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Building materials may cause cancer: panelists

After years of hard work and savings, you move into the new home of your dreams, complete with fresh paint, floor-to-ceiling windows and gallery-like light fixtures. But did you know that all of the above could cause health problems?

The scenario was discussed yesterday by a panel of interior design and architectural experts in Taipei at a press conference called “10 Common Mistakes in Interior Designs,” which called on people to be concerned about things other than cost when choosing building materials for their homes.

“When we started our research, we wanted to help people conserve energy in their homes,” said Jerry Chiou (邱繼哲), director of the Green Comfortable Healthy Association. “But we quickly began to ask ourselves why so much energy was being wasted. Why is there such a need for people to have dehumidifier or air purifiers? It was because of common mistakes people make when renovating their homes.”

Architect Kuo Ying-chao (郭英釗) said the mistakes included using toxic building materials, taking no precautions against mold and moisture, building houses that were not well-ventilated and installing traditional but energy-consuming light fixtures.

“In about 50 houses we surveyed, only 13 percent were within safety levels for formaldehyde [from building material adhesives], benzene and other volatile organic compounds,” said Chiang Shou-shan (江守山), a nephrologist at the Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital.

And while formaldehyde emitted from building materials could be reduced to a minimum with good ventilation in a matter of months, other substances could take three to 20 years to completely evaporate, Chiang said.

“One of my clients suffered liver failure after moving into his brand new, but formaldehyde-dense house for four months,” he said.

But those living in older buildings need not panic. Ventilation is key to avoiding problems, said Kuo, who designed one of Taipei’s most famous green buildings — the Beitou District Library.

“Even after you move into a new house, you may continue to buy things such as books or new curtains, which would contain formaldehyde. Maintaining good ventilation in the house can effectively lower the toxins to an acceptable level,” Kuo said.

Living in a healthy environment also means living green to reduce carbon emissions, panelists said.

“Some of my friends say that they want houses designed like hotels — I think in reality they are just too shy to say that they want houses designed like palaces, but when [you design a home like that], you wind up with a lot of things you don’t need,” Kuo said.

The more decorations — and thus more building materials — the more possible sources of toxins a house would contain, Chiang said.
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