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Air Needs Our Care - Ways to Reduce Toxicity and Improve Indoor Air

14 Oct 2011 04:13:02 AM

Renovations, new paintwork and decorations can look great, but what about the risk to your health? Many paints, furniture and furnishings contain toxic chemicals, and completely “natural” products are rare. 

At IMI, as we open our new floor we wanted to minimise the toxic effects and protect both your health and that of our staff’s. Here we focus on Formaldehydes, just one of the many toxic chemicals found in such materials. We also share how you can reduce the toxic effects of Formaldehyde and chemicals.

What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is manufactured from low molecular weight petroleum products and is usually sold as Formalin. Formaldehyde is widely used in household items we come to contact with every day, from new clothing and fabric—where it is used to set the dye, to insecticides and rodent poisons.

Formaldehyde is also used extensively in the industry in making urea resins and other plastics. Formaldehyde resin is used in making plywood panelling, particleboard, synthetic resin, wood veneer and preservative. Urea insulation in roofing is pumped in as a liquid, where it dries hard. As years go by, particles break down into the atmosphere of the home and are constantly inhaled.

What are the symptoms?
Exposure to Formaldehyde in the air produces common symptoms including respiratory and gastrointestinal allergies, and red, itchy, sore eyes. More advanced symptoms include fatigue, headache, muscle and joint aches and pains.

In the outdoor, Formaldehyde makes up 50% of the estimated total of aldehydes (organic compounds) in polluted air. These aldehydes react further to form additional pollution such as smog. Formaldehyde is the major reason for burning eyes when there is smog.

In severe cases, exposure to Formaldehyde can result in cerebral symptoms such as mental confusion or the inability to read or comprehend newspapers or books (can’t read past the first few pages).

Reducing toxins indoor
A simple home remedy is green tea bags. Several tea bags can be placed in drawers and other furnishings that are emitting formaldehyde (this reduces the free formaldehyde by half). Place 20 or more into the rooms as well. Change every two months for optimal effects. Drinking green tea also recommended to reduce formaldehyde associated symptoms.

Another solution for rooms is Activated Carbon Air filters. Since paints and new synthetic furnishings emit formaldehyde for several months, something is needed to absorb this – and carbon filters work well. Activated carbon has the ability to absorb Voatile Organic Chemicals (VOC’s) very well. We keep these going 24 hours in our clinic, especially important at the moment after our renovations and move. Our carbon filters are part of the HEPA Air Filters by AmAirCare that we provide clients at IMI.

High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters work best for particles, such as those emitted by diesel busses and coal fired power plants. HEPA filter media is proven to be 99.97% efficient at 0.3 microns, that means the filter can clean the air of very tiny articles that can not only infiltrate your lungs but also penetrate into the blood stream. Great too for regular dust and dust mite problems.

IMI currently carries a number of AmAirCare filters for home, office and vehicle. For more information or to set up a free air test at home, please ask the dispensary team or call 2523 7121.

Exposure to Formaldehyde can be through direct contact. In fact, Formalin /Formaldehyde can be found in many common personal and household products. In the next Wellness News, we will tell you a list of such products and suggested alternative to protect your family from toxic chemicals.

Make positive changes for your health and wellness, one at a time. We at IMI can help you protect your health and achieve long-term goals of total wellness. Ask our dispensary team, visit www.imi.com.hk or call 2523 7121 for more information.