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What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is an important industrial
chemical used to make other chemicals,
building materials, and household products. It
is one of the large family of chemical
compounds called volatile organic compounds
or 'VOCs'. The term volatile means that the
compounds vaporize, that is, become a gas, at
normal room temperatures. Formaldehyde
serves many purposes in products. It is used as
a part of:
• the glue or adhesive in pressed wood
products (particleboard, hardwood ply-
wood, and fiberboard);
• preservatives in some paints, coatings,
and cosmetics;
• the coating that provides permanent press
quality to fabrics and draperies;
• the finish used to coat paper products; and
• certain insulation materials (urea-
formaldehyde foam insulation).
Formaldehyde is released into the air by
burning wood, kerosene or natural gas, by
automobiles, and by cigarettes. Formaldehyde
can off-gas from materials made with it. It is
also a naturally occurring substance.
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The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission has
produced this booklet to tell you about
formaldehyde found in the indoor air. This
booklet tells you where you may come in
contact with formaldehyde, how it may affect
your health, and how you might reduce your
exposure to it.
Why Should You Be Concerned?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling
gas. When present in the air at levels above 0.1
ppm (parts in a million parts of air), it can cause
watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes,
nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest
tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic
reactions. It also causes cancer in laboratory
animals and may cause cancer in humans.
Formaldehyde can affect people differently.
Some people are very sensitive to formalde-
hyde while others may not have any noticeable
reaction to the same level.
Persons have developed allergic reactions
(allergic skin disease and hives) to formalde-
hyde through skin contact with solutions of
formaldehyde or durable-press clothing
containing formaldehyde. Others have devel-
oped asthmatic reactions and skin rashes from
exposure to formaldehyde.
You should understand that formaldehyde is
just one of several gases present indoors that
may cause illnesses. Many of these gases, as
well as colds and flu, cause similar symptoms.
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What Levels of Formaldehyde
Are Normal?
Formaldehyde is normally present at low
levels, usually less than 0.03 ppm, in both out-
door and indoor air. The outdoor air in rural
areas has lower concentrations while urban
areas have higher concentrations. Residences
or offices that contain products that release
formaldehyde to the air can have formaldehyde
levels of greater than 0.03 ppm. Products that
may add formaldehyde to the air include
particleboard used as sub-flooring or shelving,
fiberboard in cabinets and furniture, plywood
wall panels, and urea-formaldehyde as
insulation. As formaldehyde levels increase,
illness or discomfort is more likely to occur and
may be more serious.
Efforts have been made by both the govern-
ment and industry to reduce exposure to
formaldehyde. CPSC voted to ban urea-formal-
dehyde foam insulation. That ban was over-
turned in the courts, but these actions greatly
reduced the residential use of the product.
CPSC, the Department of Housing and Urban
Development, and other federal agencies are
working with the pressed wood industry to
further reduce the release of the chemical from
their products. However, it would be unrealistic
to expect to completely remove formaldehyde
from the air. Some persons who are extremely
sensitive to formaldehyde may need to reduce
or stop using these products.
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What Affects Formaldehyde Levels?
Formaldehyde levels in the indoor air depend
mainly on what is releasing the formaldehyde
(the source), the temperature, the humidity, and
the air exchange rate (the amount of outdoor air
entering or leaving the indoor area). Increasing
the flow of outdoor air to the inside decreases
the formaldehyde levels. Decreasing this flow
of outdoor air by sealing the residence or office
increases the formaldehyde level in the in-
door air.
As the temperature rises, more formaldehyde
comes off from the product. The reverse is also
true; less formaldehyde comes off at lower
temperature. Humidity also affects the release
of formaldehyde from the product. As humidity
rises more formaldehyde is released.
The formaldehyde levels in a residence
change with the season and from day-to-day
and day-to-night. Levels may be high on a hot
and humid day and low on a cool, dry day.
Understanding these factors is important when
you consider measuring the levels of
formaldehyde.
Some sources—such as pressed wood
products containing urea-formaldehyde glues,
urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, durable-
press fabrics, and draperies—release more
formaldehyde when new. As they age, the
formaldehyde release decreases.
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What are the Major Sources?
1. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation: During
the 1970s, many home owners installed this
insulation to save energy. Many of these
homes had high levels of formaldehyde
soon afterwards. Sale of urea formaldehyde
foam insulation has largely stopped.
Formaldehyde release from this product
decreases rapidly after the first few months
and reaches background levels in a few
years. Therefore, urea-formaldehyde foam
insulation installed 5 to 10 years ago is
unlikely to still release formaldehyde.
2. Durable-press fabrics, draperies, and
coated paper products: In the early 1960s,
there were several reports of allergic
reactions to formaldehyde from durable-
press fabrics and coated paper products.
Such reports have declined in recent years
as industry has taken steps to reduce
formaldehyde levels. Draperies made of
formaldehyde treated durable press fabrics
may add slightly to indoor formaldehyde
levels.
3. Cosmetics, paints, coatings, and some wet-
strength paper products: The amount of
formaldehyde present in these products is
small and is of slight concern. However,
persons sensitive to formaldehyde may
have allergic reactions.
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4. Pressed Wood Products: Pressed wood
products, especially those containing urea-
formaldehyde glues, are a source of
formaldehyde. These products include
particleboard used in subfloors, shelves,
cabinets, and furniture; plywood wall
panels, and medium-density fiberboard
used in drawers, cabinets, and furniture.
Medium-density fiberboard, which contains
a higher glue content, has the potential to
release the most formaldehyde.
5. Combustion Sources: Burning materials
such as wood, kerosene, cigarettes, and
natural gas, and operating internal
combustion engines (e.g. automobiles),
produces small quantities of formaldehyde.
Combustion sources add small amounts of
formaldehyde to indoor air.
6. Products such as carpets or gypsum board
do not contain formaldehyde when new.
They may trap formaldehyde emitted from
other sources and later release the
formaldehyde into the indoor air when the
temperature and humidity change.
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Do You Have Formaldehyde-Related
Symptoms?
There are several formaldehyde-related
symptoms, such as watery eyes, runny nose,
burning sensation in eyes, nose, and throat,
headaches, and fatigue. These symptoms may
also occur because of the common cold, the flu
or other pollutants that may be present in the
indoor air. If these symptoms lessen when you
are away from home or office but reappear
upon your return, they may be caused by
indoor pollutants, including formaldehyde.
Examine your environment. Have you recently
moved into a new or different home or office?
Have you recently remodeled or installed new
cabinets, or furniture? Symptoms may be due
to formaldehyde exposure. You should contact
your physician and/or state or local health
department for help. Your physician can help to
determine if the cause of your symptoms is
formaldehyde or other pollutants.
Should You Measure Formaldehyde?
Only trained professionals should measure
formaldehyde because they know how to
interpret the results. If you become ill, and the
illness persists following the purchase of
furniture or remodeling with pressed wood
products, you might not need to measure
formaldehyde. Since these are likely sources,
you can take action. You may become ill after
painting, sealing, making repairs, and/or
applying pest control treatment in your home or
office. In such cases, indoor air pollutants other
than formaldehyde may be the cause. If the
source is not obvious, you should consult an
physician to determine whether or not your
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symptoms might relate to indoor air quality
problems. If your physician believes that you
may be sensitive to formaldehyde, you may
want to make some measurements. As
.discussed earlier, many factors can affect the
level of formaldehyde on a given day in an
office or residence. This is why a professional is
best suited to make an accurate measurement
of the levels.
Do-it-yourself formaldehyde measuring
devices are available. These devices can only
provide a 'ball park' figure for the formaldehyde
level in the area. If you use such a device, you
must carefully follow the instructions.
How Do You Reduce Formaldehyde
Exposure?
Every day you probably use many products
that contain formaldehyde. You may not be able
to avoid coming in contact with some
formaldehyde in your normal daily routine. If
you are sensitive to formaldehyde, you will
need to avoid many everyday items to reduce
symptoms. For most people, a low-level
exposure to formaldehyde (up to 0.1 ppm) does
not produce symptoms. People who suspect
they are sensitive to formaldehyde should work
closely with a knowledgeable physician to
make sure that formaldehyde is causing their
symptoms.
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You can avoid exposure to higher levels by:
• Purchasing low formaldehyde-releasing
pressed wood products for use in
construction or remodeling of homes, and
for furniture, cabinets etc. These could
include oriented strand board and
softwood plywood for construction, low
formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood
products or solid wood for furniture and
cabinets. Some products are labeled as
low-emitting, or ask for help in identifying
low-emitting products.
« Using alternative products such as lumber
or metal.
* Avoiding the use of foamed-in-place
insulation containing formaldehyde,
especially urea-formaldehyde foam
insulation.
• Washing durable-press fabrics before use.
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How Do You Reduce Existing Formaldehyde
Levels?
The choice of methods to reduce formalde-
hyde is unique to your situation. People who
can help you select appropriate methods are
your state or local health department,
physician, or professional expert in indoor air
problems. Here are some of the methods to
reduce indoor levels of formaldehyde.
1. Bring large amounts of fresh air into the
home. Increase ventilation by opening
doors and windows and installing an
exhaust fan(s).
2. Reduce the humidity level in your home.
3. Seal the surfaces of the formalde-
hyde-containing product. You may use a
vapor barrier such as some paints,
varnishes, or a layer of vinyl or polyure-
thane-like materials. Be sure to seal
completely, with a material that does not
itself contain formaldehyde.
4. Remove from your home the product that
is releasing formaldehyde in the indoor
air. When other materials in the area such
as carpets, gypsum boards, etc., have
absorbed formaldehyde, these products
may also start releasing it into the air.
Overall levels of formaldehyde can be
lower if you increase the ventilation over
an extended period.
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One method NOT recommended by CPSC is
a chemical treatment with strong ammonia
(28-29% ammonia in water) which results in a
temporary decrease in formaldehyde levels. We
strongly discourage such treatment since
ammonia in this strength is extremely
dangerous to handle. Ammonia may damage
the brass fittings of a natural gas system,
adding a fire and explosion danger.
For more information:
For a copy of "The Inside Story: A Guide to
Indoor Air Quality," send 500 to:
Consumer Information Center
Dept. 434-W
Pueblo, CO 81009
For more information about biological
pollutants, asbestos, and indoor air quality in
your home, write to:
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. 20207
Additional information is available from:
American Lung Association
1740 Broadway
New York, NY. 10019-4374
(local ALA offices also have information)
The Formaldehyde Institute Inc.
1330 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Local and State Health Departments
*U S GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1996-416-365
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Reprinted by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks
on paper that contains at least 50% recycled fiber
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