Risk in the home from the volatiles

Earlier this year, Huong eager family moved to new home construction in District 7, HCMC. This is the result of her husband after nearly six months of construction. But excited about the initial decline partly because the new paint smell. Her family always feel claustrophobic discomfort during the first week.

Cleaning more harmful to health and / Watch out for the cleaners cause asthma in children

Quynh Huong and her two case studies involving a group of volatile organic compounds, commonly known with the name of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds).

We present in many products we use every day such as detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, air fresheners, building materials (paint, laminated wood, waterproof glue) ...

Not only are present in everyday products, but some habits such as cooking, cleaning, printing, tobacco, photo documentation ... can also generate VOCs. One point worth noting is that although these substances are quite common presence all around us, but not always be able to identify them. The reason, some of these VOCs have no odor and the smell is not the main factors reflect the degree of its impact on health and the environment.

Dr. Cu Thanh Son - Deputy Director Center for Devices and Analysis of Chemical Sciences of the Institute of Applied Materials Science, VOCs are a group of organic compounds volatile. The organic matter in this group can affect human health if regularly exposed to high concentrations, in a short time such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, nasal irritation.

More seriously, if regularly exposed to high concentrations of VOCs in the long run it will increase the chance of getting chronic diseases such as cancer, liver damage, kidney and central nervous system. It should be noted that indoor concentrations of VOCs are higher concentrations in the external environment is high (from 2 to 5 times).

Mr Son said, because the harmful effects of VOCs on human health and the environment, the developed countries like the U.S., and Europe has made strict regulations on the security level of this substance in the product group products.

In order to encourage manufacturers to make safe products, governments have implemented certification program label products have little or no VOCs easy for consumers to choose from. Want to import products into the country above must be tested by reputable assessment organization.

Do common VOCs exist in the environment can not completely eliminate them from your life. However, experts recommend reducing exposure to sources of VOCs produced, as well as perform some simple ways to limit their impact on health such as:

- Regularly cleaning the house, keep their homes clean and clear for increased air convection;

- Limit smoke and smell of cigarette smoke;

- To prioritize the use of products with little or no VOCs;

- Comply with manufacturer's instructions when using household products, building materials and promptly dispose of bottles of chemicals used.