Furniture harmful substances and influence. Useful and harmful furniture

The article describes how to protect yourself and your loved ones, as well as what to look for when buying and using new furniture.

Now that the multitude has appeared furniture showrooms, there is an opportunity to purchase new furniture of any design.

The old monotonous headsets, wardrobes and side tables were replaced by beautiful slides, spacious wardrobes, unusual hallways and other pieces of furniture.

But few of us thought how dangerous such beauty could be for health. Everyone knows that modern furniture is mainly made of laminated chipboard.

It contains so-called harmful volatile organic compounds. They can greatly harm our health.

But is it possible to protect yourself, or at least reduce the impact of harmful substances?

> Phenol and formaldehyde are the main enemy lurking in new furniture

Having bought new furniture, we are filled with the joy of the purchase. The house is immediately filled with a characteristic smell - all this is nothing but toxic substances.

One of them is phenol. It is phenol, a poisonous substance that affects the respiratory tract and skin, which can become a source of allergies and constant headaches.

In this case, you will not know the source of your ailment, although it is right in front of you. The most dangerous thing is that these substances can lead to cancer.

Phenol together with formaldehyde, which is no less dangerous and fraught with a threat for many years. Any break or scratch will release this genie from the bottle.

But accidental scratches cannot be avoided, so it is better to close it up right away. If a breakdown occurs, immediately call the master and eliminate the malfunction.

> How to protect yourself and what to look for

The most dangerous thing is to buy furniture from "fresh" laminated chipboard, it must lie down for at least a week. If you ordered some piece of furniture and made it for you quickly, then do not rush to pick it up, it is better to let it stand for a few days.

After all, the most dangerous days when we are intoxicated are the first days after the purchase.

It is safer to buy wooden furniture, but not everyone can afford it. Previously, it was served almost always varnished, and although it was not so beautiful, it was 100% harmless.

Now, no matter what anyone says, all furniture, as a rule, is glued with phenol-formaldehyde glue.

It is even more dangerous to buy Chinese furniture. Although many praise it on various sites, this is all just marketing.

That inside these very slabs, from which very attractive beds, headsets, etc. are made, cannot be understood unless they are cut.

When the slab is cut, you can see a gray-green substance that can be frankly called poison. The only plus is that such a slab is fully tiled.

When buying new furniture:

Always pay attention to the quality of the cladding. Any exposed part must be glued over.

Expensive furniture, supposedly made in Italy, may well be made in a nearby garage cooperative. Fakes under expensive brands are a tasty morsel.

Solid wood furniture is also easy to counterfeit and a persistent unpleasant smell is a signal to take a closer look at the purchase.

Here are some proven tips to reduce the harmful effects of hazardous volatiles on your body:

Ventilate the room more often. Do not place furniture near a radiator.

Look carefully at the edge. It must be all processed.

It is better to buy products from a large manufacturer, at least you can ask them for a sanitary and epidemiological certificate for furniture and its components that speak of safety.

In any case, there is no alternative yet. Instead of trusting all kinds of certificates, it is better to trust your eyesight and smell, and the choice is always yours.

(modena select = 26, Children's rooms to order)

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Many people who purchase new furniture or are planning to renovate an apartment are faced with such a concept as formaldehyde. It turns out that this colorless gas can be released into the air for years and adversely affect health. What is the source of formaldehyde and how dangerous it is, we will consider in this article.

Brief description of the substance

Formaldehyde (methanal, formic aldehyde) is a colorless, toxic gas, readily soluble in water, polar solvents and alcohols, with a pungent odor, hazard class 1. Aqueous, urea-stabilized formaldehyde solution is used in the furniture and woodworking industries for chipboard production and other "plywood" materials. It is used in the manufacture of thermosetting polymers and in industrial organic synthesis. It is widely used in light industry, medicine, cosmetology, agriculture... It is characterized by good antiseptic, bactericidal, tanning and preserving properties.

The maximum one-time maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of formaldehyde (Russia) - 0.05 mg / m³;
The average daily MPC (Russia) is 0.01 mg / m³;
Maximum concentration limit for substances in the air of residential premises (European countries): 120 μg / m 3;
Odor threshold: 0.07-0.2 mg / m 3;
The threshold of the reflex response of the animal organism: 0.04-0.098 mg / m 3;
The threshold of irritating effect on the mucous membrane of human eyes: 0.012 mg / m 3.

Danger to humans

Formaldehyde is the main air pollutant. It accumulates in the human body and is very difficult to remove from it. The most dangerous is the long-term effect of a substance on the body, in which it has allergenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Clinical manifestations can develop at different times, which largely depends on the state of immunity. Someone has months, and someone - years. Children, the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases are prone to a strong negative influence.

Possesses severe toxicity and adversely affects reproductive organs and genetic material. The danger as a mutagen lies in the fact that the substance not only leads to the development of somatic mutations, but also the organism itself accumulates these mutations and subsequently they are passed on to the offspring.
Poisons the lungs, irritates the airways and makes breathing difficult. It is able to cause asthma and provoke asthmatic attacks.
Irritates eyes and skin, provokes the development of neurotic eczema.
It causes the development of gastrointestinal ulcers, kidney and liver damage, and leads to an unreasonable loss of body weight.
Has a pronounced negative effect on the central nervous system: causes fatigue, headaches, depression, depression. Decreases performance and general well-being.

Included in the list of carcinogenic substances. An international agency leading the assessment of the risk of developing cancer has proven the link between formaldehyde, which is used in the production of plastics, resins, paints and varnishes, textiles, as well as a preservative and disinfectant, with an increased risk of oncological neoplasms of the nasopharynx.

Sources of formaldehyde emission in everyday life

Our houses and apartments, which are a place for resting soul and body, we ourselves or the hands of careless builders and workers can turn into a real chemical laboratory! In addition to dangerous formaldehyde, phenol, toluene, xylene, benzene, styrene, etc. can be found in the air of residential premises. If we neglect elementary ventilation, the concentration of harmful chemicals can double in just a day.

According to WHO statistics, the air in urban living quarters is 4-6 times dirtier than on the street, and the main contribution to the chemical “bouquet” is made by finishing and building materials and furniture.

Formaldehyde vapor is a combustion product of organic substances that are present in:

exhaust gases of cars (therefore, excess is more often recorded in apartments of houses located along major transport arteries);
smog;
tobacco smoke, including from electronic cigarettes;
fumes from fireplaces, gas stoves.

Chemical vapors evaporate into the air from building materials:

Particleboard, fiberboard, FRP, of which the prevailing amount is produced modern furniture... Plates impregnated with urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins (which make up 6-18% of the total mass of the material) are the main building material- a source of formaldehyde in the home. For those who do not know the smell of formaldehyde, there is an easy way to "get to know it" - go to the point where chipboard is sold in the market, and smell the plates;
MDF, OSB, plywood with phenol-formaldehyde resins in the composition, used for interior decoration and insulation of residential buildings;
adhesives, mastics, paints, varnishes, sealants (especially cheap ones);
market, uncertified Decoration Materials: wallpaper, laminate, linoleum, skirting boards, etc., which are the most luminous of the finishing materials.

Also, the source of the substance can be:

all gaps that are sealed with sealant. The prevailing share of sealants is made on the basis of resins, which emit harmful gas;
soundproofing materials and insulation made of polystyrene foam, cheap components, bonded with resins;
beds, mattresses, sofas and other upholstered furniture, carpets, heavy curtains. Formaldehyde is released from furniture if it was used in its production (at any stage technological production). But formaldehyde in fabrics (carpets and curtains) can accumulate from other sources and subsequently be released into the air.

One of the first signs of the presence of an increased content of a substance in the air is the appearance of a sharp characteristic odor, which can be described as hospital or pharmacy. This smell is perceptible even at a concentration 25 times less than the permissible one. Some people think that this is the smell of new furniture, but in fact, it is the smell of formaldehyde.

Symptoms of acute and chronic formaldehyde poisoning

Serious poisoning due to internal ingestion of a formaldehyde solution and contact with the skin, as well as poisoning with vapors, are possible in chemical and other production conditions in which this chemical is a part technological process... At home, there is inhalation ingestion of formalgide into the body during breathing.

Formaldehyde poisoning can develop in three ways:

if swallowed;
by inhalation;
on contact with the skin.

Accordingly, the symptomatology will also differ, prevailing on the part of a certain system: when swallowed, the gastrointestinal tract is more affected, and when inhaled, the respiratory organs are affected.

Short-term ingestion of a large amount of a substance into the body leads to the development of acute poisoning, and prolonged intake in small doses, even slightly exceeding the MPC, causes chronic poisoning. Poisoning symptoms vary and differ from person to person.

	Symptoms of acute formaldehyde poisoning	Chronic poisoning symptoms
Nervous system	Severe headache, complete loss of strength, lack of coordination, hand tremors, convulsions, impaired consciousness, coma	Sleep disturbance, mental agitation, persistent headaches, chronic fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy, lethargy, coordination disorder (see)
Reproductive system	-	Violation menstrual cycle among women
Vegetative manifestations	Severe chills	Shivering, chills at normal temperature, impaired sweating and thermoregulation
Respiratory system	Runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, choking, swelling of the pharynx and lungs	Persistent dry cough, nose, throat irritation, and asthma attacks
Leather	Blanching of the skin, blisters on the skin (when the substance gets on the skin)	Allergies, skin irritation, up to eczema, dermatitis, nail damage
Organs of vision	Lachrymation, pain in the eyes, acute conjunctivitis, dilated pupils	Eye irritation visual disturbance
Digestive organs	Increased salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, severe pain along the esophagus (with the internal route of entry)	Decreased appetite, weight loss, dyspepsia
The cardiovascular system	Increased heart rate, sharp drop in blood pressure	Jumps in blood pressure

Internal intake 60-90 ml aqueous solution formaldehyde (formalin) leads to death! The concentration of the substance in the air, equal to 20 mg / m 3, leads to death within 30 minutes of exposure!

If timely first aid is not provided for acute poisoning, the following conditions develop that pose a direct threat to life:

Gastrointestinal bleeding. This is a consequence of the internal ingestion of a substance into the body (accidental or deliberate use), which develops when the vascular walls of the submucous layer of the stomach and duodenum are eaten away. The patient notes growing weakness, dark vomiting or vomiting with blood, black loose stools.
Acute liver failure, toxic hepatitis. It also develops when the substance gets inside. The skin and mucous membranes turn yellow noticeably, there is severe pain in the right hypochondrium, consciousness is impaired.
Acute kidney damage: edema, complete absence urine.
Acute circulatory failure.
Edema of the mucous membrane of the larynx, lungs develops in case of vapor poisoning and leads to suffocation.

First aid to victims

The most important thing is to immediately call ambulance! The life of a person often depends on the time of her arrival.

The victim needs to be provided with fresh air and rest. If inhalation poisoning occurs, the person should be removed / taken out of this room.
Give the victim clean cool water to drink (if he is conscious and there are no signs of ingestion of the substance). You cannot try to flush the stomach on your own, induce vomiting: this will be done by doctors using special solutions.
Rinse the affected area of the skin with running cool water for 15-20 minutes, more formaldehyde solution has got on the skin.
Ensure airway patency if a person is unconscious: put him on his back and turn his head to one side.

Inpatient treatment of acute formaldehyde poisoning

As a rule, even at the scene of the accident, the first aid team takes measures to prevent further complications and save a person's life:

Probe lavage of the stomach cavity with water or saline.
The introduction of hemostatic drugs in the event of signs of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
The introduction of painkillers for severe pain (often with a burn of the esophagus), drugs that stabilize vital signs: heartbeat, pressure, breathing.
Setting a dropper with solutions to reduce intoxication.
Intubation and artificial respiration for laryngeal edema.

The victim is hospitalized in the intensive care unit or in the toxicology department, where he is diagnosed and treated for the following:

the introduction of ammonium carbonate or 3% chloride - formalin antidotes;
hemodialysis (with kidney damage);
surgical intervention in the presence of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract;
other infusion therapy in the required amount.

The prognosis largely depends on the timeliness of medical care. In any case, this is a life-threatening condition that requires serious inpatient treatment. After the postponed poisoning, the sensitivity to formaldehyde increases significantly, so the subsequent similar situation can become fatal!

How to test indoor air for formaldehyde

It is easy to suspect trouble: if at home you feel bad, do not get enough sleep, there is constant irritability and discomfort - it's time to take air measurements in the apartment. People react differently to a chemical, and some are hypersensitive. Be especially vigilant if you have recently moved to new house or made repairs in the apartment.

The concentration of formaldehyde that is created in rooms depends not only on the sources of its release, but also on the temperature and humidity of the air, the type and speed of ventilation (ventilation frequency), the type of heating (central or stove) and the presence of other sources that use combustion processes (smokers , gas stoves).

The new materials are active chemical release agents into the air.
The release of formaldehyde decreases with the "aging" of materials and reaches background values after 3-5 years. However, when it comes to upholstered furniture, the release of chemistry can occur even after 10 years of operation.
High temperatures and high humidity air, stove heating, gas stoves determine the increased release of a substance into the air.

How and when to start indoor air analysis?

Most often, people contact the laboratory immediately after purchasing furniture or carrying out repairs. But it is better to wait 1-3 months. Even after the highest quality repairs, it is recommended to thoroughly ventilate the apartment for several weeks. The same applies to the option when new furniture is purchased.

You should not contact the organizations on the basis of which the laboratory operates (even if it is accredited) and which themselves carry out apartment renovations. There is a high probability that the results will be falsified in order to impose your repairs and "safe" materials on you.
Measurements should be carried out by representatives of the sanitary-epidemiological service or specialists from an independent accredited laboratory.
Household devices for home air monitoring are only indicative!

How are measurements taken? Most often, laboratory specialists conduct air tests in an apartment and on the street at the same time, and at once for several of the most common pollutants - formaldehyde, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon, phenol and hydrogen sulfide. On average, the procedure takes 30-40 minutes. With the help of devices, air is pumped through special liquid reagents, which is placed in sorption tubes (for each chemical - its own). The analysis of the taken samples is carried out different methods already in the laboratory, one of the most modern is gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

How to test furniture for formaldehyde?

Chemical analysis of a sample of material is carried out in laboratories and requires the provision of this very sample. those. part of the furniture will have to say goodbye. It is good if the furniture was made to order, and the sample has survived. In other cases, you will have to sacrifice something.

Those who believe that it is possible to save on materials and then check them for "purity" by handing over for examination, we hasten to disappoint - researching materials for the presence of formaldehyde in it is not a cheap pleasure, so as a result, the purchase may become golden, and if it also turns out to be that the material is of poor quality will be doubly insulting.

How to protect yourself from harmful chemicals

Unfortunately, no preventive measure can guarantee 100% clean indoor air. However, compliance with simple safety rules will minimize the likelihood that you are breathing the mixture. chemical substances rather than clean air:

Choose your building and finishing materials carefully and buy them in stores, not markets.
If possible, give preference to solid wood or metal products. When purchasing materials from pressed wood, you should choose laminated products or with veneer ends.
Ask sellers for documents that are a mandatory requirement of the technical regulation on the safety of building materials:
- certificate or declaration of conformity with the prescribed manufacturer and place of production;
- quality passport;
- technical documents for safe use.
Be sure to keep copies of certificates and receipts. If, in the future, toxic substances are detected in the indoor air, the source of which was certain materials, a claim can be made to the store within 2 years.
Do not use for internal renovation works materials that are intended for outdoor use! Yes, they are often cheaper, but they have different security requirements that are less stringent.
Do not buy into the words "environmentally friendly", "environmentally friendly". They are not regulated in any way by law and do not at all guarantee that the material is safe. The main confirmation of safety is the relevant documents!
Also, do not buy fast-drying, super-flexible, extra-strong and other materials with improved properties. Most often, all of these additional effects are achieved through a variety of chemical additives.
Do not move into an apartment / house immediately after renovation and "packing" it with new furniture: for at least the first 3 months, your cozy home is nothing more than a small environmental disaster. Even if individually each chemical does not exceed the norm, but their combined effect, and sometimes mutual reinforcement negative influence per person, create dangerous air pollution.
Maintain a healthy indoor climate: ventilate rooms often and do not overuse heaters.
Wash fabrics before use.
Get yourself indoor plants that are able to absorb "chemistry": dracaena, fern, bush chrysanthemum, ivy.
When purchasing air purifiers, give preference to photocatalytic devices. They are scientifically proven to remove formaldehyde from the air.
As for the protective polyurethane coating on pressed wood products, which is able to retain the substance inside the product and prevent its evaporation into the air, this is a relative protection. For effective protection such coatings must completely cover the surface of the product, including corners, edges, edges, which is not always feasible.

In addition to chemical air pollution, radiation, electromagnetic radiation, bacterial pollutants, allergens, can have a negative impact on health and worsen people's well-being. dust mites and a number of other factors of the living environment, therefore it is recommended to carry out a comprehensive environmental examination of residential premises, which, unfortunately, will not be cheap.

Harmful production factors furniture production in accordance with GOST 12.0.003-74 are given in table 39.

Table 39 - Harmful production factors of furniture production

Factor name	MPC or remote control	Duration of action per shift
Physical
1 Elevated level gas contamination: isocyanate butyl acetate cyclohexanone methyl ethyl ketone 2 Increased level of dustiness: wood dust paint dust 3 Insufficient illumination 4 Unsatisfactory meteorological conditions: in the cold season during the warm season	t from 15 to 71 ° С W no more than 75% Vv not more than 0.4 m / s t from 16 to 27 ° С W not more than 70% Vv from 0.2 to 0.3 m / s
Chemical
1 Irritant effect of solvents
Psychophysiological
1 Stressful situations 2 Monotony of labor 3 Physical overload 4 Overvoltage analyzers 5 Mental overload	Depending on the individual capabilities of employees

Industrial sanitation measures

Respiratory protection. Control over the content of harmful substances in the air working area should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of GOST 12.1.005-88, GN 2.25.686-98.

To reduce dust content, the following measures are proposed:

Installing receivers exhaust ventilation(exhaust hoods) over the equipment;

Cleaning with a wet method that does not allow dusting, at least once a shift;

Periodic cleaning of windows, walls, ceilings, heating devices, equipment from settled dust using vacuum mobile dust collection systems;

The use of personal protective equipment: respirators, dust masks "Petal", "Astra", universal respirators against gas vapors and dust RU-60, F-46, ShF-2, workwear.

Eye protection. In accordance with SNiP 23-05-95, the category of visual work in furniture shop determined by the average accuracy of the IV century. With this category of visual work with the system combined lighting illumination is 400 lux, including 200 lux from general illumination.

In accordance with the requirements of GOST 12.1.019-79, the luminaires in the finishing areas must be explosion-proof.

To protect the eyes from the harmful effects of gases, vapors, dust, it is recommended to use sealed glasses with a rubber half mask.

Protecting the body of workers from disruption heat balance... The category of work in a furniture shop is defined as moderate 2b. For this category of work, according to GOST 12.1.005-88, the permissible and optimal microclimate conditions are shown in table 40.

Table 40 - Permissible and optimal microclimate conditions

To comply with the actual indicators with the normative, a centralized water heating... To prevent air cooling in the workshops, air thermal curtains... Also, normal working conditions are ensured by a properly working general exchange supply and exhaust ventilation.

Rational organization of work and rest. The company has an eight-hour working day. To reduce the severity of work and improve working conditions, every two hours of work, ten minute breaks and one hour of lunch are provided.

Ecomebel Furniture made from environmentally friendly natural materials(wood, stone, glass, leather, bamboo), which do not contain toxic substances harmful to human health.

Harm

Harmful substances in furniture

Almost all furniture sets from wood, including solid wood, can emit significant amounts of free formaldehyde in the living area of houses. Typical materials used in making furniture include chipboard, MDF (fiberboard) and plywood, which use formaldehyde resins. For wood products, these resins are used as internal adhesives.

Phenol is extremely toxic. It is very quickly absorbed by the skin, through the upper respiratory tract, it easily penetrates the human body and its gastrointestinal tract. Phenol is concentrated in the liver and kidneys. It destroys immune system, has an irritating effect on the mucous membrane of the mouth, nasopharynx, upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract... This effect leads to a runny nose, dizziness, headaches, insomnia, vomiting, shortness of breath.

Inhalation of phenol leads to severe irritation of the mucous membranes, its contact with the skin - burns, and chronic poisoning leads to damage to the liver and kidneys, subsequently to pathogenic changes in the blood.

Most of the sold wooden furniture made from wood materials using urea-formaldehyde resins. They are especially noticeable where fiberboard and particleboard are used - which are the main materials on which plywood or veneer is applied (or, in the case of inexpensive furniture, laminate based on paper or plastic).

Almost all wood composites are created by hot pressing prepared waste. The binder in this process, as a rule, is a phenol-formaldehyde alcohol-soluble resin, which subsequently tends to release formaldehyde in free form, which doctors call "chronic toxin". This volatile substance can have a detrimental effect on human health.

Vapors of formaldehyde irritate the mucous membrane of the eyes and upper respiratory tract (nose and throat), have a harmful effect on the skin and all kinds of allergic reactions. Long-term inhalation of its vapors can lead to:

Headaches
Insomnia
Atypical tiredness
Depression
Asthma

Due to formaldehyde poisoning, the following symptoms appear:

Mucous watery discharge from the nose
Sinus irritation and infection
Bleeding from the nose
Cough and salivation
Sore throat
A rash appears
Nausea
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Chest pain and abdominal pain
Menstrual irregularities
Unnatural thirst

In most apartments, the level of formaldehyde exceeds the norm - instead of the required 0.04-0.06 ppm, its indicators are 0.07-0.09 ppm. Only bathroom or kitchen furniture can raise the level of formaldehyde in a living space to 0.10 ppm or more, especially if it is new.

Benefit

Environmentally friendly furniture

In the manufacture of environmentally friendly furniture, only natural wood (pine, beech, ash, birch, oak) and environmentally friendly PVA-based glue are used.

The production of eco-friendly furniture from solid natural species is accompanied by high-quality wood processing.

Upholstery options for natural, non-electrifying textile fabrics - organic cotton, bamboo, linen, silk, soy. They are grown without the use of pesticides and other chemicals. The production of environmentally friendly materials for these textiles must be certified by OEKO-TEX, Organic Exchange or GOTS, confirming that no harmful chemicals and azo dyes are used in the material.

The longest serving is leather upholstered furniture painted with eco paints.

Cork is quite popular today, lightweight and pleasant to the touch environmentally friendly material. Used for floors and walls. Perfectly absorbs noise, which is especially important for a children's room. Unlike wood, cork does not rot, and also does not burn, without emitting substances hazardous to health into the air.

A mat (mat) can be placed on the floor. It is woven from environmentally friendly natural materials- from cane, flax, coconut fiber. The mat not only protects the floor, but also improves the microclimate in the room.

From natural stone make a countertop in the kitchen, which is very practical, but quite expensive. The most common materials are marble and granite. Onyx, travertine, shale, and limestone are less common.

Ordinary ceramic or glass tiles or mosaics, which are fashionable today, are also environmentally safe.

Environmentally friendly materials for furniture

To protect yourself from the harmful effects of chemicals that evaporate harmful furniture, carefully inspect all your furniture - all scratches and cracks seen on it should be covered with PVA glue, or furniture varnish, polish or paint. Ventilate the rooms where the chipboard furniture is located more often. Disperse chipboard furniture so that it does not accumulate in one place - this can reduce the concentration of toxic substances in the atmosphere of the home.

In order to save money, unscrupulous manufacturers leave the chipboard open in areas that are invisible to the eye (the bottom of the countertops, the internal partitions of the cabinets, the insides of the bedside tables, etc.). Manufacturers who are not indifferent to the health of their customers must cover all surfaces and edges of chipboard protective film or veneer, and all drilled holes they are glued, which at least partially protects against harmful fumes.

When choosing furniture from chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, pay attention that the veneer evenly and tightly covers the furniture around the entire perimeter. But even the highest quality chipboard tables and cabinets can develop cracks and chips on the surface over time. Particle board emits poisons for a very long time - at least 10-15 years. MDF furniture is considered safer. MDF is more expensive than chipboard by about 13-15%.

Formaldehyde is found not only in wood, but also in plastic furniture. Furniture made from plywood and solid wood or all solid wood can also be a significant source of formaldehyde. In this case, oxidizing finishing materials (paints and varnishes, etc.) used in its manufacture, containing urea-formaldehydes, are actively released into the environment, especially during the first six months after application. After most of the volatile formaldehyde has been released (usually a 50 percent or more reduction), indoor levels may be only a fraction of when these products were new.

Solid wood furniture is 10-25% more expensive than MDF (including due to the laboriousness of production and the complexity of processing). In most types of wood, the natural content of formaldehyde is only slightly lower than in chipboard, but in some varieties it reaches 12 mg100g. In the production of solid wood furniture parts, glue, varnishes and stains are used, all of these materials contain formaldehyde, phenol and other chemicals.

Thus, the statement that natural wood furniture is absolutely environmentally friendly is not entirely true. Even solid wood furniture is a source of formaldehyde (it completely evaporates only after 7-12 years). Although a significant decline is expected, the problem does not go away, as one might think. Substantial continuous evolution of formaldehyde can occur as the polymer resin undergoes hydrolytic degradation. For this reason, the release of free formaldehyde from articles with formaldehyde resins can occur indefinitely.

Many consumers believe that wood furniture is completely environmentally friendly and safe, but if the technologies for processing natural wood (alder, pine, etc.) are not followed, the quality of such boards leaves much to be desired, despite their natural origin. In this case alternative option eco-furniture can be made by making furniture boards yourself from wood (pine, beech, alder, birch, oak, etc.).

It can be concluded that in terms of environmental safety, furniture made of MDF or chipboard does not differ significantly from furniture made of solid wood, and is much cheaper at a price. The main difference is which "emission class" of free formaldehyde they belong to. Chipboard and MDF have the same mechanical strength as natural wood. MDF for some mechanical properties may even surpass it, and retain its shape better in terms of variable humidity than solid wood products.

The ideal emission class for eco-furniture in terms of formaldehyde emission is considered to be zero (E0), but such furniture is difficult to find. One (E1) is an acceptable option, two (E2) is average, and three (E3) is hazardous to health.

When buying upholstered furniture, avoid products with foam rubber - over time, it decomposes, which leads to the release of harmful substances.

When buying eco-furniture, give preference to upholstery made from natural, non-electrifying fabrics.

Today, environmentally friendly furniture is quite difficult to find, but more and more people are doing eco-friendly repairs and are interested in materials that are safe for health, although the prices for eco-friendly furniture are an order of magnitude higher than for mass low-quality furniture that emits toxic toxic substances.

Today, chipboard furniture is still quite popular, although it has more practical substitutes, it is inexpensive and thus attracts buyers. The harm of chipboard to health was recognized by the World Health Organization back in 1985. Manufacturers and sellers of particle boards have an opposite opinion: they insist that this decision was politicized and has no evidence base.

Chipboard - particle board. Chipboard is a similar plate, only laminated.

Is there a wolf

The fact is that the composition of the chipboard is shavings and glued with resin, which releases a dangerous carcinogen. The environmental friendliness of chipboard is constantly being improved by prohibiting dangerous types of gluing resins. Uncertified slabs, which are made in semi-legal workshops, are recognized as especially dangerous. Formaldehyde can be released from low-quality products for up to 10 years.

In order to protect the consumer from negative effects on the body, manufacturers cover plates:

KDSP (Laminated): paperless coating method, varnish (melamine) is applied.
Chipboard (Laminated): a method of applying plastic to wood.

The coating really makes sense if it does not have the slightest damage. If you see mechanical damage on laminated furniture, you need to immediately eliminate them. The problem is especially relevant for the furniture of children's rooms.

Experts note a sharp deterioration in the health of people with asthma. Formaldehyde, which is part of the particle board, causes irreparable harm to the respiratory organs (nose, nasopharynx, larynx). negative effect on human skin and nervous system was noted.

Table of the harmful effects of formaldehyde included in the particle board:

How to protect yourself from harm

The harmful properties of chipboard can be reduced by covering all mechanical damage with a resistant material. If the furniture is not sufficiently protected, you will definitely smell the characteristic smell of formaldehyde. One should be alert even if the smell is pleasant to the scent.

When buying, ask the seller for a product certificate. Be sure to pay attention to the class, choose only a product with class E-1, it has the lowest permissible formaldehyde vapor value.

After a week of using such furniture at home, you may no longer feel the smell. However, if after this time a pungent smell is felt, you should immediately contact the seller and, if possible, return the purchased product.

Pros of using

We doubt that any advantages that we describe are capable of making a person still risk health. However, among the advantages are the following features:

Moisture resistance.
Low price.
Ease of handling and application.

We strongly discourage buying furniture made of chipboard. In our opinion, products made from this material can only be used outdoors.

Trying to defend ourselves

According to experts, formaldehyde can be released for up to 14 years. The most active discharge occurs in the first 2 years. We strongly advise against placing furniture close to heaters. Chipboard furniture is harmful to health even without heating, and with an increased temperature of its environment, the harm can increase significantly.

Despite the fact that according to GOST, up to 10 mg of formaldehyde is allowed per 100 grams of dry weight of the material, choose plates of class E1. In this class of products, up to 8 mg of a carcinogen is allowed. Carefully check the corners of your furniture for damage, if any, seal them with insulating materials.

If you see E2 markings on furniture, remove it from your apartment immediately. This marking means that the furniture cannot be used in residential premises. It is illegal to manufacture such items.

conclusions

If you have already decided to buy furniture using chipboard technologies, cooperate only with large companies. Usually, quality certified products are hard to find in small provincial warehouse stores. If your financial situation allows you, you should not save on health, natural furniture much safer.