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Formaldehyde in the Furniture: Is Your Baby At Risk?

posted by Terri Hall-Jackson Jun 16, 2008 1:00 pm
Formaldehyde in the Furniture: Is Your Baby At Risk?
8 comments

By Terri Hall-Jackson, Care2 Healthy & Green Living contributing writer

Environment California Research & Policy Center purchased 21 products intended for use in a baby’s nursery and hired a professional laboratory to test them for toxic chemicals. The results of the lab tests were released last week.

Products tested included several brands of cribs and changing tables, wastebaskets, lamps, shelves made from composite wood, wall hangings and several window valances. Four changing tables and two cribs contained formaldehyde levels in excess of air quality standards set by California in 2008. This included the Child Craft Oak Crib, which had the highest formaldehyde level of the 21 items tested, emitting 3,680 micrograms per hour. By January 2009, California’s standards will require building products to emit no more than 259 micrograms per hour. (Child Care’s president said that their crib meets the latest safety standards established by federal consumer protection mandates and expressed confidence that tests he is conducting will refute these findings.)

Fifteen of the 21 nursery items were found to emit relatively low levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical often used in composite wood furniture and cabinets, draperies and other home furnishings. The Environmental Protection Agency considers it a probable carcinogen and studies show that excessive exposure increases the risk of asthma and respiratory problems. Babies and children are especially vulnerable to formaldehyde exposure.

To avoid formaldehyde, buy solid wood furnishings made of non-harvested woods. If you must purchase a crib made of composite wood/particle board, seal it in completely using a specially designed, non-toxic sealant.

Read more on Care 2 about creating a healthy crib.

Click here to download Environment California Research and Policy Center’s report.

More on Babies (102 articles available)
More from Terri Hall-Jackson (59 articles available)

8 comments

8 comments

add your comment »
8 comments add your comment
Jon Young

Formaldehyde is lerking every where....go to www.seriouslywool.com...purchase a Safety Blanket...put it in your new car, RV,camper,newly painted room,line your cabinets & drawers, etc.The Safety Blankey is a green product,envoiromentally safe, effect and inexpensive.

Jon Young

Formaldehyde is everywhere...there is a safe , simple , grren solutions to formaldehyde in your RV, camper, cars, newly painted rooms,cabinets etc. Go to www.seriouslywool.com and get a Safety Blanket made from wool.

Jon Young

Formaldehyde is lerking every where....go to www.seriouslywool.com...purchase a Safety Blanket...put it in your new car, RV,camper,newly painted room,line your cabinets & drawers, etc.The Safety Blankey is a green product,envoiromentally safe, effect and inexpensive.

  • says
  • Jun 22, 2008 1:04 AM

nevermind the furniture for babies take a look at india they are killing half a million unborn or born female babies every year????????? take action for that it should be priority , this paganism still exist in the world, we should stop this murderers

Dirk H.
  • Dirk H. says
  • Jun 19, 2008 6:45 AM

I thought we were so lucky when we we told our rental car was brand new and we were the first ones to have it. The 3 hours locked in that little Hyundai had our eyes burning, noses in distress, and we smelled of formaldehyde. The Levels in that car were comparable to when I was doing ovarian cancer research and had to pull samples from the Morgue.

Alex R.
  • Alex R. says
  • Jun 19, 2008 6:35 AM

Many of the materials used in the manufacturing of campers, rv's and autos have formaldehyde as an ingredient. Don't know that they actually spray them down. In my experience formaldehyde is a preservative and not a disinfectant.

Ruby w.
  • Ruby w. says
  • Jun 18, 2008 3:20 PM

I brought a camper in 1997 brand new. An they spray it with the formaldehyde big time. The smell was really bad. Left door open an it did not help it was really bad that I could not get smell out there for along time... why do they spray everything down with this? Am I just got done having surgery an had to put up with this. How do I that this has not damage my lung more?

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Disclaimer: Care2.com does not warrant and shall have no liability for information provided in this newsletter or on Care2.com. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use. It is recommended that before you begin to use any formula, you read the directions carefully and test it first. Should you have any health care-related questions or concerns, please call or see your physician or other health care provider.

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