Why is an artificial Christmas tree harmful? Why are artificial Christmas trees dangerous? Is artificial one harmful?

The production of artificial Christmas trees uses polyvinyl chloride, which can pose a health hazard. This substance is especially harmful for the male body. This conclusion was reached by scientists from Canada's Simon Fraser University.

One of the materials used in the production of artificial Christmas trees is PVC - polyvinyl chloride. This is a toxic substance that can emit vapors that irritate the mucous membrane respiratory tract. But the harm of artificial Christmas trees is not limited to this.

It is worth mentioning individual additives that are used to increase fire safety. In particular, manufacturers use tin, lead or barium phthalates for this purpose. These connections have this side effect as the ability to provide Negative influence on "men's health".

At high concentrations of these substances in the air, a decrease in male strength may be observed. According to professor at the Canadian University Bruce Lanfear, phthalates lead to a decrease in the level of testosterone concentration in the male body, which can lead over time to the development of infertility.

It is for this reason that the professor advises against using artificial Christmas trees. Such a product cannot be called safe, and this is especially true for harmful influence on the health of the male body.

The influence of barium, lead and tin phthalates is not limited to their negative impact on " male strength" With gradual accumulation in the body, phthalates begin to have a toxic effect on other organs. In particular, they impair the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and have harmful effects on the activity of the nervous and endocrine systems. In addition, lead, barium and tin phthalates can lead to the development of cancer and also provoke bronchial asthma.

But the harm from these toxic substances used in the production of artificial trees can be minimized. To do this, experts advise that after purchasing such a spruce, do not rush to bring it into the house, but keep it in the fresh air for some time.

For example, an artificial Christmas tree can be placed on the balcony for a week. During this time, some of the harmful phthalates will evaporate and negative impact such spruce will decrease significantly. But the safest option would be to use natural spruce to celebrate the New Year. Pine is also suitable for this purpose. Therefore, if you plan to install a New Year tree indoors, then experts advise abandoning the artificial tree and choosing a natural forest beauty.

Shortly before the Christmas and New Year holidays, scientists decided to bring good news about the dangers of artificial Christmas trees. The corresponding results were published by employees of Simon Fraser University from Canada. Why are they now scaring us with artificial Christmas trees? Why are new phobias raised in relation to an old holiday?

In the course of the study, the authors found that artificial trees can threaten the health of the people who install them - especially. Because - what a horror - they contain phthalates, which reduce the level of testosterone in the body, thereby contributing to the development of infertility.

Perhaps the most interesting thing about this news is the terminology. "Scientists have found that polyvinyl chloride releases when heated dangerous gases, and artificial Christmas trees also contain phthalates."

The discovery about phthalates has long been overgrown with a beard

Sorry, but this “discovery,” to put it mildly, “with a gray beard” - it could have been read long before “Eureka!” Canadian scientists. And about the dangers of PVC and the notorious phthalates. It’s just that, outside the realm of concocted sensations, minimally self-respecting sources also clarify that, in fact, “killer” polyvinyl chloride is the second most widely used plastic after polyethylene. Bottles, disposable tableware, and a number of other products are made from it. useful inventions civilization.

Phthalates are dangerous at temperatures above 60 degrees

Yes, in principle, at elevated temperatures it can release those very “dangerous gases”. Another thing is that this temperature is over 60 degrees Celsius. In nature, the air heats up to such figures only in the Sahara Desert - but not in a city apartment under New Year. However, in the last century, an artificial Christmas tree, theoretically, could be heated to 60 degrees by light bulbs from powerful garlands. But now, when even “budget” garlands made in China are made on the basis of LEDs, the overwhelming percentage of the energy used goes into light, not heat - it’s simply not serious to be afraid of heating up the Christmas tree PVC.

But, let’s say, phthalates, which Canadians also “discovered as a result of research” in plastic. Although information about their presence in polyvinyl chloride materials can be found even on Wikipedia) they will still stand out in a home with a synthetic Christmas tree installed. Are they really that dangerous?

Again, theoretically, these substances can cause cancer, kidney damage, and much more. But interest Ask- why haven’t they been banned yet, at least in developed countries?! Okay, there, the “poor people” cannot do without “dangerous” plastic - but really, the “golden billion” couldn’t afford to use something so “environmentally friendly and safe” - even if it’s about 10 times more expensive than PVC?

Why haven't Christmas trees been banned yet?

There are countless examples of this. The most indicative is the EU’s practice, reaching the point of absurdity, of almost every year tightening the maximum acceptable standards harmful substances in car exhaust gases - all these "Euro-1,2...5" - with no end in sight. And after all, the forced transition to every new standard forces Europeans to buy new ones, expensive cars- while they could drive old (in the sense of over 8 years old) Volkswagens and Citroens without problems for another couple of decades.

Yes, everything is elementary - it’s just that all this “harmful plastic” does not pose a real danger! In any case, dangers beyond the scope of “statistical error”- in serious scientific research cannot be considered a serious argument. That is, if out of a hundred thousand people one gets sick from plastic product even cancer means he was simply unlucky, and no one will break technologies that are safe for the remaining 99 thousand 999 consumers.

Look, in the annotations of the most popular and expensive medicines there are also such side effects, with a frequency of 1:100 thousand or even per million - that it is better to shoot yourself right away. But this in no way prevents the vast majority of sane patients from buying these - and using them to fight much more truly dangerous diseases.

In fact, the fact that the staff of Simon Fraser University did not even bother to remember the “carcinogenicity” of phthalates once again proves that this danger is more far-fetched than real. Instead, they preferred to “hit below the belt” by starting to scare the “strong half” of humanity with the “threat of infertility” due to celebrating the New Year under an artificial “green beauty”.

Why do modern men need fertility?

As for me, such a threat is akin to the textbook “they scared the hedgehog with their bare bottom.” Well, why do today’s men give up this very “fertility”? If in modern developed societies it is good if there is one and a half average children per family? And it’s not so much IVF and other methods of artificial and natural insemination that are thriving, but rather the contraceptive industry. Moreover, with the dominant mixture of male chauvinism and male “don’t care” in society - “a woman should take care of birth control, and getting pregnant is her problem.” And here is such a gift to the “beautiful half of humanity” - an unobtrusive and cheap “male contraceptive” will appear for men.

Moreover, logically, the gift to beautiful ladies will be double. After all the notorious phthalates have a negative effect on the ability of men to fertilize by simulating the action of estrogens and female sex hormones in their body. That is, for cute creatures, these same phthalates will be quite “appropriate” - increasing their sexuality and other feminine qualities. As, by the way, are phytoestrogens contained in the most common beer. That does not in the least prevent the “stronger sex” from savoring their favorite drink for centuries - for some reason without the slightest fear of turning into “eunuchs”.

The dangers of artificial Christmas trees have been greatly exaggerated

Seriously, both the “danger” for men’s health and the “bonuses” for female sexuality thanks to artificial Christmas trees are greatly exaggerated. For one simple reason - the “exposure” of finding this tree during the holidays is too small. A couple of weeks - and that’s it, the Christmas tree is sent for storage.

Well, and, most importantly, even after the “source of male infertility,” according to Canadian alarmists, goes to the mezzanine to wait for the next New Year, the people who celebrated will still not escape contact with the whole “sea” of polyvinyl chloride-phthalate plastic. This is the same as talking with pathos about the “harm of wet feet” for a person who got wet to the skin in the pouring rain.

No doubt, natural Christmas trees are a good thing. Personally, as long as I can remember, I always put pine from forestry on the holiday table, and sometimes removed it in May. Which, in general, is also not very useful from a scientific point of view - after all, a tree from the forest also contains bacteria and some other “bad” substances and microorganisms.

Phobias are specifically brought up in us

I don’t specifically indicate them precisely - in order to avoid the emergence of stupid fears. A holiday is a holiday, and the benefits of holding it in accordance with centuries-old traditions by orders of magnitude exceed the unlikely harm from one or another unpleasant factor, without which not a single object or phenomenon around us can do. So after all, you can walk in your fright and have a glass of champagne, and just festive table- how many people end up in hospitals from him after January 1!

And start to be afraid out of the blue of holiday trees, either artificial or natural, after reading the scientific nonsense of a sample of the “discovery” of Canadian scientists - another type of unfounded “phobia”.

People buy artificial Christmas trees for a number of reasons: allergies to tree pollen, ease of cleaning, the presence of a firefighter in the family who scares everyone with stories about fire-hazardous live spruce trees. But are artificial Christmas trees safe and harmless?

It's a difficult question. To begin to answer this, you need to understand what the tree is made of, which is usually a synthetic plastic called polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is also used to make pipes, children's toys, medical devices and interior decoration cars. American Christmas Tree Association - non-profit organization, which educates about live and artificial Christmas trees, says the material is “not dangerous” and “not harmful.” But many experts are willing to argue otherwise. Partly because PVC is a heat-resistant substance that can use metals such as lead, tin and barium as stabilizers. As a result, a 2004 study even found significant amounts of lead in artificial Christmas trees.

In addition, the gases emitted by PVC, known as volatile organic compounds, can cause irritation to the eyes, lungs and nasal mucosa.

Sometimes PVC may contain phthalates, which are known to disrupt the endocrine system.

But the main thing about this problem is that you never know what exactly your Christmas tree is made of. In addition, some of the potentially present substances may not have passed through laboratory research on their effect on the human body. AND hazardous substances may be considered harmless. Insufficient control over the production of artificial fir trees allows the possibility of other substances being included in their composition. chemical substances.

But is there any point in being afraid of the unobtrusive presence of not the most beneficial chemicals in the Christmas tree? Experts believe that contact with lead, even in small quantities, does not bode well for the reproductive system and blood pressure, and in children can lead to a decrease in IQ. By the way, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes that there is no safe level of lead at all.

However, you can protect yourself. Items made from PVC highlight greatest number harmful gases upon first contact with air, so when purchasing a new artificial Christmas tree, give it a chance to “ventilate” by placing it outside for several hours or even days. The longer it stays outside, the less harm it will cause you.

And do not store it for the rest of your life - as it ages, PVC begins to emit again harmful substances. Artificial Christmas trees should be replaced at least once every 9 years.

Every year, many people prefer to buy artificial Christmas trees rather than real ones. This is due to a practical outlook on life - buy once and use it for a hundred years, as well as for reasons of protecting nature. Polymer products are not inferior in beauty to living Christmas trees. But experts say artificial Christmas trees may be harmful to your health.

What types of artificial Christmas trees are there?

All artificial Christmas tree models are prefabricated products. The most convenient is the hinged model. The trunk is divided into 3-4 sections, to which the branches are attached. Do not buy an artificial beauty that is too tall and fluffy if you plan to place it in a small apartment. It is better to give preference to a Christmas tree from 1.5 to 1.8 m. Also, make sure that the Christmas tree has a metal stand, it will provide good stability.

Are artificial Christmas trees harmful?

Many manufacturers add flavorings to artificial Christmas trees that imitate the smell of pine needles. Often, in addition to notes of pine, there is also the smell of plastic or chemicals. This is especially felt if the tree is near heat (fireplace, radiator). Such odors can be harmful to your health, especially harmful to the health of your child. Before purchasing, it is better to ask the seller for a quality certificate.

One of the specialists from the National Environmental Center explains that most products in Ukraine do not meet quality standards. The longer the Christmas tree is in the house, the greater the likelihood of poisoning.

How to choose an artificial Christmas tree

If you decide to purchase an artificial beauty, pay attention to the following:

1. The most popular sizes of Christmas trees are 1.8, 2 and 2.15. It all depends on the size of the room.

2. Christmas trees from China (low quality) have specific smell. It’s better not to buy such trees!

3. Needles can be of two types. In the first case, it is impregnated paper (the tree looks fluffier, but it is short-lived and will last no more than 3 years). It is better that the Christmas tree is made of fire-resistant plastic and synthetic fibers.

4. Before purchasing, check the Christmas tree for quality. To do this, run your hand along the soft needles against the “growth” of the needles, and tug on the hard ones. Bend and straighten the branches, they should move easily and not crunch. The needles should not be deformed; if they bend without much strain, you are being sold a quality product.

5. Nice Christmas trees are made from polymers with the addition of substances that prevent fire. When purchasing a Christmas tree made from paper pine needles, it is better to refrain from using electric garlands - they are highly flammable.

It’s up to you to choose an artificial Christmas tree or still give preference to a natural beauty. Choose wisely to celebrate the New Year not only fun, but also safe.

Equipment used in solariums and special lamps are devices for fake tan, which claim to provide an effective, fast and harmless alternative to natural sunlight. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from tanning bed lamps can harm your skin and increase your risk of skin cancer.

Every year, about 132,000 cases of malignant melanoma (the most dangerous type of skin cancer) and more than two million cases of other skin cancers occur worldwide. One out of every three cancers diagnosed worldwide is skin cancer. Most skin cancers develop as a result of overexposure to natural UV radiation.

Many countries have a ban on visiting solariums for minors - Germany, USA. Along with such countries, there are countries with a complete ban on solariums: the UK and Brazil, and from January 2015 the last solarium in Australia is due to close. The Australian Department of Health has decided to ban tanning salons due to the high risk of developing skin cancer in people visiting solariums. The Australian Department of Health spends up to $100 million a year on the prevention and control of skin cancer. Visiting tanning salons increases the incidence of skin cancer and over the past 30 years, the incidence of skin cancer has quadrupled. This is the fastest growing indicator in the group of oncological diseases. Young people under 25 years of age are most at risk.

According to a study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO), people who use artificial tanning before the age of 35 have a 75% increased risk of developing Melanoma is one of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer.

1. Skin cancers

UV radiation, both natural radiation from the sun and radiation from artificial sources such as tanning lamps, is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer. It was found that short-wave UV rays of the B spectrum (280-315 nm) are carcinogenic to experimental animals. There is now growing evidence that long-wave UV A rays (315-400 nm), used in tanning equipment and penetrating deeper into the skin, also cause cancer. A study conducted in Norway and Sweden showed a significant increase in the risk of developing malignant melanoma in women who regularly use tanning equipment.

The additional exposure to UV rays emitted from tanning equipment apparently increases the well-known harmful effects of excessive exposure to the sun's UV rays. There is no reason to believe that exposure to UV rays emitted by any type of tanning equipment is any less harmful than exposure to UV rays from the sun. In persons with fair skin, protecting the skin from sun rays, but who regularly used tanning equipment for two to three years, precancerous keratoses and Bowen's disease were also found.

2. Aging skin, eye damage and other adverse health effects

Any excessive exposure to UV rays, not just from artificial sources, can cause structural damage to human skin. Burns, cracks and scars may soon appear, and later photoaging. Photoaging, caused by the destruction of collagen in the skin under the influence of UV rays, manifests itself in the formation of wrinkles and loss of elasticity.

Among eye damage caused by UV rays, it is necessary to note cataracts, pterygium (growth of white spot on the cornea) and eye inflammations such as photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis. In addition, excessive exposure to UV rays can weaken the immune system, increasing the risk of infectious diseases.

3. Some skin types are not suitable for tanning.

There are six various types skin (I - VI) in terms of its sensitivity to sunburn. People with skin type I have the fairest skin, which can remain completely untanned even after repeated use of tanning equipment. As a rule, sunburn occurs on such skin.

Visitors to solariums are forced to determine that their skin type is not suitable for artificial tanning on their own, or, what is much worse, to be convinced of this through sad experience sunburn. Therefore, it is necessary to train operators of tanning equipment to correctly determine the skin type of visitors. While people with skin type II and above can tan, overexposing their skin to UV rays can also cause skin damage.

4. Dangers of Children's Exposure to UV Rays

Children's exposure to UV rays and childhood burns, both from the sun and from tanning equipment, are known to increase their risk of developing melanoma in the future. For this reason it is necessary to pay Special attention ensuring that children and teenagers are not allowed to use tanning equipment. Exposure to tanning lamps and equipment is "recognized as a human carcinogen" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the risk increases with length of exposure, especially for people under 30 years of age.