It’s the best choice to stay at home when the pollution level is high. But is staying at home really safer than staying outside? Studies have shown that the indoor air pollution can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor environment! In particular, new furniture that has newly been decorated or added will release Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) and endanger our health.
User Mr.Song recently bought a new wardrobe.
After the staff finished the installation, a chemical smell which is quite unpleasant would distribute in the room. It may go worse especially when the wardrobe door is open.
As a result, Mr Song tested the closet with the Mobile Nose. The Mobile Nose was alerted immediately once put into the closet changing signs from green to orange and finally to the red light.
The TVOC index was climbing all the way up to a maximum of nearly 3,000 ppb, which is a serious level for body health.
Experts reminded that due to different production processes and materials, the content of formaldehyde and TVOC contained in the board are also different. Therefore, while selecting furniture and household items, we should choose using environmental protection materials. Testing on formaldehyde and TVOC levels are highly recommended especially when new furniture that has just been decorated or added in the house.
Growing some green plants inside your house and maintaining ventilation can be a solution. However, if air pollution is serious outside your house, it is best for you to close doors and windows and turn on the air cleaner.
Knowledge Section
TVOC is an abbreviation of Total Volatile Organic Compound. According to the definitions of the World Health Organization, if the compound has a boiling point of 50° C. to 250° C. under a pressure of 101.32 kPa, it is volatile organic compounds exist the same substance as the gas at regular temperature.
Outdoor air pollution sources include industrial combustion gases and photochemical pollution generated by fuel combustion and transportation; as for indoors, they mainly come from combustion products such as coal and gas, smoke from smoking, heating and cooking, construction and decoration materials, furniture, cleaning agent and human body’s emission. During decoration process, volatile organics come mainly from paints, coatings and adhesives. VOC content in general paint is 30 to 70 grams per liter. Due to the strong volatility of volatile organic compounds, under normal circumstances, 90% of the volatile matter can be volatilized within 10 hours after the paint is applied.
When the concentration of volatile organic compounds in a room exceeds a certain concentration, people feel headaches, nausea, vomiting, and limb weakness in a short period of time; in severe cases, convulsions, coma, and memory loss may occur. Volatile organic compounds harm human liver, kidneys, brain and nervous system, which also contains a lot of carcinogenic substances, which have attracted the attention of countries.
(Editor: Abby Wu / Presented by: Mr Song / Translator: Wendy Feng)