Naphthalin is a colorless fabric that surrounds us as part of certain products and gases in everyday life. You can find out what makes the material problematic and how you avoid it here.
Naphthalin is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (short: Pak). This is the name for certain chemical compounds made of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Like other PAKs, naphthaline is created as an end product for combustion processes.
In small quantities, it occurs in nature with natural burns of organic materials. Higher quantities arise, particularly in the production of oil. Cigarette smoke and car exhaust also contain naphthaline.
Where is Naphthalin used?
Naphthalin is also processed in a targeted manner in industry and can then be used in different ways. According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), for example, it is part of:
- Plastics
- Color agents (rows for black color)
- Tar oil
- Fuel for aircraft
-
Insecticides (formerly often often moth powder)
- Plasticizers
Sometimes traces of naphhtalin can also be found in cosmetic products. The reason for this is contaminants in manufacturing. According to the EU Cosmetic Ordinance, it is forbidden to sell cosmetic products containing naphthalin. Smaller quantities are only allowed if manufacturers can prove: on the inside by a security assessment that no harmful effect is based on them.
How harmful is naphthalin?
Naphthalin can quickly get into our organism via our breathing organs or skin. How exactly it works there has not yet been scientifically clarified. However, there are various studies that indicate the harmful effect of naphthaline.
According to the BFR, the PKA can promote inflammation and damage to the upper respiratory tract. In particular, this is the case if we breathe in the fabric at regular intervals. This can be easily done if we are surrounded by car exhaust gases, naphthalin -rich plastic products or soot residues on black colored products.
If the inflammation becomes chronic, so it always occurs or does never really heal, this can promote the development of tumors. An investigation by a US research team also shows that naphthalin could cause genetic damage in children. These in turn increase the risk of developing leukemia in adulthood.
Naphtalin is therefore classified by the BFR in the category “Probably can create cancer”. It is also considered “harmful to health when swallowing”. According to the BFR, the carcinogenic effect in naphthaline is somewhat lower compared to other PAKs.
This is how you avoid naphthaline
We are difficult to avoid taking Naphthalin and other PAKs every day. In order to keep the amount of harmful substances as low as possible, you can note a few notes:
- Naphthalin is colorless and therefore not easy to recognize. However, its biting, tar -like smell is typical. Products from which one of them will probably contain naphthalin -rich plasticizers or plastics. You should avoid these and keep them away from children. You can get tips and hints for pollutant children’s toys here:
-
Naphthalin -based moth powder is not only harmful to health – its effect against insects is also questionable. Therefore and due to environmental concerns, the sale of naphthalin-containing moth balls has been banned across the EU since 2008.
- Pleb traps help against clothing moths instead. In addition, you should store infested clothing in the freezer for a few weeks. The pests die from the cold.
- To combat flour moths in food, you should dispose of infected products and wipe the cupboards with vinegar water. So -called slip wasps also fight moths naturally.
- In this article, we will show you other methods with which you can avoid PAKs in everyday life as much as possible in everyday life: where Paks occur and what problems they cause.
Remove naphthalin smell from clothing
If your clothes smell of moth balls, i.e. naphthaline, you can try the following home remedies to get rid of the unpleasant smell:
-
Ventilation: hang up the clothes for several days – preferably in the shade, as the sun is fleeing a lot of fabrics.
- Mix vinegar in a ratio of 1: 4 with water and switch with it the clothes. Then put them in the washing machine if necessary.
- Fill sodium powder in the washing machine. Soda as a home remedy helps against all kinds of smells.
- If nothing else helps, you can use special detergent that contains enzymes or activated carbon against smells.
Revised by Denise Schmucker
Read more on utopia.de:
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- Polyethylene (PE): What you need to know about the plastic
- The worst ingredients in cosmetics
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