Category Archives: indoor airpollution

indoor airpollution

2-chlorpropane increasingly noticeable indoors

2-chlorpropane

2-chlorpropane found in a daycare center

The building department of Stuttgart (Germany) leads for new buildings and renovations in schools and daycare centers routinely measuring pollutants in indoor environments. These precautionary measures proved in case of daycare in Uhrlbach a stroke of luck. It has been found in the laboratory analysis of highly volatile substance (VVOC) 2-chlorpropane. Maybe you would not yet taken the result at the Stuttgart authority seriously, if not available in schools and nursery in Bavaria, the 2-chlorpropane would have noticed. Then, the Ad-hoc-working group of the interior Commision of Federal Environment Agency had responded and recommended values for the tear gas. According to the protocol of the meeting from 22./23. October 2012 stated as a guide-II 8mg/m3 and as a guide-I 0,8 mg/m3. Insiders know that the indicative “guide-I” is considered to be precautionary, to be taken any action. Continue reading

Certified sampler for indoor pollutants

a proper sampling set

a proper sampling set

During the seminar “search and source quality indoor pollutants” on 09.16.2013 in Graefenberg/Germany participants heard from CEO Dr. Thomas Wirkner that Analysis Aurachtal is working on a concept for the qualification program “Certified sampler”. Building-biologists and other professionals in the field “interior analytics” thus improve their market opportunities with private and public clients, who are increasingly demanding a qualification card in the tender. Continue reading

Mercury: If the compact fluorescent lamp breaks

mercury in compact flourescent lamps

do not break a bulb

Mercury has unexpectedly come back into the public consciousness. Thanks this is the Europe-wide introduction of “energy saving bulbs”. But few know that many other everyday products are containing the heavy metal, for example, in flat panel displays, timers, fax machines, older boilers, ovens and freezers. Button batteries in two weight percent mercury may still be present, otherwise the use in batteries since 2001 is no longer allowed. Continue reading

Why wood preservatives are still an issue!

using wood preservtives?Wood exerts on many people a fascinating effect. Nevertheless, in Germany has the idea impressed that wood is always in danger of being destroyed by fungi or bacteria. Not for nothing is driving many homeowners in the construction markets, to buy chemical preservatives. After the wood preservative scandals in the seventies and eighties, some chemicals may however only be used outdoors. Continue reading

Look, why she’s sitting on the floor

my toxic couch
Toxic flame retardant chemicals are saturated in the foam inside our furniture. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects and are worthless in preventing furniture fires. We need better regulation of these chemicals to address this problem. That’s why she’s sitting on the floor.
Published on Feb 7, 2013: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=mvBkVfjcGpc

There are solvent-free paints and coatings?

paint and coating
Solvents are known, used in primers, adhesives, paints and coatings. Depending on the composition they emit gases of different lengths. Volatile solvents have an irritating habit that they stink and can irritate the mucous membranes. In conventional coatings is between 50% and 70% of solvent are present. Meanwhile, the industry found it in search of a less obvious solvents and is relying increasingly on glycol. Continue reading