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What is it?
 Formaldehyde is a simple volatile organic compound (VOC). Its chemical composition is HOHC. Formaldehyde is a natural occurring chemical produced by most plants, animals and humans. Most people produce about 1 ½ ounces daily. It is expelled daily through respiration and perspiration. Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of unvented, fuel burning appliances, such as gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. [2]Formaldehyde by itself or in combination with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example, it is used to add permanent press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, and as a preservative in some paints and coating products. It has been prevalent in a variety of products for over 100 years. The most common type of formaldehyde in wood products is urea-formaldehyde, pronounced “u-ree-a”.
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What are the risks?
Like many substances, formaldehyde could have negative health effects on humans at extremely high concentrations. The claim that formaldehyde causes cancer in humans, however, is based on laboratory experiments that placed rats in exposure situations no human being could ever tolerate and out-dated computerized risk models that do not take into account substantial new scientific evidence. As in most risk assessments, the estimated danger is a matter of the duration and intensity of the exposure—just as a thimble full of water poses little risk to anybody but one can easily drown in an ocean.
When reviewing the research for its decision, CARB chose to rely on its 1992 risk evaluation that used extremely conservative assumptions and showed an increased cancer risk from formaldehyde exposure. New risk assessment information used by the U.S. EPA, Health Canada, and other international bodies shows that there is virtually no risk of cancer from formaldehyde at the levels most people are exposed to over their lifetime. CARB chose not to evaluate this new scientific information that has been broadly accepted around the world.
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What is CARB and how does it affect me?
CARB or the California Air Resource Board is a government agency for the state of California. They oversee the rules and regulations governing the quality of air, as set both locally and by the EPA.
CARB has implemented a new air quality standard for formaldehyde. When fully implemented this new standard will be the most restrictive in the world. All manufacturers of wood panels must comply with the new regulations by mid 2009. All users of the wood panels must comply by 2010. All out of state importers of finished products must comply by 2012. This means out of state cabinet companies do not have to comply with this new rule until mid 2012. Eurodesign already complies with the full 2012 rule for ultra low formaldehyde emission.
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How do I reduce or eliminate my exposure to formaldehyde?
Since formaldehyde is a naturally forming compound it is virtually impossible to eliminate in a household, however it is possible to significantly reduce the concentration levels.]Avoid products with urea-formaldehyde based coatings. Cabinets, solid and laminate wood floors, and furniture are sometimes sealed with a coating that emits very high amounts of formaldehyde when new, this is especially true of imported products. Eurodesign does not use any coating that contains any form of formaldehyde. Furthermore Eurodesign uses a barrier method to greatly reduce any emissions from the wood substrate. This method has been shown to reduce emissions by up to 95%.
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What do I do if I do not want to wait until 2012 for ultra low emissions cabinets?
The 2012 rule applies to out of state or out of country importers. By mid 2010 all companies inside California must meet the phase one CARB rule and by mid 2012 meet the phase 2 CARB rule. Eurodesign already meets and exceeds the phase 2 CARB rule. By controlling our supply chain and using a barrier coating on over 90% of our cabinet surface area, we greatly reduce any formaldehyde emissions. Also, since we purchase our wood substrate directly from the mill, we are able to let our wood age. This aging reduces the formaldehyde emission considerably before we apply our barrier.
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Will I ever be able to buy a formaldehyde free wood product?
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance in wood; therefore it is not possible to safely remove it with today’s technology. Furthermore, while you were taking the time to read this fact sheet you exhaled 7/100 of a gram of human formaldehyde.
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