Avoiding the use of toxic building materials is one of the principles of sustainable construction. Current residential buildings frequently contain many toxic materials, some of which are even compliant with legal regulations in Europe and Portugal. Part of the problem is due to the fact that architects and civil engineers receive no education on the toxicity of building materials. Another problem is related to the fact that the regulations about toxicity thresholds are influenced by economic issues. This paper discusses some cases of toxic building materials by reviewing previously published work. It is focused on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); the toxicity of impregnating agents, paints, varnishes and other building materials; materials that release toxic fumes when on fire; asbestos-based materials; radioactive materials; and lead plumbing.
Toxicity; VOCs; Asbestos; Lead plumbing; Radioactivity