After March 22, 2019, regulated composite wood products must be labeled as TSCA Title VI compliant by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TSCA VI Third Party Certifier (TPC) with all the required accreditations. These products include hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard and particleboard, as well as household and other finished goods containing these products. Laminated products, not exempted from the definition of hardwood plywood, must be tested and certified as meeting the hardwood plywood formaldehyde emission standard beginning March 22, 2024. [For more info see: https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-emission-standards-composite-wood-products.]
Because many of these composite and finished wood products release formaldehyde, there is always concern for the quality of indoor air both in the workplace and the home environments. Many indoor air contaminants – including formaldehyde – can pose serious human health risks.
What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a nearly colorless gas – with a pungent, suffocating odor – that is flammable at room temperature. It is used in many products – such as glues, resins, dyes, textiles, disinfectants, automobile parts, and embalming fluids. Formaldehyde is also used in the production of fertilizer, paper, and building materials (such as particleboard, cabinets, laminate flooring, plywood, etc.); as a food preservative; and in household products (such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics).1
Formaldehyde is also found in nature, caused by anthropomorphic activities such as forest fires and volcanoes, at concentrations of 0.2 to 6 parts per billion (ppb). Rural areas typically have lower concentrations than urban ones. Its manufacture and use in many common building products, along with energy-efficient buildings, means formaldehyde that off-gases from products can remained trapped in homes – thus increasing indoor human exposure over the years, with some homes exceeding 500 ppb. 2
Some examples of occupations at risk of being exposed to formaldehyde include:
- Agricultural workers in confinement livestock production
- Construction workers using resin-manufactured products
- Plastics, resins and foam insulation manufacturing workers
- Morticians during the embalming process
- Beauticians – from dyes and smoothing products
Formaldehyde Exposure
Exposure to formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system; discharge of tears; coughing and wheezing; and dermatitis. Symptoms of formaldehyde exposure vary widely on the sensitivity of the individual. Nasal and eye irritation, neurological effects, and increased risk of asthma and/or allergy have been observed in humans breathing as low as 100 to 500 ppb. Eczema and changes in lung function have been noted at 600 to 1,900 ppb. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determined in 2011 that formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen based on sufficient human and animal inhalation studies. 3
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is 750 ppb as an eight-hour time weighted average (TWA), with a ceiling of 2,000 ppb for up to 15 minutes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), a sister agency under DHHS formed to develop data used to promulgate standards for OSHA, has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) of 16 ppb as a 10-hour TWA. NIOSH and OSHA are tasked with protecting workers in the workplace, but there are no federal standards for the indoor environment. California has developed an REL of 7 ppb for chronic exposure – slightly above outdoor background levels. While the World Health Organization (WHO) has a recommended limit of 83 ppb for indoor environments. 4
Formaldehyde concentrations are typically higher in new construction for several reasons. First, many new construction materials and insulation off-gas formaldehyde – taking more than two years to dissipate. Additionally, new construction is typically more air tight than older construction. Higher amounts of insulation, more efficient heating systems, and triple-track windows all reduce the amount of fresh air that enters a building. 5
Key Steps to Minimizing Exposures 6
Choose products with low or no formaldehyde; look for:
- Wood furniture, wood cabinetry, or flooring made without urea-formaldehyde (UF) glues
- Pressed-wood products that meet ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) or no added formaldehyde (NAF) requirements
- Products labeled “No VOC/Low VOC” (volatile organic compound)
- Insulation that does not have UF foam
Reduce formaldehyde from new products by:
- Washing permanent-press fabrics before using
- Letting new products off-gas outside before being brought inside – ideally until they no longer emit a chemical smell
- Ventilating newly constructed or recently renovated areas with sufficient fresh air to dilute concentrations
Reduce formaldehyde already present by:
- Opening windows for a few minutes every few days to let in fresh air – unless asthma would be triggered by outdoor air pollution/pollen or there are safety concerns
- Installing/using exhaust fans or other HVAC methods – ensuring to vent air from the living space to boost air circulation; opening windows to increase fresh air into the space
- Increasing the fresh air percentage brought in by the HVAC system
- Keeping the indoor temperature and humidity at the lowest comfortable setting. Reducing temperature and humidity may help reduce formaldehyde off-gassing, thereby lowering the indoor air concentration.
A qualified indoor air professional – such as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) – can help determine the source of potential formaldehyde or other indoor air contamination and the best steps to mitigate exposure. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that the following be asked of anyone presenting themselves as an indoor air quality (IAQ) professional:
- Have they performed similar jobs, and what were the outcomes?
- Will they include a written report, including recommendations, with the data?
- Do they have client references with similar IAQ issues?
- Do they have certifications and/or memberships in IAQ-related organizations such as the American Board of Industrial Hygiene [CIH], the American Indoor Air Quality Council [Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC)], the Board of Certified Safety Professionals [Certified Safety Professional (CSP)] or the Indoor Air Quality Association?
Indoor Air Quality Services from HETI
HETI has a staff of IAQ professionals that can assist in identifying and evaluating indoor air quality issues – including formaldehyde. We have the experience and technical expertise to assist with hazard recognition, exposure monitoring, and methods to best mitigate contaminants to restore indoor air quality.
References:
1 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topics, Formaldehyde, June 21, 2019
2 Godish, T., “Indoor Air Pollution Control” (1989)
3 Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Toxic Substances Portal, ToxFAQs, May 2015 (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=39)
4 A Formaldehyde Update-Prepared for the WHO Children’s Health Committee – 2012 – Some Updates 2013V1, Marilyn Black, PhD (https://chemicalinsights.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Doc-1-A-Formaldehyde-Update-Prepared-for-WHO.pdf)
5 Park, J.S., Ikeda, K., Variations of Formaldehyde and VOC Levels during Three Years in New and Older Homes, Indoor Air (April 2006)
6 Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, Formaldehyde in Your Home: What you need to know, February 10, 2016 (https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/formaldehyde/home/index.html)
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