Posted on 07/08/2017 7:03:03 PM PDT by nickcarraway
aside from the occasional paper cut or perhaps killer litter, books aren't typically a source of danger.
But for a family living in Taizhou in China's Jiangsu province, their love of reading was slowly poisoning them - literally.
At the end of last year, the family- which consists of a couple and their child- developed symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning, according to a report from Jiangsu Television.
The adults suffered from constant coughing, while their child had rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane.
Books in the family's home were to blame.
The couple spent about 8,000 yuan (S$1,630) on medical treatment but nothing worked.
Furthermore, doctors weren't sure what was causing their illness, the television report said.
However, after doing some research, the woman realised that the air in their home could be the source of the problem.
The homeowner, who was not identified, realised the air could be the problem.
She requested municipal authorities to test the air quality in their apartment and the results found excessive levels of formaldehyde in every room. In some areas, the concentration of formaldehyde was dangerously high.
According to China's national standards, anything over 0.08 milligrams of formaldehyde per square metre is considered unhealthy.
The concentration of the poisonous gas in the couple's bedroom was 0.10 milligrams per square metre, and the highest levels of formaldehyde came from their bookshelves.
Reaching up to 0.26 milligrams per square metre, the collection of books was identified as the main source of formaldehyde pollution, South China Morning Post reported.
The readings from the air quality test.
Formaldehyde is a colourless, yet strong-smelling gas, and is found in many products ranging from wallpaper and paints to cosmetics, clothing, carpet, pressed-wood products, and even beer.
It is also used to make some nail polishes and embalming fluid.
High levels of the chemical can damage the respiratory and immune systems.
In this case, the family was affected by the formaldehyde present in the printing inks used in books, magazines and newspapers.
The couple, who are avid readers, said to Jiangsu Television that they bought books online three to four times a month.
Piles of books were present in every room of the family's flat, and the husband told the broadcaster that they had accumulated tens of thousands of them.
The home was well-stocked with books.
Experts suggested the couple get rid of some of the books while doctors told them to limit their collection to one room and improve the ventilation in their home.
I hope they enjoy their new chapter in life.
Bookmark for later...
I would like to see someone try and make a movie of Foucault’s Pendulum.
Did they have Aristotle’s treatise on comedy?
China has air quality standards?
Who knew?
L
The other thing to look for is radiation from Fukushima in your fish. I use Nordic Naturals Omega-3 + D, thinking of switching to their cod liver oil, which their web site says is 100% arctic cod.
http://www.nordicnaturals.com/consumers.php
If you find another brand with similar quality, lower price, please let me know.
My first thought. The tip-off (to me) in that movie was when the guy reading to the people at supper, ostentatiously licked his finger and turned the page. I didn't know what was killing the monks, but knew that scene had something to do with it.
Unless you found some bindings.
A footnote:
The Chinese are known for their bindings.
I owned a bookstore for about a dozen years. The ink in books printed in China was so strong that it burned my nose, especially the books with color printing.
Printing costs on full color books are a fraction of the cost in USA due to the substandard inks.
We had a FEMA trailer after Hurricane Katrina that was giving off formaldehyde gas inside. We didn’t find out until later, but we were all suffering the same symptoms as the people in this story plus sore throats.
Hoarders. Maybe the mouse droppings were the real problem.
Prague Cemetery would be a great but impossible movie. Foucault’s Pendulum actually reads like you are watching a movie.
““Name of the Rose” by Umberto Eco.”
Movie adaption stars Sean Connery. Good movie.
Similar symptoms happened here after hurricane Irene. People with new houses are now suffering with respiratory ailments. My neighbor moved into her brand new “beautiful” prefab house and within 5 months ended in a hospital. I never see her open her windows.
Carlson’s is cheaper and is IFOS guaranteed.
https://www.amazon.com/Carlson-Norwegian-Cod-Liver-Lemon/dp/B003B3P4PO?th=1
I wonder if she used bad Chinese construction materials to rebuild. There was a huge problem with that after Katrina, too.
THIS.
THIS is how you do health care.
Republicans, please take note.
bttt
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.