The seven most common living toxins and their effects

What you should know about home toxins and for a healthy home

The new furniture has been screwed together, the last boxes have been unpacked and the move is finally over. Now it's time to relax and take a deep breath in your new home! Or rather not. Because in newly renovated buildings, new furniture and new buildings, hidden living toxins often lurk. We uncover the worst sources of indoor pollutants for you.

Building products and furniture can contain a veritable cocktail of chemicals that release harmful pollutants into the indoor air for years. It is therefore important to avoid the most important pathogens when building a house and buying new furniture. Making your own four walls completely free of pollutants is almost impossible due to the numerous environmental pollution. However, the pollution should be kept as low as possible and low-emission building materials and furniture should be used.

1. Solvents in paints and varnishes

Solvents are added to paints and varnishes during production to make them spreadable and sprayable. However, these solvents often consist of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate into their environment at room temperature and are absorbed by the human organism through respiration.

The term VOC refers to various individual compounds, some of which can have a carcinogenic effect, for example the carcinogen benzene. At a high concentration, the exhalations of solvents can cause headaches, respiratory diseases, allergies, burning eyes and general malaise.

A long-term overconcentration of harmful volatile organic compounds damages the kidneys, liver, nerves and bone marrow and promotes tumor formation.

When working with paints and varnishes as well as in the drying phase, it is essential to ventilate sufficiently. Since the fabrics can still outgas into the room air weeks after painting, it is essential to use healthy low-emission paints and varnishes when buying.

In addition to paints and varnishes, adhesives, plastic floor coverings, furniture floor coverings and room air fresheners can also contain harmful solvents.

2. Mold in damp rooms and on walls

Mould in the home can be highly hazardous to health, especially for allergy sufferers. It can be responsible for respiratory problems, gastrointestinal diseases, headaches and skin diseases.

Mould is primarily caused by moisture and insufficient ventilation. This is why damp rooms, such as the bathroom, are usually affected. Mold is recognizable by its musty smell. Dark speckles form on the infected objects and walls due to mold. The greatest risk of mould growth is in winter, when moisture accumulates on cold surfaces and walls. Therefore, especially in the cold season, sufficient and evenly distributed throughout the day should be ventilated.

3. Plasticizers in floor coverings

Plasticizers such as phalates, phthalates and nonylphenol are contained in many products, for example in some plasters, paints, plastic objects and floor coverings. Their function is to make hard material more elastic. However, this type of volatile organic compound can cause allergies, infertility and cancer. Through contact with the skin, the pollutants are absorbed by the body. Particular caution is advised especially with cheap PVC floors, which can consist of up to 30 percent plasticizers.

The substances contained in the plasticizers escape mainly through friction, for example by stepping on the floor. The evaporation concentration of the substances contained in the consecrating agents is influenced by many variables, such as temperature, solar radiation, humidity and stress.

4. Formaldehyde in carpets and wood-based materials

Formaldehyde compounds gradually evaporate from materials. For this reason, they permanently pollute indoor air. The pollutant can trigger allergies and lead to irritation of the nasopharynx or the pharyngeal mucosa and the upper respiratory tract, as well as headaches, shortness of breath and nausea. In high doses, formaldehyde may be carcinogenic. Such high concentrations of the pollutant used to be found mainly in plywood and chipboard. In the meantime, however, many wood products are low-emission, so buyers should definitely pay attention to appropriate test seals.

If there are many objects contaminated with formaldehyde in a room, the concentration of the vapours adds up. Carpets and other home textiles are also often contaminated with formaldehyde. Since the pollutant has a strong smell, the living toxin can usually be detected when shopping.

Craftsman rolls out insulation material in the attic

5. Flame retardants in textiles and insulation materials

Flame retardants reduce the flammability of products. They are widely used in the manufacture of upholstered furniture, textiles, insulation materials and electronic devices. Depending on which substances are used, flame retardants can pose a risk to health. While natural flame retardants are usually risk-free, phosphorus or halogen-containing agents can emit dangerous pollutants.

The harmful substances can escape from the products and precipitate in indoor air and house dust, damaging the human nervous system, causing cancer or leading to infertility.

6. Wood preservatives in toys, furniture and roof trusses

Wood preservatives in interior construction are usually a contaminated site. Until the 80s, wood preservatives were treated with the chemicals PCP and lindane. These substances, which have been classified as carcinogenic and nerve-damaging, can pollute indoor air for many years. The chemicals are particularly hazardous to health, for example, in an attic conversion, when toxic dust is stirred up by sanding. This fine dust spreads throughout the house due to improper processing, which also pollutes rooms that do not have direct contact with the pollutants.

In the worst case, the work exposes a layer of wood into which the toxic chemicals have penetrated. In this case, the substances outgas unhindered into the interior. If, for example, the roof is newly insulated, the air exchange is reduced and the pollution increases to a level that is hazardous to health. Especially in old buildings, it is therefore useful to check for wood preservative contamination.

Today's wood preservatives also often emit pollutants that can damage both the nervous system and the skin. Turpentine oil, for example, is often added to varnishes and oils. Terpenes, which are a natural component of conifers, can cause skin allergies and headaches, and inhaling the toxic substance also irritates the mucous membranes. In many indoor spaces, wood preservatives can generally be dispensed with. If their use is absolutely necessary, you should use a solvent- and terpene-free product.

7. Pesticide in upholstered furniture and carpets

Moths not only infest clothing, but also like to nest in upholstered furniture and carpets. Many pieces of furniture are therefore pre-treated with appropriate protective agents during production. However, what is not good for insects can also harm humans. This is because many moth repellents contain pyrethroids.

Although the neurotoxins are banned in agriculture, they may be used in the household. Their exhalations are absorbed through breathing and can cause headaches, nausea and dizziness. Substances in building materials that have a preventive effect against mold and bacteria are similarly harmful. Buyers should therefore rather use untreated products, prevent mold through sufficient ventilation and provide natural moth protection, such as lavender sachets.

How to protect yourself from indoor toxins in your home

Trusting the nose: A first warning sign of a high concentration of pollutants can be the typical "new smell". If, for example, new furniture stinks, this is an indication that it is emitting volatile organic compounds. Intensive ventilation is therefore recommended, especially in the first few days after purchase. If the new smell does not disappear after a few weeks, you should think about making a complaint.
Cachet: When buying or renovating, make sure that you only use healthy building materials and furnishings. When planning your construction project, be sure to consult an expert to find the lowest-emission solution.
Air: Regular air exchange is essential, especially in well-insulated houses. If no ventilation system provides fresh air, the North Rhine-Westphalia Consumer Advice Centre recommends opening the windows for five to ten minutes at least three to four times a day for shock ventilation.
Avoid toxic substances: The pollutant load in furniture, toys and cleaning agents can be high, as well as in building materials. Appropriate certifications and information on ingredients help to make the right choice and avoid unhealthy products.
Provide clarity: The pollutant load indoors can be determined by an indoor air analysis. Experts can also help identify the worst sources of pollutants.