Sources of Home Pollution

From an environmental perspective, construction materials can be divided into a harmonious and inharmonious. Inharmonious call those materials whose presence has a negative effect on people. Harmonious materials can be regarded as those which are widespread in nature. Observed between the prevalence of persistent pattern of material and its hazards and toxicity. For example: water, earth (ground) are not toxic, but are relatively rare elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium, very dangerous for living organisms. According to this law, for the construction of dwellings is better to use raw materials that are widely available. In a soft, damp climate of the forested areas the best material is wood. In hot dry areas – soil and clay, in cold mountain areas of the most common stone.
Until overdeveloped industrial builders chose widespread harmonious materials. Technology development has expanded the range of materials and structures. Industrial approach to construction has led to a proliferation of roads and construction materials. Now rarely refers to the traditional materials, if it is possible to use modern. Aesthetics and practical application – is one side of the coin, but you need to pay attention to the opposite – environmentally friendly material.

Portland cement at first glance – the ideal building material. Frozen concrete obtained is extremely strong, durable, dense, heavy material that is better not to apply for walls and ceilings of a house. Hardened cement “is not breathing, do not miss elektric waves atmosphere deflects and enhances electromagnetic waves.

REINFORCED CONCRETE (reinforcing  metal concrete) has an even more undesirable for housing characteristics. Rods and mesh reinforcement of reinforced concrete buildings shield the electromagnetic radiation. Reinforced concrete “crushes” on people in such facilities people get tired more quickly. Filler concrete mixture significantly affects environmental performance, and the room is set uncomfortable micro-climate – construction can not pass air in the firing process, learned the cement poisons, or as a placeholder for the heavy concrete used in rocks with high levels of radiation. Heavy granite gravel, lava rock, with high natural radiation and density, have been, “do not breathe.”

Synthetic materials and plastics, which are increasingly used in housing construction – the majority are not environmentally friendly materials. The use of metal in the individual building should be minimized, since the construction of metal bend natural magnetic background and cosmic radiation.

Metal Coatings – a classic example of the dangerous building material. As the solvent dries the particles of the paint layer into the air space, settling on the objects, food. Many recorded cases of poisoning of children, toys that were coated with paints containing mercury and lead. Go to alkyd based paints eliminates the problem of heavy metals, but the question arises about the ecology of other chemical additives.

Synthetic paints when dry emit noxious fumes. Drying takes place not only in the first hours and days, but over the years. For example, one of the components of modern inks – PVC – decomposes at normal room temperature, when exposed to air and especially when in contact with the sun-rays. In the air evaporates hydrochloride, which is getting into the respiratory tract, creating an acidic environment. Polyvinyl chloride can easily penetrate through the skin and cause adverse effects on blood and liver. Vinyl tile and linoleum emit toxic gases into the air, because in the process of evaporation on the surface it appears that its effects on the skin and eyes (when you touch or dust) is not just irritation. When inhaled, particles of this material come into the mix with a protein in the lungs and eventually change its structure as a result of developing eczema lungs. Polivinil flooring and walls, synthetic dyes are materials that are hazardous to health and the environment, their application in housing should be limited.

Sheetrock and GLUED WOOD heavily saturated with synthetic adhesive joints. Polymers are used to enhance their water resistance and as an adhesive. In the production of plastics in the material remains and gradually fading formaldehyde, phenol and other chemical compounds that have adverse effects on respiratory, blood and immune system of a person in the room, decorated with synthetic materials. Static electricity, accumulated on plastic surfaces, not only affects the heart and nervous activity, but also enhances the penetration of toxic synthetic compounds and their accumulation in the form of dust. Dust becomes a haven for microbes. Synthetic plastic coatings contribute to the emergence of lung disease (including pneumonia). In the spring, with high humidity, a man walking on the synthetic floor, can generate an electric charge in the thousands of volts per 1 m2.
It should be very careful about the choice of synthetic materials for the home. Plastics in the kitchen easier cleaning, no spoils from the heat, acids, and mechanical damage. Wall materials do not lend themselves to decay and insects, but emit unpleasant fumes when heated. In general, should strive to use organic, environmentally-friendly materials of natural origin.

FURNITURE. External perfection of fashionable furniture is deceptive – hygienists revealed its serious flaws. The most pernicious: it emits into the air too toxic because of overuse of furniture designers and industrial polymers, inks and varnishes. Sami chipboard, the foundation of new furniture items, contain many synthetic adhesive.
New furniture “bestows” of their respective owners aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, acids, ethers, phenols, amines, tsianit, ultimately, unsaturated, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, mercaptans … Particularly harmful to humans Provide furniture formaldehyde, vinyl chloride, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate, atsetonatril, acrylonitrile, chloroform, styrene, benzene, carbon disulfide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, geksanal, ethylene dichloride, acetophenone, acetone, benzaldehyde, xylene, tetrachlorethylene, methylamine, ethylamine, and even with ten substances. Of the substances for which there are hygiene regulations, most toxic formaldehyde, hydrogen sulfide, acrylonitrile, acetophenone, styrene, acetaldehyde and xylene.
Due to chemical reactions in the air, new material, its toxicity greater than the original. Recall, for example, photochemical smog, when a relatively low-toxic vehicle exhaust gases in the atmosphere produced toxic peroxides, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, … Chemical reactions in the air of rooms, unfortunately, contributes to the relative tightness of dwellings, especially in winter.
In comparison with urban air pollution in apartments, cluttered shining headsets, the number of toxins is higher in 4 – 6 times. In addition to indoor furniture, there are other sources of harmful substances – from linoleum to the man himself. Throw in cooking and washing. However, the most harmful substances allocates furniture – 70 – 90%. Number of toxicants depend on the specific area or mass of polymeric materials in furniture, their physical and chemical characteristics and temperature, humidity and air mobility in the apartment. Some types of current furniture, such as walls, pollute the air very much.
In addition to general air pollution occur furniture and local pollution in the closed cavities – cabinets, kitchen table … Air pollution in these containers is monstrous – 3000 – 6000 MAC, that is, the air was harmless to the body, it must be the same times diluted with clean air. At the plant or factory is so severe contamination would be considered an emergency requiring immediate action. At home or in a facility very few people care about how it will affect the human body. Meanwhile, cases of severe poisoning, when the kids during the game hiding in a closet.
And yet another disaster. Excessive release of toxic substances during combustion of fashionable furniture is very dangerous fire. During a fire, the current sets of furniture saturate the air with hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, chlorobenzene, phenol, ethylene oxide, tetrafluoroethylene, ftorfosgenom, nitrogen oxides and other insidious substances. From such a “cocktail” man can not adequately assess the situation and quickly loses consciousness. Investigate the deaths in fires indicate that 86% of the victims lost their lives due to aerotoksikatsii.
Some people think that the smell emanating from the furniture can be neglected. But not the smell of danger and harmful compounds that smell like little or no smell. Contamination of indoor air affects not immediately. At first, a little worse health and weakened attention. Then there is heaviness in the head, begin to pester headaches and dizziness. In the eyes also felt discomfort, gradually rising blood pressure, worsening sleep, increased irritability, decreases mental and physical performance. There are also internal symptoms, increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, decreased immunobiological potential of the organism. And with all this rising incidence of acute respiratory infections, pharyngitis, bronchitis, chronic and acute pneumonia, asthma, conjunctivitis, otitis, dermatitis, hypertension, and various allergies.
Children are more likely than adults plagued by bronchitis, dermatitis, pneumonia, asthma, conjunctivitis, eye disease. Do not be surprised – have recently obtained strong evidence that to an increasingly gaining strength infant myopia involved in formaldehyde and other toxic substances that evolved from the furniture.
Need to think carefully – is it worth parting with things, “faithfully” serve our fathers and grandfathers. Indeed, following the fashion, we turn their homes, besides a lot of money in something like a gas vans.

Noise pollution. Auditory perception is a powerful signal system, the second destination after the visual. In the inner ear contains about 25 thousand cells that respond to the noise fluctuations.
Noise interferes with normal rest and recuperation, disrupts sleep. Noise pollution is growing. Industrial and transportation noise, household appliances, radio and television create a powerful sonic attack on our bodies. Some scholars compare the deleterious effects of loud sounds and noise on the body with high levels of radiation.
Continuous noise alters the rhythm of breathing and cardiac activity, impairs visual acuity, slow mental reactions and can even cause disease of the stomach. In a noisy environment people become nervous, irritable and does not leave a deep sense of causeless discontent. In the work of staff errors creep, and even simple problems are solved at the expense of great mental stress.
Strong unpleasant sound and noise, the value of the volume of which exceeds 80 decibels, which affect health: increased blood pressure and adrenaline in the blood, causing heart rhythm disturbances. Prolonged exposure to intense noise leads to deafness. Very strong sound (180 dB) can break the eardrum.
Designers of one of the Swedish firms have developed a pocket dosimeter noise, running in the range 80 – 120 decibels. It registers gradually accumulated dose of noise and signals the person about his instant rise, rolling dangerous for hearing limit.
Ability to keep quiet – an indicator of human culture and its respect for others. Silence is needed for people just like the sun and fresh air.
Background radiation.
Under the background radiation is commonly understood as the ionizing radiation from natural sources of cosmic and terrestrial origin, as well as artificial radionuclides dispersed in the biosphere by human activity. Distinguish between natural (natural) background radiation, technological change, natural background radiation and artificial radiation background due to radioactive products of nuclear explosions, radiation accidents.

Natural background. Natural radionuclides (NRN) are present in all environmental media and in the human body. Ionizing radiation creates ERN background radiation, to which the humanity is subjected to during the entire period of its existence. K ERN include elements uranium, thorium family: uranium-238 and its decay products (radium-226, radon-222 (gas), thorium-232, potassium-40 and carbon 14, tritium, calcium-48, rubidium-87 and etc.).
Technological change the natural background radiation is the ionizing radiation from natural sources which have undergone some change as a result of human activity. For example, the radiation of natural radionuclides entering the biosphere, together with the lessons from the Earth’s minerals, due to the combustion products of fossil fuel and as a result of radiation in premises constructed of natural materials containing natural radionuclides (radium, thorium and potassium).

Artificial radiation background due to scattered in the biosphere artificial radionuclides (nuclear testing, Chernobyl accident, etc.). Before the Chernobyl accident contribution of artificial radioactivity in the exposure of the population across the globe added to the natural only 1-3%. After the Chernobyl accident, this ratio has changed.
Normal background radiation area depends on the composition of soil and underlying rocks, latitude and altitude. For example, in mountainous areas radioactivity may be higher than on flat terrain, due to the increased radiation of rocks and cosmic rays.
To radionuclides of artificial origin are the elements formed in the reactor or a nuclear explosion. For people caught up in the zone of radioactive contamination, is set to the entire set of radionuclides, including a large number of short-lived elements. First of all you need to know what the content in foods of long-lived radionuclides cesium-137, strontium-90 (the period of their lives lasts about 30 years). Foods in these cases are a major source of human exposure (see “Note!”).
Humanity awaits, and other unseen dangers. Now becoming increasingly important for the control of some elements of natural radioactivity. From the standpoint of human exposure, the greatest threat is the uranium-thorium ERN family (radium-226, radon-222, thorium-232) and K-40. According to estimates of the Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, the inhabitants of industrialized countries, conducting on the premises approximately 80% of the time, get up to 70% of the total radiation dose ERN, tempered by life. The contribution of radon up to 50%. Direct sources of ERN can be used building materials with high content of radioactive substances, and soil (radon often accumulates in the ground floors of buildings, entering from the soil).
It is now universally implemented measures to control the radioactivity of building materials and content of radon in dwellings. Adopted by the relevant regulations, a program for the study of natural radioactivity.
The main radionuclides, dropped out due to an accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, are iodine-131, cesium-137, strontium-90. These same elements are present in the area of nuclear sites.
Iodine-131 dropped out and have an adverse effect in the early days of the accident. Now have to contend with the consequences of exposure – hyperplasia (enlarged thyroid gland and its hyperactivity). In folk medicine, this disease (goiter) can be successfully treated with herbs.
Cesium-137 disrupt metabolism. To withdraw its help medicinal herbs that promote the normalization of metabolism and diuretic drugs that can remove radioactive isotopes through the kidneys, and diaphoretic.
Strontium-90 accumulates in the bones, has a half life of 30 years. Enters the body mainly from milk and dairy products. Bring him the hardest, as in bone metabolic processes are slow. Irradiating the bone marrow, strontium affects the circulatory system.
Radioactive products. In areas of radioactive fallout (accidents at nuclear power plants, nuclear explosions), most of cesium-137 accumulates in cereal grains. In meat, milk and fruit it a bit smaller and very little in the vegetables. Conclusion: Limit consumption of bakery foods and eat as many vegetables, preferably roots.
Herbs and plants should be collected away from the freeways, railroads, landfills. Cut grass only need stainless steel knife, in a porcelain dish feeding, glass or enamelware.
In heavily infested areas is not recommended to breastfeed babies – milk coats the radionuclides and remove them from the organism in the mammary gland of the mother. Sometimes together with colostrum child can receive a lethal dose. Nurture children need donor milk from a clean area, or transfer them to artificial feeding.
Cancers caused by high doses of radiation, most often seen in 20 years. Not to rest, take care of the body from radiation.
Rules for measuring gamma-background household dosimeters
Before proceeding to the measurement of radioactivity with the help of domestic dosimeter, you must:
• read the instruction defining the rules for operating the device;
• hold a series of measurements in the area (neighborhood, city, district) to establish the values and fluctuations of the local natural background. The measurements were conducted on an open area at a distance of not less than 30 meters from the buildings at a height of 1 meter;
• the measurement of gamma-ray background from different objects are considered only the testimony of a natural background. In residential buildings may be exceeded over a natural background up to 33 mR / h (30 mkber / hour), and in some cases up to 60 mR / h.
Rules for measuring specific activity of radionuclides household dosimeters
Radioactivity is measured by household food dosimeters have for this special devices (cell). Before proceeding with measurements, you must:
1. Read the instruction manual instrument.
2. Produce a series of measurements with an empty cell.
3. Produce a series of measurements with known pure products, thus obtaining the background value.
4. When measuring samples of interest evaluation is performed in comparison with background rates. Prosperous can be considered such factors as the specific radioactivity of food products is less than n × 10 – 8 Ci / kg.
5. If the testimony at the 10 – 7 10 – 6 Ci / kg should consult a specialist. Please note that the contents of kaliya40 (natural radionuclide) is not standardized.
It should also be aware that a number of products (apricots, raisins, beans) have in their composition of high potassium content, in connection with which these products can provide a certain excess above the “background”.