Chipboards (chipboards), from which furniture is made, are pressed under conditions high temperature and strong pressure. At the same time, artificial (urea-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde) resins are added to small wood chips as a binder.

After pressing, chipboards are coated with films made from thermosetting polymers. Highly active substances such as formaldehydes, phenols, phthalates and polymers released from chipboard are very harmful to human health. Their presence is easily determined by an unpleasant odor.

Nowadays, most of the furniture is made from chipboard. Meanwhile, the formaldehyde contained in them is a highly toxic allergenic substance, which, when it enters the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract with air, causes bronchitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, as well as eye irritation, runny nose and cough.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially designated formaldehyde as a carcinogen because it has been found that this substance can cause oncological diseases. Under the influence of formaldehyde, degenerative changes in the liver, kidneys, heart and brain develop.

Phenol and formaldehyde produce effects on the body with long-term effects that appear later long time and can be passed on to the next generation. In this regard, it is not recommended to use chipboard to mask batteries in an apartment (which is very often done for decorative purposes), since under the influence of heat, the release of harmful substances into the air increases. Chipboard should not be used for floor insulation either, especially if the boards are bare and not covered with anything on top.

Chipboards according to the content of free (that is, having the ability to stand out from furniture) formaldehyde are divided into 3 classes:

- class E1 (up to 10 mg per 100 g of dry slab);

- class E2 (10–20 mg);

- class E3 (30–60 mg).

To protect yourself from the harmful effects of formaldehyde and other highly active substances, when buying furniture, you need to require documents evidencing the safety of the product (hygienic certificate), as well as pay attention to the quality of the finish - whether the end surfaces of the panels and hidden cavities.

Laminate is a special film that covers wood or chipboard. The tape itself is harmless. The danger is the glue and mastic on which the laminate is held.

MDF is progressive - high quality (and more expensive) furniture material, obtained by hot pressing wood dust without the use of toxic binders.

Poorly processed edges and chipped chipboard are also dangerous. These areas must be isolated.

Harmful substances can be released from furniture for a year or more. In addition, according to some experts, over time, furniture begins to highlight harmful substances even stronger as the resins begin to decompose.

It should also be noted that during a fire, burning chipboard (like fiberboard, plywood, etc.) releases large amounts of formaldehyde into the air, which can lead to immediate poisoning. It is recommended to purchase only certified furniture that has been tested for the release of chemicals into the air that are dangerous to life, human health and the environment. Particle boards used in the manufacture of furniture must be veneered, laminated and protected with a PVC layer. Furniture for children should be made only from chipboard with formaldehyde emission class E1, the volatile substances of which are 3 times lower than the maximum allowable standards.

Cushioned furniture

In the manufacture of modern upholstered furniture, foam rubber and synthetic fabrics are used. Foam rubber itself is not harmful, but if a fire occurs and the furniture catches fire, it will begin to emit deadly gases, such as hydrogen cyanide.

It is believed that smokers who fall asleep with an unextinguished cigarette die precisely from poisoning by these gases, and not from fire as such, since often in such cases a large fire is not observed. Meanwhile, staying in the smoke from a burnt sofa for just a few minutes is enough to kill a person.

Nylon, used for furniture upholstery, can also become a source of hazardous substances when burned. Some acrylics and polyurethane foam are used in the stuffing of sofas, armchairs and mattresses, and sometimes in the manufacture of foam-lined rugs. All of these materials release cyanide when ignited, which is also a very common cause of deaths in fires.

Synthetic fabrics, which are used for upholstery, have a high electrical conductivity and low hygroscopicity.

In addition, when burned, they also emit harmful substances. The electrified fabric attracts dust and various microbes, which increases the risk of illness in a person using this furniture.

Static charge also negatively affects the body, causing excitement, irritation and nervousness.

In addition, static electricity accelerates the destruction of the material itself, while toxic substances are released that more actively penetrate the body.

Some buyers prefer natural upholstery materials such as wool, cotton, linen, silk, etc. They have low electrical conductivity, so they attract dust and bacteria less.

However, at present, many materials can hardly be called natural. For example, cotton was harvested using chemicals: spray plants with pesticides, and the leaves fall off by themselves. The same can be said about sheep, which are treated with a special solution so that the wool itself falls out. All these chemicals, to one degree or another, get into the product, which is then made from cotton or wool. Subsequently, these harmful substances pass into the human body upon contact with such furniture.

Approximately 8,000 different chemicals are currently used in the textile industry to keep fabrics from wrinkling, chafing, staining, washing well, and shrinking. Thanks to a special chemical treatment, the furniture upholstery does not get greasy or fade.

Recently, a special brand "Green Cotton" has become widespread in the West. It is used on cotton fabrics for which the cotton has been grown and harvested without the use of pesticides, bleached without chlorine, and dyed using substances that do not contain heavy metals.

For dyeing fabrics, as a rule, synthetic aniline dyes are used, which are very harmful. Natural dyes are limited in colors to a few colors - beige, brown and black, and the paints themselves do not have high light fastness and quickly fade.

Furniture is a source of dust that causes eye irritation, runny nose, respiratory problems and bronchitis. In heat or dampness, various microorganisms actively begin to multiply, many of which cause respiratory diseases that can pose a threat to human health.

Children's furniture

The issue of safety is perhaps the most important when it comes to furniture for children. It must be strong and stable. In addition, preference should be given to furniture made from environmentally friendly materials.

Solid wood furniture is the best option but it can be very expensive. When choosing furniture made of wood, it is advisable to give preference to species such as beech, alder, birch, ash or maple. It is not recommended to purchase furniture made of pine, as it has soft wood, which is easily damaged by any, even the slightest mechanical impact.

The environmental friendliness of materials for children's furniture is confirmed by international certificates ISO 9001-2000, as well as a hygiene certificate and a certificate of conformity.

Chipboard models are much cheaper, however, as mentioned above, chipboard is fraught with danger - formaldehyde toxic substances, the vapors of which can cause nausea and headaches in a child. If you still buy furniture made of chipboard, you should definitely ask the seller for an appropriate hygiene certificate, indicating that the material used emits a minimum amount of formaldehyde (much less than the existing safety standard).

When buying furniture for a child, you must also ensure that all materials are hypoallergenic (non-allergenic). Paints, enamels and varnishes used to cover children's furniture should also be environmentally friendly.

Handicraft furniture

Recently, many handicraft workshops have appeared on the Russian market that produce low-quality furniture. It does not meet the requirements of GOST and does not have a hygienic certificate. In this regard, such furniture poses a health hazard, and there is no guarantee that it will last a long time.

Professional furniture makers advise buying furniture only from well-established and time-tested companies. Many handicraft workshops are simply not able to purchase the necessary expensive equipment for making furniture. All operations are performed by eye and using our own technologies. Furniture made in such firms has overhead (sometimes mortise) edges for facing the edge of the material.

But it is even more dangerous to deal with manufacturers who do not have a permanent production base at all. They literally make furniture at home, using materials of very dubious quality. Such brigades will not be able to present any claims.

Recently, fakes under leading brands are not uncommon on the Russian market. They are of very low quality. In order not to be mistaken, you should pay attention to the coating of the frame frame (it should not have waviness and structure) and other technical points. In addition, you need to make sure that the company offering the product has a permanent office where you can come and look at the products. If the manufacturer gives only a cell phone number or the address of a trade show at a construction show, he may well be a scammer.

When buying a sliding system, a minimum warranty period of 3 years is given. A real company with a good reputation can give a 5-year warranty on the furniture's driving mechanisms.

Furniture color

It may seem to a person that he does not react to color in any way, but his eye is able to capture the slightest color shades (up to 1.5 million tones) and react to them in a certain way. The subconscious of a person and his genetic memory fix all color information. Therefore, staying in a certain color scheme can subtly influence and guide our emotions and actions.

Unfavorable colors for furniture are:

- red - creates nervous tension, leading to hypertension;

- black and purple - significantly reduce space, which can be harmful to the psyche of people suffering from claustrophobia;

- brown (including wood trim) - causes melancholy, leads to the development of depression;

- gray - evokes sadness and despondency;

- blue - creates a feeling of cold and discomfort.

All this affects the human psyche, calming him or, conversely, destroying nervous system.

Many people who buy new furniture or plan to renovate an apartment are faced with such a thing as formaldehyde. It turns out that this colorless gas can be released into the air for years and adversely affect health. What is the source of formaldehyde and how dangerous it is, we will consider in this article.

Brief description of the substance

Formaldehyde (methanal, formic aldehyde) is a colorless, toxic, highly soluble gas with a pungent odor, hazard class 1 in water, polar solvents and alcohols. An aqueous solution of formaldehyde stabilized with urea is used in the furniture and woodworking industries in the production of chipboard and other "plywood" materials. It is used in the manufacture of thermoplastic polymers and in industrial organic synthesis. It is widely used in light industry, medicine, cosmetology, agriculture. It is characterized by good antiseptic, bactericidal, tannic and preservative properties.

• The maximum single maximum allowable concentration (MPC) of formaldehyde (Russia) is 0.05 mg/m³;
• The average daily MPC (Russia) is 0.01 mg/m³;
• MPC substances in the air of residential premises (European countries): 120 μg / m 3;
• Odor threshold: 0.07-0.2 mg/m 3 ;
• The threshold of the reflex response of the animal organism: 0.04-0.098 mg/m 3 ;
• Threshold of irritant effect on the mucous membrane of human vision: 0.012 mg/m 3 .

Human danger

Formaldehyde is a major air pollutant. It accumulates in the human body and is very difficult to remove from it. The most dangerous is the long-term effect of the substance on the body, in which it has allergenic, mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Clinical manifestations can develop in a different period of time, which largely depends on the state of immunity. For some it's months, for others it's years. Children, the elderly and people suffering from chronic diseases are prone to strong negative influences.

• It has a pronounced toxicity and adversely affects the reproductive organs and genetic material. The danger as a mutagen lies in the fact that the substance not only leads to the development of somatic mutations, but also the body itself accumulates these mutations and subsequently they are transmitted to offspring.
• Poisons the lungs, irritates the respiratory tract and makes breathing difficult. It can cause asthma and provoke asthmatic attacks.
• Irritates the eyes and skin, provokes the development of neurotic eczema.
• Causes the development of gastrointestinal ulcers, damage to the kidneys and liver, leads to unreasonable weight loss.
• Has a pronounced negative action on the central nervous system: causes fatigue, headaches, depression, depression. It impairs performance and general well-being.

Listed as a carcinogen. An international cancer risk assessment agency has proven a link between formaldehyde, which is used in the production of plastics, resins, paints, textiles, and as a preservative and disinfectant, with an increased risk of oncological neoplasms of the nasopharynx.

Sources of formaldehyde emission in everyday life

Our houses and apartments, which are a place for body and soul to rest, can be turned into a real chemical laboratory by ourselves or by the hands of negligent builders and workers! In addition to dangerous formaldehyde, phenol, toluene, xylene, benzene, styrene, etc. can be in the air of residential premises. If elementary ventilation is neglected, the concentration of harmful chemicals can double in just a day.

According to WHO statistics, the air in urban residential areas is 4-6 times dirtier than in the street, and the main contribution to the chemical "bouquet" is made by finishing and building materials and furniture.

Formaldehyde vapor is a combustion product of organic substances that are present in:

• car exhaust gases (therefore, excesses are more often recorded in apartments of houses located along major transport routes);
• smog;
• tobacco smoke, including from electronic cigarettes;
• fumes from fireplaces, gas stoves.

Chemical vapors evaporate into the air from building materials:

• Chipboard, fiberboard, FRP, from which the prevailing amount of modern furniture is produced. Boards impregnated with urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins (which make up 6–18% of the total mass of the material) are the main building material- a source of formaldehyde in the house. For those who do not know the smell of formaldehyde, there is an easy way to “get to know it” - go to the point where they sell chipboard in the market and sniff the plates;
• MDF, OSB, plywood with phenol-formaldehyde resins in the composition, used for interior decoration and insulation of residential buildings;
• adhesives, mastics, paints, varnishes, sealants (especially cheap ones);
• market, uncertified Decoration Materials: wallpaper, laminate, linoleum, skirting boards, etc., which are the brightest of the finishing materials.

Also, the source of the substance can be:

• all cracks that are sealed with sealant. The prevailing share of sealants is made on the basis of resins that emit harmful gas;
• soundproofing materials and insulation made of foam plastic, cheap components bonded with resins;
• beds, mattresses, sofas and other cushioned furniture, carpets, heavy curtains. Formaldehyde is emitted from furniture if it was used in its production (at any of the stages technological production). But formaldehyde in fabrics (carpets and curtains) can accumulate from other sources and subsequently be released into the air.

One of the first signs of the presence of an increased content of a substance in the air is the appearance of a sharp characteristic odor, which can be described as a hospital or pharmacy. This smell is noticeable even at a concentration 25 times less than the permissible one. Some people think that it smells like new furniture, but in fact, it is the smell of formaldehyde.

Symptoms of acute and chronic formaldehyde poisoning

Serious poisoning with the internal intake of a formaldehyde solution and contact with the substance on the skin, as well as poisoning with its vapors are possible in the conditions of chemical and other production in which this Chemical substance is a part technological process. At home, formaldehyde is inhaled into the body during breathing.

Formaldehyde poisoning can develop in three ways:

• when ingested;
• by inhalation;
• upon contact with the skin.

Accordingly, the symptoms will also vary, prevailing from a certain system: when swallowed, the gastrointestinal tract is more affected, and when inhaled, the respiratory organs are affected.

A short-term ingestion of a large amount of a substance into the body leads to the development of acute poisoning, and a long-term intake in small doses, even slightly exceeding the MPC, causes chronic poisoning. Signs of poisoning vary different people appear in their own way.

	Symptoms of acute formaldehyde poisoning	Symptoms of chronic poisoning
Nervous system	Severe headache, complete loss of strength, lack of coordination, trembling of the hands, convulsions, impaired consciousness, coma	Sleep disturbance, mental agitation, persistent headaches, chronic fatigue, drowsiness, lethargy, lethargy, coordination disorder (see)
reproductive system	-	Violation menstrual cycle among women
Vegetative manifestations	severe chills	Trembling, chills at normal T, impaired sweating and thermoregulation
Respiratory system	Runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, dyspnea, swelling of the throat and lungs	Persistent dry cough, irritation of the nose, throat, and asthma attacks
Leather	Paleness of the skin, blisters on the skin (if the substance gets on the skin)	Allergy, skin irritation, up to eczema, dermatitis, nail damage
organs of vision	Lachrymation, pain in the eyes, acute conjunctivitis, dilated pupils	eye irritation, vision disorder
Digestive organs	Increased salivation, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, severe pain along the esophagus (with the internal route of entry)	Decreased appetite, weight loss, dyspepsia
The cardiovascular system	Increased heart rate, sudden drop in blood pressure	BP jumps

Internal intake of 60-90 ml of an aqueous solution of formaldehyde (formalin) leads to death! The concentration of the substance in the air, equal to 20 mg/m 3, leads to death within 30 minutes of exposure!

If timely first aid is not provided for acute poisoning, the following conditions develop that pose a direct threat to life:

• Gastrointestinal bleeding. This is a consequence of the internal ingestion of a substance into the body (accidental or intentional use), which develops when the vascular walls of the submucosal layer of the stomach and duodenum are corroded. The patient notes increasing weakness, dark vomiting or vomiting with blood, black loose stools.
• Acute liver failure, toxic hepatitis. It also develops when a substance is ingested. The skin and mucous membranes become noticeably yellow, there is severe pain in the right hypochondrium, consciousness is disturbed.
• Acute kidney injury: edema, complete absence of urine.
• Acute circulatory failure.
• Edema of the mucous membrane of the larynx, lungs develops in case of poisoning with vapors and leads to suffocation.

First aid for the injured

The most important thing is to immediately call ambulance! The life of a person often depends on the time of her arrival.

• The victim needs to be provided with an inflow fresh air and peace. If inhalation poisoning occurs, the person should be removed/carried out of this room.
• Give the victim clean cool water to drink (if he is conscious and there are no signs of ingestion of the substance). You can not try to wash the stomach on your own, induce vomiting: this will be done by doctors using special solutions.
• Rinse the affected area of ​​the skin with running cool water for 15-20 minutes, another formaldehyde solution has got on the skin.
• To ensure the patency of the respiratory tract in case the person is unconscious: put him on his back and turn his head to the side.

Inpatient treatment of acute formaldehyde poisoning

As a rule, even at the scene of the incident, the first aid team takes measures to prevent further complications and save a person's life:

• Probe washing of the stomach cavity with water or saline.
• The introduction of hemostatic drugs in the event of signs of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract.
• Administration of painkillers severe pain(often with a burn of the esophagus), drugs that stabilize vital signs: heartbeat, pressure, respiration.
• Setting a dropper with solutions to reduce intoxication.
• Intubation and artificial respiration for laryngeal edema.

The victim is hospitalized in the intensive care unit or in the toxicology department, where he is diagnosed and treated as follows:

• the introduction of ammonium carbonate or 3% chloride - formalin antidotes;
• hemodialysis (with kidney damage);
• surgery in the presence of bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract;
• another infusion therapy in the required amount.

The prognosis largely depends on the timeliness of medical care. In any case, this is a life-threatening condition that requires serious inpatient treatment. After suffering poisoning, sensitivity to formaldehyde increases significantly, so a subsequent similar situation can be fatal!

How to test indoor air for formaldehyde

It is easy to suspect trouble: if you feel bad at home, do not get enough sleep, there is constant irritability and discomfort - it's time to take air measurements in the apartment. People react differently to the chemical, and some are more sensitive. Be especially vigilant if you have recently moved to new house or made repairs in the apartment.

The concentration of formaldehyde that is created in the premises depends not only on the sources of its release, but also on the temperature and humidity of the air, the type and speed of ventilation (ventilation frequency), the type of heating (central or stove) and the presence of other sources using combustion processes (smokers , gas stoves).

• New materials are active releases of chemicals into the air.
• Formaldehyde emission decreases as materials “age” and reaches background levels after 3-5 years. However, if we are talking about upholstered furniture, the release of chemistry can occur even after 10 years of operation.
• High temperatures and high humidity, stove heating, gas stoves determine the increased release of a substance into the air.

How and when to start analyzing indoor air?

Most often, people turn to the laboratory immediately after buying furniture or repairing. But it is better to wait 1-3 months. Even after the very quality repair it is recommended to ventilate the apartment well for several weeks. The same applies to the option when new furniture is purchased.

• You should not contact the organizations on the basis of which the laboratory operates (even if it is accredited) and which carry out apartment repairs themselves. There is a high chance that the results will be falsified in order to impose their repair and "safe" materials on you.
• Measurements should be carried out by representatives of the sanitary and epidemiological service or specialists from an independent accredited laboratory.
• Household devices for home monitoring of the air environment give only an approximate estimate!

How are measurements taken? Most often, laboratory specialists conduct air tests in the apartment and on the street at the same time, and at once for several of the most common pollutants - formaldehyde, nitrogen, ammonia, carbon, phenol and hydrogen sulfide. On average, the procedure takes 30-40 minutes. With the help of devices, air is pumped through special liquid reagents, which are placed in sorption tubes (each chemical has its own). Samples are analyzed different methods already in the laboratory, one of the modern ones is gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection

How to test furniture for formaldehyde?

Chemical analysis of a material sample is carried out in laboratories and requires the provision of this very sample. those. part of the furniture will have to say goodbye. Well, if the furniture was made to order, and the sample was preserved. In other cases, you will have to sacrifice something.

We are in a hurry to disappoint those who believe that it is possible to save on materials and then check them for "purity" by handing them over for examination - examining materials for the presence of formaldehyde in it is an expensive pleasure, so in the end the purchase can become golden, and if it turns out to be that the material is of poor quality, it will be doubly insulting.

How to protect yourself from harmful chemicals

Unfortunately, no preventive measure can guarantee the cleanliness of indoor air 100%. However, following some simple safety rules will minimize the likelihood that you are breathing a mixture of chemicals, and not clean air:

• Carefully choose building and finishing materials and buy them in stores, not in the markets.
• If possible, give preference to products made of solid wood or metal. When buying materials from pressed wood, you should choose laminated products or with veneered ends.
• Ask sellers for documents that are a mandatory requirement of the technical regulation on the safety of building materials:
  • certificate or declaration of conformity with the prescribed manufacturer and place of production;
  • quality passport;
  • technical documents on safe use.
• Be sure to keep copies of certificates and receipts. If in the future toxic substances are detected in the air of the premises, the source of which was certain materials, a claim can be made to the store within 2 years.
• Do not use for internal repair work materials that are intended for outdoor use! Yes, they are often cheaper, but they are subject to other safety requirements, less stringent.
• Do not buy into the signs "environmentally friendly", "environmentally friendly". They are not regulated by law in any way and do not at all guarantee that the material is safe. The main confirmation of safety is the relevant documents!
• Also, do not buy into quick-drying, super-flexible, extra-strong and other materials with improved properties. Most often, all these additional effects are achieved through a variety of chemical additives.
• Do not move into an apartment / house immediately after repair and “packing” it new furniture: at least for the first 3 months, your cozy home is nothing more than a small environmental disaster. Even if individually each chemical does not exceed the norm, but their combined effect, and sometimes mutual reinforcement of the negative impact on humans, creates dangerous air pollution.
• Maintain a healthy microclimate in your living quarters: ventilate rooms often and do not abuse heaters.
• Wash fabrics before use.
• Get indoor plants that are able to absorb "chemistry": dracaena, fern, bush chrysanthemum, ivy.
• When purchasing air purifiers, give preference to photocatalytic devices. It has been scientifically proven that they are able to remove formaldehyde from the air.
• As for the protective polyurethane coating on products made of pressed wood, which is able to retain the substance inside the product and prevent its evaporation into the air, this is relative protection. For effective protection such coatings must completely cover the surface of the product, including corners, edges, edges, which is not always feasible.

In addition to chemical air pollution, Negative influence radiation, electromagnetic radiation, bacterial pollutants, allergens, dust mites and a number of other environmental factors can affect the health and well-being of people, therefore it is recommended to carry out a comprehensive environmental assessment of residential premises, which, unfortunately, will not be cheap.

Frequent headaches, throat irritation, cough and runny nose that appear after a long stay in the room - the cause of this may not be an acute respiratory disease at all, but formaldehyde, which is released from the furniture. What are the symptoms of poisoning by toxic substances that furniture emits, and how to protect your health?

As we said earlier, in the production of chipboard and MDF materials for furniture, resins that contain formaldehyde are added to their composition. Standing out, this substance gradually poisons health and can lead to a number of serious diseases.

It is believed that most formaldehyde emissions occur within 6 months of buying new furniture. But even after that, hazardous substances from furniture continue to be released, and their evaporation increases significantly during the heating season in winter: under heating from batteries, formaldehyde evaporates even faster, and dry indoor air leads to an increase in its concentration in the air.

The main symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning are:

1. Irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory tract, skin.

2. Frequent headache, cough, runny nose, nasal congestion.

3. Unmotivated depression of mood.

How to recognize formaldehyde poisoning from furniture?

1. The symptoms listed above are manifested in several people who have been in this room for a sufficient time. When the environment changes, the ailments disappear.

2. With the onset of the heating season, the symptoms of poisoning intensify.

3. When airing the apartment, the symptoms decrease or temporarily disappear.

If you have a suspicion of poisoning with toxic substances that are released by furniture in your home, you can contact specialized organizations that will conduct a sanitary and epidemiological examination for formaldehyde. The cost of such an examination is not cheap: on average, it can range from 3 to 5 thousand UAH for an average apartment.

According to experts who conduct such examinations, in an ordinary apartment with chipboard furniture, the level of formaldehyde is 0.07-0.09 ‰, while the norm is 0.06 ‰.

During the operation of furniture, other hazardous substances are also released into the air of residential premises: ammonia, acetates and phthalates, styrene, methanol, phenol, toluene, xylene, phthalic anhydride, ethylbenzene - this list depends on chemical composition applied materials.

How to protect yourself from furniture made of chipboard and MDF?

What to do with such furniture and how to reduce the evaporation of formaldehyde and other hazardous substances?

1. Apply several layers of glue, varnish or paint to all unprotected surfaces of the furniture (including the back walls). Take a water-dispersion paint as a paint: it does not contain toxic substances and will create a protective film.
2. PVC edging can also be used as a protective agent.
3. Tables, cabinets, etc. interior items can be pasted over with a self-adhesive film or covered natural materials. This will significantly reduce the amount of fumes of toxic substances.
4. All furniture damage (scratches, chips, etc.) should be covered immediately with a protective agent (see point 1).
5. If possible, place furniture away from radiators and other heating devices.
6. Ventilate the room as often as possible and control the humidity.

Today, furniture made from chipboard (chipboard) is still popular. This is a fairly cheap material, which, however, can significantly damage human health. Manufacturers of such furniture claim that the harm of chipboard has not been proven, that these are all just words. They claim that such a myth is spread by their competitors, who produce furniture from wood and lose customers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized particle board as a carcinogenic material back in 1985. Many European furniture companies have therefore abandoned the use of chipboard in their production. In 1996, Moscow issued an order to limit the use of chipboard in the construction of kindergartens.

What is the danger of chipboard for our health?

Chipboards are pressed sawdust glued together with resin. And it also contains a toxic compound - formaldehyde. One of his main chemical properties- volatility. Therefore, furniture made from chipboard is just a storehouse of dangerous gas that can be released for more than 10 years. A one-time exposure to formaldehyde on the human body is unlikely to lead to serious consequences, but the furniture will not stand in your house for a week or a month. At least a few years. Science warns formaldehyde damages genetic material reproductive system, respiratory tract, eyes and skin, as well as the central nervous system.

If we haven't convinced you yet, let's move on to mathematics. Experts considered that when measuring the level of formaldehyde in ordinary apartments, the result exceeds the norm by 1.5-25 times!

By the way, wood-fiber boards (MDF) also have formaldehyde in their composition.

When using chipboard and fiberboard in children's rooms, it is imperative to take care of the laminating coating, which blocks the release of formaldehyde into the air.

There are several types of protective coating:

1. Melamine(laminated chipboard)
   This is a paper coating on which varnish is also applied.
2. Laminate(laminated chipboard).
   It's plastic. Made to look like wood and other natural materials.

The protective properties of the coating will come to naught if it is damaged. Therefore, the buyer should carefully consider the purchased product. When buying furniture made of chipboard, take a closer look at the edges and corners (just at these points the coating plates are connected).

But if you have already purchased furniture made of chipboard and are very worried, we will reassure you only by giving you a few of its advantages. One of them is water resistance. Therefore, chipboard is used in the production of kitchens. Chipboard can be painted and processed in every possible way. They are not susceptible to insects. However, back to our topic.

What to do with low-quality chipboard?

A pronounced sign of formaldehyde is a characteristic smell. If the purchased furniture exudes a pleasant aroma, it's bad. Firstly, the suffocating smell quickly becomes annoying. Secondly, by deliberately keeping such furniture in the house, you are slowly killing yourself. But, as a rule, after a week the “aroma” disappears. Sometimes this doesn't happen. Then you need to immediately return the furniture to the seller.

However, sellers are not always willing to meet dissatisfied customers. Therefore, we remind you: keep the cash receipt and the purchase act for furniture. This can help you if you have problems with returning a defective product.

Harmful substances are released from chipboard and when heated. Therefore, it is more expedient to replace such material with a more expensive one - a fine fraction (MDF). Resin is not used in its manufacture. The fraction is glued together with the help of lignin (it is released when the wood is heated. And this natural substance is completely harmless.

Finally, we note: no matter what the manufacturers of chipboard and fiberboard say, wooden products are much more pleasant and safer, albeit many times more expensive. But health is priceless. As for dangerous emissions, even without formaldehyde, there are enough forced dangerous chemical compounds in our lives.

Voronezh residents remember a mysterious story: last spring, a young family was hospitalized with poisoning due to the high content of phenol and formaldehyde in the air of the apartment.

For several months, experts examined samples of literally everything that was in the house: from tiles to furniture. It was not possible to establish the source of poisons, but this case made many people think about the safety of familiar household items.

From what was

It is easy to guess about the insidiousness of cheap plastic (on windows or walls). And how to suspect wooden furniture in this?

In its production, mainly chipboard is used - sawdust mixed with formaldehyde resins. There is no risk in this if the technology is followed. Factory products - from Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, China - usually have all the main quality indicators. And in Russia, furniture is often "riveted" by handicraftsmen who save on materials.

The seller concludes an agreement with some factory near Moscow, receives passports and product certificates from it - and attaches these pieces of paper to the products assembled in a nearby garage, - explained Alexander Kharchenko, director of the expert organization. - We also counterfeit imported furniture. The easiest way is with kitchens: I ordered a standard facade and, with the help of my friend Vasya, attached everything else to it. It is enough to have a marking machine, chipboard sheets and euro ties. Such furniture will not receive a real safety certificate, if only because on some screeds - without special pins (shtanketov) - the parts are not held firmly. If the connection of wood-based panels is leaky - for example, a hole is not made correctly in the countertop for hob or peeled off on the table plastic edges, then food remains get inside, and environment formaldehyde is released.

Under the influence of formaldehyde, degenerative diseases of the liver, kidneys, heart and brain can develop. The most harmless wood materials in this sense are classified as E1, children's furniture, back walls of cabinets and bottoms in drawers should be made of them. If you smoke in a room, foam rubber can also be dangerous - when it burns, gases are formed that cause death in a matter of minutes. When buying upholstered furniture, make sure it is treated with flame retardants.

Sometimes sellers pass off Russian, Chinese, and even of unknown origin furniture as Italian, said Antonina Alekhina, head of the department of the Rospotrebnadzor for the Voronezh region. It happens that the manufacturer is not indicated or there is no information in Russian on the products. In addition, unscrupulous sellers - usually small firms or individual entrepreneurs - often disappear and appear under a different name at a different point. As a result, a “home-made product”, bought at the price of a branded headset, quickly loses its marketable appearance: an under-dried tree is easily deformed, the upholstery is torn. And there is no one to hand over the product for warranty repair.

Get comfortable

However, in Russia there are worthy merchants, and good producers furniture: with machine tools, input control of materials and quality control department, undergoing voluntary certification. One way or another, before buying, it doesn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with all the documents for the products you like and check how they are made.

For example, kitchen set should stand on legs 10-15 centimeters high so that you can wash the floor. The gap is closed with a removable plinth. Countertops are necessarily made of moisture-resistant laminated chipboard, Alexander Kharchenko said:

It is better if its thickness is at least 58-60 millimeters, but usually the plates are twice as thin - it's cheaper. Naturally, the tabletop is bent. It is important that it withstand at least 108 degrees: you have the right to put a kettle or a frying pan there for a short time. Plastic must also resist mechanical damage. So that you can move the cutting board along it without fear of leaving scratches. Check if cabinet doors move easily. If they open horizontally, closers and stops are needed on both sides.

For upholstered furniture, ease of transformation is especially important. Fragile customers sometimes cannot cope with the sofa while still in the store and take it for granted: they say, what can I do, I will ask my husband, son, brother ... The right furniture, according to the expert, moves apart without extra effort and does not “roll” back from the slightest push. If you press on the seat, it quickly restores its original shape, and the thickness of the foam is 80-100 millimeters under the back and at least 60 at the head. The wood should be dry, which is easy to check by examining the inner laundry drawer. Otherwise, the frame will mold. If the width of the bed is more than 1.8 meters, you can be sure that it has joints that reduce the strength of the product. Remember that upholstered furniture should remain functional and aesthetic for at least ten years, a product made of natural wood - 20-25.

Don't take my word for it

If you prefer imported products, keep in mind that foreign manufacturers do not follow Russian GOSTs in everything and use their own terminology.

For example, the Italians believe that if the veneer is of an uneven color, then this is an indicator of naturalness - the tree was cut down from different trunks. And in the eyes of the Russian buyer, on the contrary, this is a disadvantage, - said Vladimir Lisovsky, director of the furniture salon of the federal network. - Same with slight cracking of the wood. In response to such claims, manufacturers are even offended: they say, if you want a perfectly flat surface, take plastic and laminate. But buyers are usually not inclined to find fault with trifles. There is a misunderstanding when the factory documents say that the furniture is made of solid wood. In the same Italy, any wood material is called an array - even chipboard, even plywood. But we imagine it differently! Recently, our client decided that the table he bought was too light for the array. He asked to "pick it up". It turned out that the frame for the glass top was made of MDF. Use whole piece wood was not allowed there - it would warp due to large changes in temperature and humidity, because in winter it is extremely dry in our apartments. The buyer got into the problem and left the table at home, we gave him a discount.

According to the law, 45 days are given for warranty repairs of furniture, but foreign manufacturers cannot meet this deadline. From China, the cargo goes from three to six months, from Italy - at least two. Some sellers make repairs at their own expense on the spot. If the furniture purchased from the catalog has serious defects, you have the right to return it. Only here it is better to determine the quality of products by objective methods.

And people sometimes trust not documents, but someone else's opinion, - Alexander Kharchenko added. - There was a case when a woman bought a kitchen for 180 thousand rubles - from excellent materials, durable. She would have served for many years! But a neighbor came: "Oh, my friends found me for 70 thousand." Peace and sleep were gone, the woman found some irregularities on the cabinets and returned the furniture to the store. I would not advise thinking that quality products can be cheap.

Direct speech

Mikhail Chubirko, Deputy Head Physician of the FGUZ "Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Voronezh Region":

For 20 years of the Federal Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights" we have not understood that we are obliged to know our own and other people's rights, to be careful when buying and not to make them impulsively. A few years ago, we investigated the living conditions in the apartments of Rospotrebnadzor employees - seemingly savvy people. But they also bought furniture without looking at the documents! In 70 per cent of cases, the MPC for formaldehyde or ammonia was exceeded in the atmosphere of dwellings. Insignificantly, twice a time - but for months and years this could lead to chronic poisoning. Sometimes it is not the furniture that is to blame, but its misuse or related materials. I know a case when a super-fashionable parquet made of African woods, lined with figures of exotic animals, was pasted on cheap mastic, which became a source of harmful substances. In case of acute poisoning, compensation from the manufacturer of furniture or materials can only be achieved through the courts, but the examination must prove that the toxic discharge came from there.

Purchase according to the rules

Each piece of furniture must be marked: name, functional purpose (kitchen, children's, bedroom), manufacturing standard (GOST, OST), characteristics of materials (including finishing), manufacturer's address.

If the product is purchased to order, this information is indicated in the contract - along with the terms and conditions of delivery, warranty obligations and liability of the parties. Make sure that the seller does not underestimate the penalty for late delivery, does not exclude the possibility of unilateral refusal to conclude the contract. Also, samples of materials (fabric, wood) and a sketch should be attached to the contract: if finished products will be different from the selected one, you can refuse it. Keep the original document at least until the warranty expires. If asked to provide it - give a copy (if necessary - notarized).

When buying finished furniture, the sales receipt should contain not only the name and date of sale of the goods, but also a list of all elements of the headset, with articles and prices, with the date of sale and the stamp of the store, with manufacturer's warranty obligations. In addition, a declaration of conformity to the standard is attached to the furniture (for children - a certificate of conformity to GOST), a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion on the materials used and instructions for use: what should be the temperature and humidity in the room so that the products retain their presentation and safety.

Having found defects, make a claim in two copies to the management of the organization. Have the person who receives the document from you date and sign your copy. From that date, the warranty period will begin.