Formaldehyde And Asthma

Found in the resin that holds particleboard together, formaldehyde is a known asthma trigger that may cause cancer. Particleboard is a building material made from wood chips that are pressed and glued together with resin. Formaldehyde enters the environment and your lungs as it is released from the resin. Particleboard is commonly used in furniture, cabinetry, and new-home construction. While the quantity of formaldehyde emitted by a product usually decreases with time, for asthmatics it is best to buy furniture and cabinets made from non-pressed wood or "exterior grade" building materials that emit less formaldehyde. If you own furniture made of particleboard, you can apply a coat of polyurethane to help reduce formaldehyde emissions. Because fresh polyurethane fumes can trigger an asthma attack, apply polyurethane outside and allow it to dry completely before returning the product to your home. If you suspect your home has a formaldehyde problem, keep your house cool and dry to reduce the emission rate, since formaldehyde emission is accelerated by heat and humidity.

 

If you're building or remodeling a home, remember that plywood, particleboard, and insulation may contain formaldehyde. To reduce formaldehyde emissions, talk to your builder about solid wood construction or formaldehyde "poor" building materials, like exterior-grade pressed wood. Also, if you live in a new or recently renovated home, pay special attention to routine ventilation for the first two to three years. If you're building a new home, consider installing a mechanical ventilation system or an air-to-air heat exchanger. Besides formaldehyde-containing building materials, home renovations can be particularly hazardous to asthmatics because of the dust and fumes generated by remodeling. If practical, try to stay away from home during active construction and make sure your house remains ventilated and dust-free.