Advances in the Toxicity of Construction and Building Materials

Book excerpt: Advances in the Toxicity of Construction and Building Materials presents the potential and toxic effects of building materials on human health, along with tactics on how to minimize exposure. Chapters are divided into four sections covering the toxicity of indoor environments, fire toxicity, radioactive materials, and toxicity from plastics, metals, asbestos, nanoparticles and construction wastes. Key chapters focus on the reduction of chemical emissions in houses with eco-labelled building materials and potential risks posed by indoor pollutants that may include volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), radon, NOx, asbestos and nanoparticles. Known illnesses and reactions that can be triggered by these toxic building materials include asthma, itchiness, burning eyes, skin irritations or rashes, nose and throat irritation, nausea, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, reproductive impairment, disruption of the endocrine system, impaired child development and birth defects, immune system suppression, and even cancer. - Provides an essential guide to the potential toxic effects of building materials on human health - Comprehensively examines materials responsible for formaldehyde and volatile organic compound emissions, as well as semi-volatile organic compounds - Presents coverage on fire toxicity and an evaluation of the radioactivity of building materials - Includes several cases studies throughout and addresses current international standards