1. Why are the air in our apartments other times is equally polluted as the air on a busy highway?
2. What furniture is better for health and what's worse?!
3. What is important to consider when buying furniture.

- WHAT SMELLS?!

A strong smell from the new furniture is usually not one week, and even a month nice reminds about the purchase. But we are not always thinking about, what really we breathe, sitting at the newly purchased table or near the new headset.

The result of research on this topic is not too joyful. In many cases, "evaporation", emanating from new chipboard furniture, DVP, etc. - is the most real fleet. In terms of its composition, the air in a recently furnished room is so polluted that it is like breathing - it's like breathing automotive at the busy track in the rush hour!

Most chipboard, fiberboard, MDF, polymers, paints and varnishes, which are used in the manufacture of mass furniture, generously giving us all sorts of poisons: here and phenol, and formaldehyde, and ammonia, and benzene, and from a dozen poisonous substances. It should be noted that the Fiberboard is often less toxic than the chipboard, but still they can "submit" over the norm, over the MPC.

And we, except for furniture, in the rooms already enough toxic materials like linoleum, plastic panels or ceilings, etc.

As a result, for their own money, together with the new interior, we acquire new problems: with a dream, immunity, headaches, in worst cases - Orz, bronchitis, asthma, conjunctivitis, allergies, dermatitis ...

By the way, the children from this suffer more than adults. For example, a link between formaldehyde, released from furniture, and children's myopia, which lately meets more and more.

How to buy furniture is not harmful to yourself

1. Prefer natural wood

The most eco-friendly is, of course, furniture of natural tree . Especially when we are talking About the bed or about bedroom furniture. Although there may be reservations: Important, whether the tree grew somewhere in the Chernobyl area, it is important than glue, which varnish covered, etc. But this, in general, the little things compared to the wardrobe or cheap bed choppers, in which the concentration of highlighted phenol formaldehydes is often higher than the maximum permissible.

In general, natural tree is the topic of a separate big conversation. After all, in our time, the furniture makes and buy not on the century, as before. On the contrary, for many it has already become normal to update the interior, it's how to update clothes or hairstyle. And in the case of furniture from natural wood Such a "Race of Update" will very quickly lead to the final deforestation of those forestswhich still remain on the planet.

Therefore, we are not going to agitate only for furniture made of natural wood.

2. And if you still prefer a cabinet or a bed from chipboard, fiberboard, MDF?

If you still decide to buy furniture from chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, then you will demand a quality certificate (or certificate of conformity) and hygienic conclusion from the seller. Make sure that the formaldehyde highlighting indicators correspond to the GATA or the European standard E1 (E2 - worse, because it allows for a stronger separation of toxic substances).

Manufacturers who think about the health of their buyers are necessarily facing all surfaces and edgesChipboard protective film or veneer, and all drilled holes rush. This at least partially protects against harmful evaporation. Choosing furniture from chipboard, fiberboard or MDF, pay attention to it.

3 more things that are useful to take into account when updating the interior

In any case, it is advisable not to update all the furniture at once, but do it slowly, in parts. It is quite reasonable: and the pocket will hit less, and you will not once again experience your health "for strength."

If you still decided to replace all the furniture in the room or apartment at once, then it makes sense first time more often This room I. smaller in it.

And if you have an old good quality wooden furnitureand it is not damaged by fungus and other pests, then maybe the best way - This is not to buy anything at all, but just leave old? Moreover, it can be renovated.

Anyway, everyone chooses that it is more important to it - update the interior at any cost or maintain health.

Children's furniture Ledsp. - You can hear about her many contradictory opinions. Someone considers such interior items absolutely harmless, but for someone it is synonymous with the strongest poison.

Children's furniture LDSP: harmful or not?

Children's furniture Ledsp- You can hear about her many contradictory opinions. Someone considers such interior items absolutely harmless, but for someone it is synonymous with the strongest poison. Modern manufacturers offer customers wide assortment Furniture made precisely from this material. In addition, the price of it is very attractive to its availability. Therefore, the issue of harm to children's furniture LDSP and is worth attention.

Children's furniture LDSP: What is the emission class

LDSP (laminated wood chip) - a material that is characterized by high strength, beautiful shades and low cost. This combination of properties made it incredibly popular. However, not all parents know about such a concept as a class of emission. This is the percentage ratio of formaldehyde resins, which are allocated from the plane into the air. Why is this harmful thing there? The fact is that in the process of manufacturing plates, glue is used, which necessarily contains this substance. Formaldehyde itself is a carcinogenic substance capable of causing serious damage to health. In large doses, it causes oncological diseases and severe allergic reactions. Formaldehyde resins are contained in LDSP. But in quantities that cannot harm health. Children's furniture LDSP has advantages over chipboard, since a layer of laminate (provided that it is high-quality) does not allow to get harmful toxins into the atmosphere of the room.

Determining the issue of emission can help the buyer with the acquisition of truly safe furniture For your beloved baby. LDSP and chipboard, designated by the "E0" marking represent the most desirable version of the materials. The percentage of formaldehyde is extremely small. Such material can still call a medical chipboard, since it is used in medical institutions. In therapeutic institutions use, made and environmentally friendly safe Materials. Material is made mainly by foreign manufacturers. Domestic factories offer their customers materials class "E1". Here the content of harmful substances is quite small. Classes "E2" and "E3" are extremely undesirable as raw materials for use in residential premises. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers are honest with their customers. Therefore, if you can not provide certificates of quality and documents to you when buying in the store or in the factory confirming the environmental standards of materials, refuse such a purchase.

No matter how little price is and, as if attractively, there was a children's furniture in LDSP, without documents confirming the quality, you acquire a slowdown poison to your hot to your beloved child. When buying inexpensive pieces of furniture in the bedroom to the child, it is worth turning to remove the factory workers.

Children's furniture LDSP: Correct cutting edge

And what to do with the materials of the class "E1"? After all, they have formaldehyde resins, albeit in small quantities. Here, conscientious manufacturers also found a way out. This is sticking edges. It should be well glued, because it is assigned not only aesthetic role. How to determine the quality of the edge and cuts? Carefully inspect ready product. All the ends of the parts should be neatly cut off, without chipping and cracks. Such a marriage not only gives output formaldehyde, but also worsens appearance Furniture, reducing its service life. The edge must be processed all the details even in places that are not visible. For example, removable shelves must be saved from all sides, including the one that is located to the back of the cabinet or the cabinet wall. The edge is a reliable barrier that does not allow harmful substances to penetrate the air, which baby breathes.

Probably there is not a single person who at least once would have come across the chipboard. This material is used in different areas (Construction, finishing and decorative work), from it produces furniture of the middle and economy segment and much more. Because of the special composition, it is often classified as unreasonable and unsafe materials. But how bad is harmful to health? Let's try to figure out.

What is chipboard. Characteristics and features

The chipboard is a composite consisting of a mixture of sawdust and thermosetting resins. The raw material passes several stages of production and is pressed under the pressure of the hot way. After cooling, cuts into the plates of various dimensions.

The density differences the chipboard:

• extra small indicators - 350-450 kg / cube. m., (production of furniture buildings, heat and noise insulation);
• small - 450-650 kg / cube. m., (manufacture of facades frame method and repair of buildings, draft coatings);
• average level - 650-750 kg / cube. m.;
• high degree - 700-800 kg / cube. m., (applied to roofing, foundation, production of large-format furniture).

The structure of the chipboard may vary depending on the destination. These are single-layer plates, three-layer (on external layers The fraction is smaller than inside) and multi-layered (the size of the sawdust layerly decreases from the middle to surfaces).

By degrees of moisture resistance, you can allocate:

• conventional plates withstanding average air humidity within 30-50%;
• Moisture-resistant, containing polymer or paraffin additives, which makes it possible to operate material with humidity up to 80%.

An important fact: like any product, chipboard is marked in accordance with the past selection and division on the variety. The first category includes products that meet all the requirements for the quality of raw materials, stability stability, etc. The chipboard with lower parameters and defects on the facial part refers to the second class and most often sent to the construction sphere.

In the pluses of chipboard:

1. High compressive strength and bending. Fasteners perfectly holds in the plates;
2. Ease of processing, including exterior decoration. Staining, varnishing, lamination, veneering, and so on;
3. Impaired and moisture resistance;
4. Wide size row. The length of the material varies from 1.8 to 5.6 m, width is 0.4 to 2.5 m, and the thickness is from 3 mm to 40 mm.
5. Low price.

From minuses, we note:

• The impossibility of using various techniques figured processing, including milling, complex parts and other;
• Acute edges. Whatever paradoxically, but the furniture from DSP is almost always attempting, since the rare manufacturer tries to round the edges or treat the soft edge p-shaped ribbon;
• The second time the hardware is very difficult to install in the body of the plate. It will be necessary adhesive mixes type " cold welding", Epoxy plastic masses;
• Permanent allocation of poisonous volatile compounds (formaldehyde and others). When a certain concentration is reached (limit content), they can cause negative consequences For the body. This is typical for a second-rate material.

It is the last minus that makes you think, and does the chipboard cause harm to others, and is not dangerous to buy furniture from it, facing the walls, floors, ceilings.

Harm of chipboard: myth or reality

The state and supervisory services are presented to products widely used in everyday life and construction, high requirements safety. Furniture, finishing and other household and considerable items should be made from the material secure for the population.

What does this have to do with the chipboard? The most direct one. In the production of plates, melamine, carbamide-formaldehyde or phenol formaldehyde resins are used as a binder. As a result of certain reactions, the chipboard almost constantly allocates a poisonous volatile compound - formaldehyde.

His harm does not even need to prove once again - it is officially recognized as a carcinogen, which, with constant impact at a certain concentration (percentage in the air), is able to cause various disorders, poisoning, illness, including not innocuous dermatitis and dangerous cancer.

However, it will not be possible to get rid of this incredibly harmful substance. Even wooden furniture or finish contains a certain number of related compounds of formaldehyde, phenol, benzene, which can already talk about such a favorite plastic we used in all areas - from household appliances to constantly used dishes.

According to Russian and European law, the maximum permissible content of formaldehyde in the air for the chipboard was determined by the emission class:

• E1 - no more than 8 mg per 100 grams. dry chipboard inclusive;
• E2 - up to 30 mg inclusive.

These indicators depend not only on the quality of raw materials, but also from external processing. Harm can be significantly reduced if the emission area is reduced. To do this, it is enough to bind a leaf with a laminated film from all sides, and the ends are separated by the edge ribbon.

Furniture for residential sector, commercial and other institutions is made from the plates of the first category. Material with a minimum indicator and comprehensive facing can be used to release a children's or hospital environment.

Second-class slabs without exterior decoration It is allowed to apply only to repair for decorative and finishing cladding. Otherwise, the harm of the basic material is manifested in the deterioration of well-being, the appearance of headaches, attacks of asthma, signs of poisoning and other consequences.

The chipboard plants are well aware of this, so in the range there are always products with different grades of emissions. Another thing is that the manufacturers of economy-class furniture are not always used in the manufacture of their products appropriate raw materials. But it is easy to check:

1. Carefully inspect the surface and faces of the furniture - if the film is bubble, and the ends are not closed, then most likely the cladding is self-made, not factory, therefore, plates that do not correspond to regulations are used;
2. After unpacking, pay attention to the smell. A sharp, literally knocking on the "plastic" smell of formaldehyde testifies to the low quality of the DSP used;
3. Ask for certificates. There is nothing enough to demand a sanitary and hygienic conclusion from the supplier, on the back of which necessarily indicates the normative and practical allocation of formaldehyde compounds, as well as the period of testing and the certificate validity period.

The damage of formaldehyde resins is proved, but this does not mean that it is necessary to completely abandon the chipboard. It is rather responsible to approach the selection of products produced from chipboard and not save on their own health.

Replacement natural materials The man-made analogue has become a familiar practice for a person. Horregious natural wood And the explicit lack of it during the time of construction booms led engineers, chemists and technologists to create similar material - wood-chipboard.

Where and when did the chipboard appear?

Little to know that the "birth" chipboard could not happen, since any wood sawdust In the first quarter of the 20th century in Europe, it was used exclusively for the manufacture of heating briquettes. Thus, these were waste applicable only for housing heating.

But already in the 30s, the situation has changed: work began on the manufacture of composite building material from sawdust and bonding substance. Then the first practical experiences appeared.

A new direction has evolved quickly. During the Second World War, Plywood has already been used, but due to the shortage of building materials, the price has increased sharply. The German Max Himmeltebere since the beginning of the thirties actively experimented with a chipped composite, the experiments brought the result. Inexpensive material The technology was created, and in the 40s in Germany began mass production of chipboard.

There was no routine interruptions: for production it was used for the production of non-wood and any waste from the sawmill. The binding components were phenolic resins, Himmelgebere concluded that they are ideal for the formation of a durable composite slab. Inexpensive and possessing excellent technical characteristics The material became popular all over the world. Temporary housing is built from it, they are used to decorate residential buildings and offices, produce high-quality furniture.

The ability to improve certain qualities of chipboard even more expanded the scope of their use: moisture-proof material Suitable for the kitchen and bathroom, are in demand and resistant to ignition plates.

Phenol formaldehyde resin and health harm

The first reaction of our ancestors to achieve chemot scientists was joy from the possibility of using progressive technologies, the desire to make them easier to make them easier. Subsequently, it turned out that some of the technologies not only facilitated life, but also significantly shortened it. Therefore, today every product manufactured by people is checked for toxicity, environmental safety.

• One of the substances, the relation to which is ambiguous - phenol formaldehyde resin. Having great importance For industry (high strength, corrosion resistance), it has toxic components - phenol and formaldehyde. The greatest damage from their impact can be obtained by employees of enterprises where products with phenol and formaldehydes are produced, provided that they do not use individual protection. During curing in adhesive resins, oligomeric fragments are sewn with the participation of free phenol. As a result, the content of phenol decreases to trace amounts that allow sanitary norms RF.

When the chipboard began to be used everywhere, filling the niches traditionally occupied by others. building materials (wooden board, more expensive plywood, other), losing market manufacturers, attracting ecologists, began to publish materials, harming the reputations of the manufacturers of the chipboard.

Over time, standards are changing, technologies are improved.

In times, when the dangers of phenols did not think, the percentage of their content in the adhesive mixture was higher than today. The standards have changed with increasing awareness.

Today, there is hardly a house or office where the chipboard is not used. This is explained by its advantages:

• acceptable price;
• smooth, smooth surfaces;
• strength, homogeneity, the material is not resolve, does not twist, does not dry;
• short opportunities for use.

So, is it harmful to furniture from chipboard?

On the human body Many factors are affected daily: emissions industrial enterprises, resins and nicotine from cigarettes, car exhaust gases, background that creates electronics, components household chemicals And cosmetics, others. The smallest damage to a person shall be selected by the volatile components of the resin from the furniture. Moreover, some tree species evaporate harmful substances in the same amount as the Class E1 chipboard.

Rumors about the dangers of using a high-quality chipboard - no more than specifying consumer anxiety and conviction that everything created by the help of chemistry is harmful.

How to choose high-quality and safe material?

The key to the preservation of health is the use of certified materials. Regardless of how the DSP variety is used, it is equipped with labeling about how the emission class is on the release of free formaldehyde refers:

• E1 - 100 grams of the composite allocates no more than 10 mg of flying substance (the content of formaldehyde in the chipboard within the permissible norm). In Russia and abroad from this material it is allowed to make furniture for children's rooms and premises, where people are constantly being;
• E2 - marking, which speaks of the inadmissibility of the application of plates in children's and residential premises.

To date, furniture from chipboard are still quite popular, although it has more practical substitutes it is inexpensive and this attracts buyers. Harm chipboard for health was recognized by the World Health Organization back in 1985. Opposite opinion Manufacturers and sellers of chipboard: They insist, this solution was paid and has the evidence-based database.

Chipboard - chipboard. LDSP is a similar plate, only laminated.

Is there a wolf

As and chipboard is dangerous with potential formaldehyde. This substance officially recognized by carcinogen. Studies have proven that the excess of the formaldehyde rate in the medium is able to cause cancer. The same problem has a material Fiberboard.

The fact is that the composition of the chipboard is chips and a cleaned resin, which highlights a dangerous carcinogen. The environmental friendliness of the chipboard is constantly trying to improve the forbidden hazardous species Gluing resin. Especially dangerous recognized unattended plates, which are made in semi-legal workshops. From low-quality products, formaldehyde may stand up to 10 years.

In order to protect the consumer from negative impacts on the body. Prioritians cover the plates:

• KDSP (compatible): a paperless coating method, varnish (melamine) is applied.
• LDSP (laminated): The method of applying plastic on wood.

The coating really makes sense if it has neither the slightest damage. If you see mechanical damage on laminated furniture, then you need to immediately eliminate them. Especially relevant is the problem for furniture of children's rooms.

Specialists note a sharp deterioration in the state of health in people suffering from Asthma. Formaldehyde which is part of the DSP causes irreparable harm to the respiratory authorities (nose, nasopharynk, larynx). Noted negative impact on the skin I. nervous system man.

Table of harmful effects of formaldehyde part of the chipboard:

How to protect yourself from harm

Harmful properties of chipboard can be reduced to closing all mechanical damage persistent material. If the furniture is not protected enough - you will definitely feel the characteristic smell of formaldehyde. It is necessary to alert even if the smell is enjoyable for the scent.

When buying, demand a certificate for products from the seller. Be sure to pay attention to the class, choose only the product with the E-1 class, in it permissible value Formaldehyde vapor is the smallest.

After a week of using such furniture at home you can no longer be smell. However, if at this time there is a sharp smell, you need to immediately contact the seller and, if possible, return the purchased goods.

Pluses of use

We doubt that any advantages that we describe can make a person still draw health. However, among the advantages identify such features:

• Moisture resistance.
• Low price.
• Ease of processing and application.

We strongly do not recombine buy furniture from chipboard. In our opinion, the product from this material You can only use outdoors.

We try to defend

According to experts, formaldehyde is able to stand out for up to 14 years. The most active allocations occur in the first 2 years. We categorically not advise to put furniture close to heaters.Furniture from the chipboard is harmful to health and without heating, and with an increased temperature of the surrounding environment, harm may increase at times.

Despite the fact that according to GOST, up to 10 mg of formaldehyde per 100 grams of dry mass of the material are allowed, choose the Class E1 slabs. In this product class, up to 8 mg of carcinogen is allowed. Carefully check the corners of your furniture for damage if they are detected to flash them with insulating materials.

If you see on the furniture labeling type E2 - immediately remove it from your apartment. This marking means that the furniture cannot be used in residential premises. The manufacture of such objects is illegal.

findings

If you decide to buy furniture with application of chipboard technologies, cooperate only with large companies. Usually, high-quality certified products are hard to find in small provincial warehouse shops. If you make the financial situation - you should not save on health, natural furniture Much safer.