Formaldehyde is a natural gas emitted by animals and human activities, and found in household items and building materials. It is a regulated volatile organic compound that can cause adverse health effects and is a carcinogen at high levels. Formaldehyde emissions can be reduced by adjusting temperature, humidity, and airflow, and by applying barriers. The most significant sources of formaldehyde emissions in indoor environments are pressed wood products, and exposure can cause eye and throat irritation, nausea, breathing problems, and allergic reactions.
Formaldehyde is a natural gas that has no color but has a pungent odor. The gas is produced and released into the air by animals and certain human activities such as smoking, using gas stoves and driving motor vehicles. Formaldehyde emission also results from its inclusion in household items such as disinfectants and furniture. Emission levels can be controlled to some extent by adjusting the temperature, humidity and airflow.
A volatile organic compound (VOC) is an element that easily produces emissions from solids or liquids at room temperature. Formaldehyde is included in this group, which is regulated in the US and many other countries. The regulation generally does not ban the use of VOCs, but rather dictates the amount of gas that can be emitted.
Formaldehyde is widely used and can be found in building materials, clothing and cleaning products. Significant concern about US formaldehyde emission levels has generally been known since the 1980s. One issue that has raised these concerns has been the discovery that large quantities of gas have been found in mobile trailers and prefabricated houses. Technology and production methods have improved since then, but formaldehyde emissions have not disappeared and are not limited to those facilities.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the use of urea-formaldehyde resins in pressed wood products, such as particleboard and medium-density fiberboard used in cabinets and furniture, they are the most significant sources of formaldehyde emissions in indoor environments. Formaldehyde is also used in outdoor pressed wood products, such as wood paneling. The irony is that outdoor products, which have more ventilation, tend to have lower formaldehyde emission levels than indoor products, which are used in areas with substantially less airflow.
Several factors can affect formaldehyde emission levels. First, the age of the item matters because older products produce less gas than newer products. The amount of humidity and temperature also have an effect. Higher temperatures and abundant humidity lead to increased emission levels.
Creating barriers can help reduce formaldehyde emission levels. This is done by applying products such as high pressure laminates or epoxy sealants to outgassing products. All materials used as hedging barriers do not work equally well. It should also be noted that the effectiveness of this measure depends on how carefully a product is applied.
One reason formaldehyde emission levels are regulated is because there are chances of adverse effects from exposure. Eye and throat irritation may occur. The emissions can cause nausea, inhibit breathing and trigger asthma. A person may experience allergic reactions, including skin rashes. Even more concerning is the likelihood that at sufficient levels formaldehyde is carcinogenic.
There are a number of environmental pollutants of greater concern than formaldehyde. That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s harmless. Exposure can have adverse effects on animals, for example by causing low birth rates. One of the main ways to protect the environment from the effects of this gas is to reduce the amount of combustible fuel sources used.
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