Building and finishing materials harmful to health Part 2

New renovations may not be a joy if you decorate your home with materials hazardous to health. Do you think there are none? They are there and it is not difficult to find them - construction stores are littered with chemical products that emit hazardous substances. IN first part we examined: mineral wool; linoleum; PVC products. Like, subscribe to the channel, share the publication - we continue the review!

Expanded polystyrene

In simple words - polystyrene. The material has conquered the market with its cheapness and efficiency. But nothing is cheap in this world, and you have to pay extra for high heat-saving qualities with health.

You need to start with the fact that the polymerization of various plastics, to which foam can be ranked, does not go 100% - free substances always remain. And these substances are released when heated. Something always comes out of any plastic that is poison. For example, styrene is released from polystyrene when heated above 60 degrees Celsius, and this is already an analogue of a chemical warfare agent. Just do not ask the manufacturers this - they will not tell the truth anyway.

If you don't believe me, remember the tragedy at the Lame Horse bar, when 156 people died in a fire. There was practically no fire in this fire, as the napkins on the tables remained clean. In the institution, the wiring caught fire, which ignited the foam, which served as a ceiling insulation, and then the poisonous smoke did its job.

This, of course, is an extreme, but it should be understood that expanded polystyrene can be harmful even without a fire. How much does the wall or roof warm up in summer from the sun's rays? Have you ever wondered? And this can be very dangerous - the foam contains a wide range of toxic substances.

But even at room temperature, the foam produces residual styrene - a toxic substance that is dangerous to humans. For this reason, it is not worthwhile to insulate with expanded polystyrene inside rooms subject to heating. These include baths and kitchens. If you use this material in the thermal insulation of a house, it is worth getting good ventilation, especially in a frame house, since the release of residual styrene penetrates the walls.

Expanded polystyrene manufacturers claim that this cute material collapses at 300 degrees when heated and 210 when burned. And they also write that foam, without external influencing factors, does not interact with the environment and is harmless. But what is "without external influencing factors?" When is it in the side of the freezer?

Extruded polystyrene foam (EPS)

This is a type of foam, but only more advanced, obtained at high: temperature and pressure. Extruded polystyrene foam is more durable and widely used in construction. In terms of its harmful qualities, EPPS is close to polystyrene, namely, it also emits styrene. The hazard barrier when heated is slightly higher than that of foam - 75 degrees Celsius: at this temperature, the concentration of styrene in the room exceeds the norm by 150 times.

EPS is not recommended for use as insulation in attics. In addition to the fact that when heated, it emits many toxic substances, it also has a higher degree of fire hazard than foam.

And it is also worth noting the low vapor permeability of both EPS and foam. Both insulations are excellent shelter for mold. And mold is dangerous to human health with its pores, which are constantly in its habitat.

A spoonful of honey in a fly in the ointment or an old tale about slate

Our task is not to intimidate readers, but to deliver true information. Slate stands in high places in almost every top of harmful building materials. When you read about the ominous asbestos, know that another sofa expert is chewing on an old myth.

The origin of the tale about the dangers of slate and asbestos-containing materials came from the west, where asbestos with amphibole fibers is added to the slate. In Russia and the countries of the former Soviet Union, slate is made from safe chrysotile asbestos - it is mined on the territory of the country and covers the needs of domestic production. It is amphibole fiber particles that cause damage to the respiratory tract and lungs.

What is the difference?

Chrysotile fiber is elastic and, when it enters the lungs, is excreted without any problems. Amphibole fiber can be compared with glass needles, which, after entering the lungs, injure them and are not removed in the future. The needles regularly damage tissues and therefore do not heal, leading to cancer over time. Amphibole fiber is a carcinogen.

But even with all the frightening properties, it is possible to breathe in asbestos dust either in production or when working directly with slate, namely, when cutting and splitting. It is dangerous if you perform the above actions with slate produced in the EU and North America. For example, if you decide to remove a slate made in the USA (which is very unlikely) from the barn, split it and pour it onto the paths - this will ensure that the amphibole fiber gets into your lungs. With our native slate, this does not threaten!

What building or decoration materials do you consider dangerous? Write in the comments!

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