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Li Xiaofang pushed open the door and sat down on the sofa tiredly. As an emergency physician, she had just finished a 36-hour shift.
However, just as she was about to close her eyes and rest, the silence was broken by a sharp knock on the door.
Outside the door stood her neighbor, Aunt Wang, with anxiety and panic on her face.
"Xiaofang, come and take a look, my Xiao Ming suddenly has a high fever that doesn't go away, and he is weak, I'm afraid..." Before Aunt Wang's words were finished, Li Xiaofang immediately followed her and rushed to the next door.
Xiao Ming was lying on the bed, his face was pale and his lips were purple. Li Xiaofang quickly checked his temperature and pulse, and her brows became tighter and tighter. "Aunt Wang, we have to take Xiao Ming to the hospital immediately." She said decisively.
In the ambulance, Li Xiaofang infusion for Xiao Ming while asking Aunt Wang about the recent situation at home. When she heard Aunt Wang mention that she had recently bought a few new pieces of furniture, a hint of foreboding suddenly flashed in her heart.
The results of the hospital soon came out: Xiao Ming suffered from acute leukemia. This diagnosis was like a bolt from the blue, which made Aunt Wang collapse instantly.
Li Xiaofang, on the other hand, was lost in thought, and she vaguely felt that this might not be just an accidental case.
Over the next few days, Li began investigating the health of other residents in the community.
To her surprise, three residents had been diagnosed with leukemia in the last six months, all living in the same building. This discovery made her realize the seriousness of the problem.
Li Xiaofang decided to investigate further. She reached out to several of the patient's family members to ask them about changes in their living environment.
After comparing them, she found that the families all had one thing in common: they had recently purchased new furniture or renovation materials.
With this clue, Li Xiaofang consulted a large number of medical literature.
She found that long-term exposure to chemicals contained in certain furniture and renovation materials, such as formaldehyde, benzene and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), may increase the risk of leukemia.
According to a study published in the Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, workers who were exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde for a long time had a 23% higher risk of developing leukemia than the general population [1].
Another study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute of United States, noted a clear causal relationship between benzene exposure and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [2].
Li Xiaofang also learned that the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified formaldehyde as a "carcinogen" [3], while the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines benzene as a "known human carcinogen" [4].
Li Xiaofang began a health education campaign in the community about indoor air pollution. She invited Professor Zhang, an environmental health expert, to give a lecture to the residents.
"Many people don't know that some of the items in our daily lives may release harmful substances.
For example, newly purchased furniture, flooring, wallpaper, etc., may contain harmful substances such as formaldehyde and benzene. These substances are slowly released into the air, and long-term inhalation can cause serious health hazards. "
In particular, he mentions four categories of items to watch out for:
1. New furniture: Especially solid wood furniture or panel furniture that you have just purchased, may release a lot of formaldehyde.
2. Newly renovated rooms: Paint, glue and other decoration materials often contain volatile organic compounds.
3. Inferior carpets: Some inferior carpets may contain harmful substances such as toluene and xylene.
4. Certain air fresheners: Although able to mask odors, they may contain harmful chemicals.
Prof. Cheung advises residents to take the following measures to reduce indoor air pollution:
1. Choose eco-certified products when buying furniture and ventilate them adequately before use.
2. Newly renovated rooms should be ventilated for at least 3-6 months before moving in.
3. Choose a carpet made of natural materials, or no carpet at all.
4. Purify the air by natural means such as plants or activated charcoal, and avoid using chemical air fresheners.
5. Keep the room ventilated frequently, open the window at least 2-3 times a day for more than 30 minutes each time.
Li Xiaofang's investigation and education activities have attracted the attention of the local health department. They sent a team of professionals to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the community and provided free health screenings to residents.
Through this incident, Li Xiaofang realized that as a doctor, her responsibility is not only to treat diseases, but also to pay attention to disease prevention and public health education.
She decided to use her spare time to continue her research on the relationship between the environment and health and spread this knowledge to more people.
A few months later, Xiao Ming finally recovered and was discharged from the hospital. Aunt Wang held Li Xiaofang's hand tightly, with tears in her eyes: "Xiaofang, thanks to you." If you hadn't discovered the problem in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. "
Li Xiaofang smiled and said, "This is what I should do." In fact, everyone should be the guardian of their own health.
Only when each of us is vigilant and pays attention to the environment around us can we truly prevent such tragedies from happening again. "
This experience not only changed a community, but also changed the trajectory of Li Xiaofang's life.
She began sharing knowledge about environmental health in various medical forums and public platforms, and working with environmental groups to promote the improvement of relevant regulations.
Her efforts were recognized and she was invited to participate in the development of a series of policy recommendations on indoor air quality standards. These recommendations were eventually adopted as part of the national standard.
Years later, when Li Xiaofang looked back on the experience, she was deeply grateful. The boy who nearly lost his life is now an environmental engineer working to create a healthier living environment.
And she herself has grown from an ordinary emergency physician to a well-respected environmental health professional.
This story teaches us that health threats can sometimes lurk all around us, and that seemingly safe home environments can also hide dangers.
Only by staying vigilant and constantly learning and spreading health knowledge can we truly protect the health of ourselves and our families.
As Li Xiaofang often said: "Health is not only the absence of disease, but also the recognition and prevention of potential risks." Let's work together to create a safer and healthier living environment for ourselves and future generations. "
[References]
[1] Beane Freeman， L. E.， et al. (2009). Mortality from lymphohematopoietic malignancies among workers in formaldehyde industries: the National Cancer Institute Cohort. Journal of the National Cancer Institute， 101(10)， 751-761.
[2] Lan， Q.， et al. (2004). Hematotoxicity in workers exposed to low levels of benzene. Science， 306(5702)， 1774-1776.
[3] World Health Organization. (2006). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 88: Formaldehyde， 2-Butoxyethanol and 1-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol.
[4] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) on Benzene. National Center for Environmental Assessment， Office of Research and Development， Washington， DC.
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[This content is a fictional short story, and any name, place name, or other aspects involved in the text have nothing to do with reality (without any implications). If there is any similarity, it is purely a coincidence, please read it rationally. 】