Children spend most of their time in their room, where they sleep, play or retreat to study. Their parents are often unaware of how heavily contaminated with pollutants these rooms can be. They can come from floors, furniture, textiles or plastic toys, for example. Pollutants in children’s rooms can affect their health and development.
Plasticizer
PVC floor coverings – contaminated with harmful substances
PVC floor coverings are considered to be quite inexpensive and easy-care “all-rounders” that are available in many variants. However, they are not without their problems and are often contaminated with pollutants. They almost deceptively imitate other floors made of wood, stone and other materials. PVC floors are now less contaminated with harmful substances than was the case decades ago. Nevertheless, PVC floor coverings can contain critical substances that can outgas in the air. Some of these pollutants are considered carcinogenic and are also harmful to the environment.
PAHs – Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
PAHs – Definition
PAHs – (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) is a collective term for a group of substances consisting of organic components.
These consist of two or more (up to seven) benzene rings bonded together, which is why they are also referred to as condensed ring systems. The ring-shaped hydrocarbons often have additional substituents (frequently methyl groups) or derivatives (oxygen or nitrogen).