A new study, the first of its kind in a decade, shows that many commonly used home products give off substantial amounts of formaldehyde, a possible carcinogen.
Formaldehyde, which is often used in the production of building materials, cosmetics, home furnishings and textiles, is a colorless gas that can cause burning or itching of the eyes or nose, and wheezing.
Some scientists believe repeated exposure may increase a person's risk of developing cancer.
Thomas J. Kelly of the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus, Ohio, and his colleagues tested 55 products, from wrinkle-free shirts to latex paint. They placed each product in a closet-sized monitoring chamber for 24 hours and measured the formaldehyde in the air.
An acid-cured wood floor finish, a product that gives wood floors a high-gloss shine, was the worst offender in the study.
Right after application, "you get a big surge of formaldehyde," Kelly says. Home owners typically hire a contractor to apply this finish. After a full day of drying, it still gave off high levels of formaldehyde, Kelly and his colleagues report in the Jan. 1 Environmental Science & Technology, a journal published by the American Chemical Society.
The fingernail hardener commonly used at home or in nail salons gave off a surprisingly high amount of formaldehyde, Kelly says. Nail polish also emitted formaldehyde. But in both cases, the emissions dropped off quickly as the polish or hardener dried.
Latex paint gave off only small amounts of formaldehyde, Kelly notes. But freshly applied paint remains a potential problem because it is applied over huge surface areas in the home, he says.
Other common products that released the chemical included permanent press clothing, such as shirts and bedsheets. The wrinkle-free coating gives off formaldehyde, he says.
The study showed that pressed-wood products, which are used in the construction of houses and furniture, also gave off this chemical, but at levels lower than reported in an earlier study. Manufacturers have been working to reduce the formaldehyde, Kelly says.
How much formaldehyde is too much? Scientists haven't determined an acceptable level, says Peggy Jenkins, an indoor air expert at the Sacramento-based California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board, which funded the study. But she says it's a good idea in general to try to reduce exposure.
Fortunately for consumers, that's not difficult. Some common-sense steps can reduce the amount of formaldehyde in the air, Kelly says.
Apply wet products, such as latex paint or nail polish, in a well-ventilated room, he says. After such products are fully dry they emit much less formaldehyde. In addition, there are floor and cabinet finishes that seal off the formaldehyde.
Kelly suggests washing permanent-press clothing before you wear it or hang it in the closet. The formaldehyde emissions from wrinkle-free shirts dropped by 60% after they had been washed just once.
Consumers who want guidelines on formaldehyde in the home can call the California Air Resources Board at 916-322-8282 or visit the agency's Web site at www.arb.ca.gov.
On doors, on shirts
Formaldehyde emissions of some common products (calculated in micrograms emitted per square meter of the product per hour). All wet products were tested 24 hours after application.
* Acid-cured wood floor finish, 11,000
* Fingernail hardener, 300
* Latex paint, 9 * Particleboard, 240
* Fiberboard cabinet door, 360
* Cabinet door with acid-cured finish, 460
* Plywood, 4
* New permanent-press shirts, 110
* Washed permanent-press shirts, 42
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