Construction products for interior work can be a significant source of pollutants in indoor air. In order to better protect human health, UBA has been working with a group of experts since 2011 to develop common assessment standards across Europe. The first complete list of substances and associated evaluations (EU LCI values) was published in November 2023.
Even today, harmful formaldehyde from wood-based materials and other products is still offgassing into indoor air. Low-emission products are now more important than ever, as, for energy-conservation reasons, new and renovated buildings are more air-tight now than they used to be. The German Environment Agency (UBA) has achieved, that the test conditions have been adapted to the state of the art.
It is often difficult to find out exactly what triggers headaches or migraines. However, poor air quality should be considered when searching for headache causes.
For reliable data on pollutant emissions from construction products both validated testing procedures and qualified testing bodies are required. Test methods for determining the release of dangerous substances from construction products have been available in Europe for some time, and the first designated testing laboratories for this purpose have recently been set up in line with EU regulations.
Wood-based materials and consequently also furniture and building products made from them may contain formaldehyde as an adhesive component. Formaldehyde is considered to be carcinogenic. We answer the most important questions from the perspective of indoor hygiene.
Refurbishing is fun and it beautifies the home. However, hazardous substances frequently lurk in building products - joint sealants, paints and varnishes. Building products which outgas volatile organic compounds (VOC) and odours can be harmful to the health and well-being of the people who reside inside. Healthy indoor air is therefore a very important issue.
Environmental influences can cause illness: For example, noise increases the risk of heart attack and particulate matter may trigger lung cancer. The Federal Environment Agency uses the "environmental burden of disease” concept to investigate which environmental impacts are associated with particularly large numbers of diseases and what benefits environmental protection can have for our health.
Good health and well-being in the home depends greatly on the quality of indoor air. Indoor air has many potential sources of pollutant emissions. Building products and furnishings also have a great impact on quality of indoor air.
