a relatively fast release period and will not accumulate in large amounts in the air for a long time, so it is less harmful to the human body. However, It should also attract everyone’s attention.
What is ammonia? Ammonia is a colorless gas with a strong pungent odor. It is lighter than air (specific gravity is 0.5), and the lowest perceptible concentration is 5.3 ppm. Ammonia is an alkaline substance that is corrosive and irritating to any skin tissue it comes into contact with. It can absorb water in skin tissue, denature tissue proteins, saponify tissue fat, and destroy cell membrane structure.
The harm of ammonia to human health: Some people who are exposed to ammonia for a long time may develop symptoms such as skin pigmentation or finger ulcers; after ammonia is breathed into the lungs, it easily enters the blood through the alveoli, combines with hemoglobin, and destroys the oxygen transport function.
After inhaling a large amount of ammonia gas in a short period, tearing, sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, blood-streaked sputum, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, etc. may occur, which may be accompanied by dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, etc. In severe cases, pulmonary edema and adult symptoms may occur. Respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory tract irritation symptoms may occur at the same time.
Therefore, alkaline substances cause deeper and more serious damage to tissues than acidic substances.
5. Source of TVOC
VOCs in indoor environments may enter from outdoor air or be emitted from building materials, cleaning agents, cosmetics, wax products, carpets, furniture, laser printers, photocopiers, adhesives, and indoor paints. Once these VOCs temporarily or permanently exceed normal background levels, they can cause indoor air quality problems.
What is TVOC? Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) are a general term for compounds that are composed of one or more carbon atoms and are easily evaporated at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure. They are colorless gases that exist in the indoor environment.
The harm of TVOC to the human body. Exposure to industrial environments containing high concentrations of VOCs will have toxic effects on the human central nervous system, liver, kidneys, and blood.
Sensitive people can have violent reactions to even low concentrations of VOCs. These reactions will occur after exposure to a sensitive gas or a series of sensitive gases. Subsequent exposure to lower doses may also cause similar symptoms, but long-term exposure to low concentrations can also cause reactions.
Studies have linked exposure to VOCs common in office buildings to the following symptoms of SBS eye discomfort: burning, dryness, foreign body sensation, and edema.
Throat discomfort: Dry throat.
Respiratory problems: shortness of breath; asthma; headache, anemia, dizziness, fatigue, irritability
Long-term exposure to compounds such as benzene, a carcinogen, may increase the risk of cancer. Because the current understanding of the toxic and sensory effects of VOCs on the human body and their components is limited, it is necessary to prevent overexposure to VOCs.