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Many chemicals and materials used for construction, decoration and furnishing may have harmful effects on human health. So, for instance, certain types of thermal insulation (SMFs: glass fibre, rock wool and ceramic wool) display irritant and carcinogenic features. Timber in furniture treated with preservative chemicals - pesticides, insecticides - can result in toxic fumes. Formaldehyde released from paints, fibreglass and paper products, open fireplaces, and smoke is a strong respiratory irritant causing chronic coughing, asthma, nausea, nose bleeds, headaches and dizziness, stinging of the eyes. Petrochemical paints containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can have adverse health impacts including skin and lung problems. In this regard, the choice of the materials for the accommodation building and interior appears of utter importance in minimizing risks of exposure of your guests to different health hazards.
The main way to prevent problems caused by various materials is to give preference to non-toxic natural materials when making a purchase. For instance, to timber, since wood is a construction material that organically fits into natural rural environment and is aesthetically pleasing. Attention should be paid not to use engineering wood products, as they might contain hazardous substances. Therefore, it is essential to ask the supplier for information on the content and treatment of the required product to get a clear picture what exactly you are going to buy and which effects on health and environment it might have.
If a wide range of similar products is available, it is recommended that high quality organic or eco-label chemical products should be preferred. EU eco-labelled paints and varnishes, for instance, automatically guarantee no use of heavy metals or harmful substances classified as very toxic, toxic, dangerous, carcinogenic, or mutagenic. Despite common superficial negative judgement, these products display high quality and performance at least equal or better than those of the ordinary non-labelled substances (e.g., high spreading rate, wet scrub resistance, water resistance and adhesion). Another option in case of paints and varnishes would be choosing organic paints made on the basis of plant extracts.
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8.2.1. Sick Building Syndrome | 8.3. Resource - and Cost-Saving Measures |
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