A doctor has warned of the risks of buying an artificial Christmas tree
Various types of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride or PVC, polypropylene and polyethylene, are used to produce artificial fir trees and Christmas decorations. Polina Lepilova, a general practitioner at the SberZdorovye medical company, told Izvestia on December 16 about the dangers of artificial Christmas trees and other New Year's toys.
According to her, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) contains components dangerous for health, such as vinyl chloride, which can cause allergies, as well as phthalates, which can adversely affect the endocrine, respiratory and reproductive systems. It is important to emphasize that phthalates can come out of plastic and get into household dust, which then enters the body through food or inhaled air. In addition, when working with PVC, lead is sometimes used, particles of which can be released over time and have a toxic effect on the immune and reproductive systems.
Lepilova clarified that artificial Christmas trees and Christmas decorations made of polyethylene or polypropylene are considered safer than PVC because the risk of lead contamination and phthalates is extremely low. In addition, these types of plastic do not release toxic substances when heated. She noted that to prevent fires, some manufacturers add flame retardants to artificial Christmas trees, which can negatively affect the human immune and reproductive systems, as well as disrupt the balance and production of hormones.
"When buying artificial Christmas trees and Christmas decorations, it is recommended to give preference to products made of propylene and polyethylene. If the label indicates that the product contains a mixture of these materials with PVC, it is desirable to choose the option with the highest content of polyethylene or polypropylene," - said the doctor.
In addition, to reduce the likelihood of exposure to various chemicals present in artificial Christmas trees and toys for them, it is important to take precautions. Before bringing them into the house, it is recommended to air these items out in the fresh air, whether it is the street, garage or balcony. This will help eliminate the unpleasant plastic odor and reduce the level of volatile harmful compounds, the expert pointed out.
"After interacting with spruce and toys, it is necessary to wash your hands, especially before eating. In addition, while in the room stands decorated Christmas tree, it is desirable to ventilate it every one and a half to two hours and daily cleaning with a vacuum cleaner," - summarized Lepilova.
Earlier, on December 13, Vera Serezhina, a medical expert of the medical company LabQuest, told Izvestia about the pros and cons of live and artificial Christmas trees. According to her, the main advantage of natural fir trees is the release of essential oils rich in phytoncides, which have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
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