Aside from the occasional paper cut or perhaps killer litter, books aren't typically a source of danger.

除了偶尔会被纸片割伤和高空抛物之外，书籍通常情况下并不是危险源。

But for a family living in Taizhou in China's Jiangsu province, their love of reading was slowly poisoning them - literally.

但是中国江苏省泰州市的一个爱书家庭，却因书籍而慢性中毒。

At the end of last year, the family- which consists of a couple and their child- developed symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning, according to a report from Jiangsu Television. The adults suffered from constant coughing, while their child had rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane.

据江苏电视台报道，去年年底，这一三口之家出现了甲醛中毒的症状。父母不停咳嗽，孩子得了鼻炎，即鼻黏膜发炎。

The couple spent about 8,000 yuan (S$1,630) on medical treatment but nothing worked. Furthermore, doctors weren't sure what was causing their illness, the television report said.

该电视报道指出，这对夫妻花了8000元（合计1630美元）治疗，但都无济于事。并且，医生并未诊断出病因。

However, after doing some research, the woman realised that the air in their home could be the source of the problem.

不过在做过一些调查之后，女主人意识到他们家中的空气有可能是问题的根源。

She requested municipal authorities to test the air quality in their apartment and the results found excessive levels of formaldehyde in every room. In some areas, the concentration of formaldehyde was dangerously high.

她请求相关机构监测了家里的空气质量，结果显示，每间房屋里的甲醛都超标。而在部分区域，甲醛的浓度极其之高。

According to China's national standards, anything over 0.08 milligrams of formaldehyde per square metre is considered unhealthy.

根据中国国家标准，每平方米甲醛不得超过0.08毫克，否则就是有害的。

The concentration of the poisonous gas in the couple's bedroom was 0.10 milligrams per square metre, and the highest levels of formaldehyde came from their bookshelves. Reaching up to 0.26 milligrams per square metre, the collection of books was identified as the main source of formaldehyde pollution, South China Morning Post reported.

据《南华早报》报道，这对夫妻的卧室的甲醛浓度为每平方米0.10毫克，而浓度最高的地方是书架，竟高达每平方米0.26毫克，而书籍被认定为甲醛的主要来源。

The couple, who are avid readers, said to Jiangsu Television that they bought books online three to four times a month.

这对夫妻在接受江苏电视台的采访时表示，他们都是书迷，一个月会网购三、四次图书。

Experts suggested the couple get rid of some of the books while doctors told them to limit their collection to one room and improve the ventilation in their home.

有关专家建议这对夫妻要舍弃掉一些书籍，而医生要求他们减少购书，并且提高房间的通风性。

Aside from the occasional paper cut or perhaps killer litter, books aren't typically a source of danger.

除了偶尔会被纸片割伤和高空抛物之外，书籍通常情况下并不是危险源。

But for a family living in Taizhou in China's Jiangsu province, their love of reading was slowly poisoning them - literally.

但是中国江苏省泰州市的一个爱书家庭，却因书籍而慢性中毒。

At the end of last year, the family- which consists of a couple and their child- developed symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning, according to a report from Jiangsu Television. The adults suffered from constant coughing, while their child had rhinitis, an inflammation of the mucous membrane.

据江苏电视台报道，去年年底，这一三口之家出现了甲醛中毒的症状。父母不停咳嗽，孩子得了鼻炎，即鼻黏膜发炎。

The couple spent about 8,000 yuan (S$1,630) on medical treatment but nothing worked. Furthermore, doctors weren't sure what was causing their illness, the television report said.

该电视报道指出，这对夫妻花了8000元（合计1630美元）治疗，但都无济于事。并且，医生并未诊断出病因。

However, after doing some research, the woman realised that the air in their home could be the source of the problem.

不过在做过一些调查之后，女主人意识到他们家中的空气有可能是问题的根源。

She requested municipal authorities to test the air quality in their apartment and the results found excessive levels of formaldehyde in every room. In some areas, the concentration of formaldehyde was dangerously high.

她请求相关机构监测了家里的空气质量，结果显示，每间房屋里的甲醛都超标。而在部分区域，甲醛的浓度极其之高。

According to China's national standards, anything over 0.08 milligrams of formaldehyde per square metre is considered unhealthy.

根据中国国家标准，每平方米甲醛不得超过0.08毫克，否则就是有害的。

The concentration of the poisonous gas in the couple's bedroom was 0.10 milligrams per square metre, and the highest levels of formaldehyde came from their bookshelves. Reaching up to 0.26 milligrams per square metre, the collection of books was identified as the main source of formaldehyde pollution, South China Morning Post reported.

据《南华早报》报道，这对夫妻的卧室的甲醛浓度为每平方米0.10毫克，而浓度最高的地方是书架，竟高达每平方米0.26毫克，而书籍被认定为甲醛的主要来源。

The couple, who are avid readers, said to Jiangsu Television that they bought books online three to four times a month.

这对夫妻在接受江苏电视台的采访时表示，他们都是书迷，一个月会网购三、四次图书。

Experts suggested the couple get rid of some of the books while doctors told them to limit their collection to one room and improve the ventilation in their home.

有关专家建议这对夫妻要舍弃掉一些书籍，而医生要求他们减少购书，并且提高房间的通风性。