A bill has been signed by President Obama that will limit the use of formaldehyde, a chemical used in wood products that can cause respiratory problems and has been linked to cancer.
The law, which applies to domestic and imported wood, mirrors a standard already adopted by California and will impose the toughest national formaldehyde limit in the world, reports the Alexandria Echo Press, a Minnesota newspaper. The domestic wood products industry already has adopted voluntary standards to comply with California’s requirements but, according to USA Today, cheap imported materials such as Chinese plywood still contain high levels of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde often is found in inexpensive wood products such as cabinets, shelves and particle board furniture.
A few years ago, health experts linked Hurricane Katrina victims’ breathing problems to formaldehyde in the walls and cabinets of government-provided trailers. The trailers were banned, but sparked controversy again this month when it was discovered that some were being used to house Gulf oil spill workers.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, formaldehyde causes cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans. The agency says that exposure to airborne formaldehyde above 0.1 parts per million can cause nausea, watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat and respiratory problems. In homes with “significant amounts of new pressed wood products,” the EPA says, exposure levels can be greater than 0.3 parts per million.
Under the law, emissions standards will be limited by 2013 to 0.09 parts per million, and products with formaldehyde must undergo third-party testing and certification.
Domestic furniture producers expressed relief that the federal requirements will be no more stringent than the California standard. They said, however, that furniture costs probably will rise while suppliers experiment with new techniques and materials.
Becky Gillette, the Sierra Club’s Formaldehyde Campaign director, said the added costs would be “very low” for consumers and were “overwhelmingly justified” by the health benefits.
