Colonel Mustard, In the Library, With a Book

Poisoned in the Library [LINK]

The adults suffered from constant coughing, while their child had rhinitis. They spent about 8,000 yuan (HK$9,185) on medical treatment but nothing worked – and doctors weren’t sure what was causing their illness, the report said.

But after doing some research, the woman realized that the air in their home could be to blame. At her request, the municipal authorities tested the air quality in their apartment and found excessive levels of formaldehyde in every room. In some places, the concentration of formaldehyde was dangerously high.

Formaldehyde is present in the printing inks used in books, magazines and newspapers.

The pair are both voracious readers and said they bought books online three to four times a month, according to the report. There were piles of books in every room of their flat and the husband told the broadcaster that they had accumulated tens of thousands of them.

Doctors told the couple to confine their collection to one room and improve ventilation in their home, while experts suggested they get rid of some of the books.