Green Options » formaldehyde

Wood Product Manufacturers Bracing for CARB 2009

Joel Bittle — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:14:10 +0000

The air is going to get a little bit cleaner come January, 2009 - and that has nothing to do with a new presidential administration. The California Air Resources Board’s dramatic Air Toxic Control Measure known as “the CARB rule” will go into effect January 1 and will, among other things, mandate a reduction in formaldehyde levels in composite wood products like particle board, hardwood plywood, and medium density fiberboard. Manufacturers of composite wood products have less than four months to adapt to the new requirements or they will be unable to manufacture or sell their products in California.

Formaldehyde came into the public consciousness this past Winter as trailers used for Hurricane Katrina victims were found to contain dangerous levels - click here for those findings. Urea-formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound that has been linked to health issues ranging from persistent eye and skin irritation to asthma to, in extremely high levels, cancer. It has been practically banned in Europe, Japan, and Canada. The United States Green Building Council awards LEED credits for buildings that have eliminated added urea-formaldehyde. The inclusion of the word “added” is due to the fact that small levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in wood. Urea-formaldehyde is used in composite wood as a drying agent for glues and adhesives, significantly speeding up the manufacturing process of the composite wood. For this reason, non-formaldehyde composite woods will come at a higher price. Add in the increased demand due to the CARB rule and the current limited supply of formaldehyde-free composite wood and we could see increased prices across the board for composite wood products like furniture, cabinets, moldings and millwork, doors, and many other products.

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Healing Houseplants, Part II

Lucille Chi — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:55:46 +0000

Over a month ago we discussed the amazing effects of healing houseplants and the wonderful ways they absorb toxins while in return send healthy oxygen into our living spaces. Well, this month we’re back on the topic with this brilliant healing houseplant diagram I discovered via SuperCute that I am pleased to bring to you! The chart explains some of the best of the bunch when bringing nature indoors to cleanse and heal. The illustration focuses on plants that absorb trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene, which are three commonly found toxins.

What is with these chemicals that create bad air? Most importantly how do we rid our sacred spaces of them? Well,

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Can Eyelash Extensions Really Be Safe?

Tiana Griego — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:37:13 +0000

I tend to worry more about what I put into my body than what goes on the outside. When in fact the chemicals found in lotions, makeup and hair dyes are something I need to consider when using these products on my body. Recently I have been using the eyelash extensions from “Xtreme Lashes” and I began to wonder how safe this new affection with eyelash extensions really was and was it worth any risks involved? After researching, I was able to find one of the ingredient’s in the adhesive, “formaldehyde” linked to cancer.

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Formaldehyde and Indoor Air Quality

Philip Proefrock — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:59:11 +0000

Today’s news included the story that testing on FEMA-supplied temporary housing trailers in Mississippi and Louisiana has found extremely high levels of formaldehyde in the air, despite earlier reports issued by FEMA indicating that there was no problem.

Tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on more than 500 trailers in Louisiana and Mississippi showed formaldehyde levels that were five times higher than levels in a normal house. The levels in some trailers were nearly 40 times what is normal.

The CDC is saying that people living in these trailers “should move out quickly — especially children, the elderly and anyone with asthma or another chronic condition.”

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