It depends what material your faux beams are made out of. And not only are some of these products non-environmentally friendly, but some can potentially even be harmful for humans. As some of you may already know, styrofoam is a material that does not dissolve and can remain in landfills for centuries. Therefore, styrofoam faux beams (also referred to as styrene or EPS foam) are not the best choice for those of us that like to be green.
Now how can styrofoam faux beams be hazardous to our health? Well, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has styrene listed as a possible human carcinogen. Studies suggest that styrene mimics estrogen in the body and can therefore disrupt normal hormone functions, possibly contributing to thyroid problems, menstrual irregularities, and other hormone-related problems, as well as breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Now the good news! Not all faux beams are bad for the environment and our health. You just have to make sure to look for faux beams made out of polyurethane. Polyurethane faux beams are non toxic and do not admit toxic gasses or vapors. So there you go, now you can stay green while making your house look amazing.
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