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ProPublica spent months investigating how a single poorly regulated toxic chemical, formaldehyde, poses an inevitable cancer risk to all Americans. It is present in the outdoor air, and its levels do not meet public health goals set by the Environmental Protection Agency. And it’s also present in our homes, coming from couches, clothes, and cribs, where concentrations can sometimes cause breathing problems, allergic reactions, and asthma.
We modeled pollution data and deployed our own air monitors to measure ambient formaldehyde levels. We interviewed more than 50 experts and read thousands of pages of scientific studies and EPA records. During that time, we had one question in mind that our readers would most likely want answered. It’s about how we can reduce exposure.
Below are common sources of chemicals and suggestions for reducing risk from our report.
wooden furniture and floors
Be careful when purchasing new furniture. One of the most significant sources of formaldehyde in the home has traditionally been furniture made from composite wood made of strands, particles, fibers, or boards held together with adhesives. The adhesives used in this type of furniture may contain formaldehyde, which undergoes a process called off-gassing, which releases the chemical into the air over time. Federal regulators have set limits on the amount of chemicals that some composite woods can emit. But these limits were set more than a decade ago and are still far above levels recently established by EPA scientists to protect people from asthma, allergic reactions, and other respiratory illnesses. . Therefore, you should at least check the packaging of the product. A label indicating compliance with standards based on the Toxic Substances Control Law.
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This law covers products made from hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard, and particleboard. All products covered by this law must have some type of label indicating that they are TSCA compliant, but the appearance of the label may vary from product to product. Compliance does not mean that the product is formaldehyde-free. This means the company has certified that the formaldehyde emission levels are low enough to meet TSCA requirements. Some types of composite wood are not covered by the law and are primarily used for structural projects, but they can also be used to make furniture and shelving. Therefore, if you are not sure what type of synthetic wood your furniture is made of, be sure to ask your sales representative or company representative before purchasing.
Another label you can look for is California Air Resources Board Phase 2. Again, this does not mean that the furniture or flooring is formaldehyde-free, but rather that it complies with state emissions standards similar to TSCA regulations. Some manufacturers include this on the labels of products sold in and outside of California. Two other labels to look out for are “No Added Formaldehyde” (NAF) or “Ultra Low Emission Formaldehyde” (ULEF). These mean that the manufacturer’s products have undergone additional testing.
If you purchase furniture that is suspected of containing formaldehyde, environmental experts recommend exposing the item to air for a full week in a well-ventilated area such as a garage, but this may not be practical. there is no. If that’s not possible, keep windows near furniture open to improve ventilation. It can take up to two years for an item to release most of its formaldehyde, so buying second-hand may be better for your health and your wallet. To avoid high levels of formaldehyde, purchasing solid wood furniture is the best option, albeit more expensive.
cosmetics and personal care
Check the ingredients in your personal care products. The European Union has banned formaldehyde in cosmetics, but the Food and Drug Administration has not yet followed suit in the United States. Curling irons, especially those marketed to black women, have been found to contain formaldehyde. This chemical helps form bonds with the amino acids in your hair, and applying heat, such as with a flat iron, strengthens the bonds and straightens your hair. But that heat can also turn formaldehyde into a gas that can be released into the air.
When reading ingredient labels, be aware of formaldehyde, but also formaldehyde-related ingredients such as formalin and methylene glycol, which release chemicals when heated. These same three ingredients are also found in nail care products. In nail hardeners, formaldehyde helps bond with the keratin in the nail. Also, some nail polishes contain toluenesulfonamide-formaldehyde resin, which is used to increase the elasticity of the nail polish and improve its adhesion to the nail. The resin can release formaldehyde when dried.
Candles, indoor fireplaces, gas stoves
The flame is formaldehyde. Because this chemical is a byproduct of combustion, formaldehyde is produced whenever a fire occurs. This applies not only to lit candles or lit cigarettes, but also to large forest fires. In the home, fireplaces and gas stoves can be significant sources of formaldehyde.
How much formaldehyde is in your car, kitchen, and furniture? Here’s what our tests found.
Check the formaldehyde cancer risk in your neighborhood
Formaldehyde causes more cancers than any other toxic air pollutant. Little is being done to curb the risks.
ProPublica reporters learned this firsthand earlier this year when they conducted formaldehyde measurements at various locations around New York and New Jersey. One of the highest concentrations was measured during a dinner party when candles were lit and a gas stove was running. Multiple studies have also demonstrated increased formaldehyde exposure when smoking cigarettes or e-cigarettes. Smokers can reduce indoor formaldehyde levels by smoking outdoors, but they are still breathing in the chemicals themselves.
As always when formaldehyde is present, ventilation is important. If possible, open windows and doors when using candles, fireplaces, and stoves. Get into the habit of closing the stove vent when cooking. Also, although more expensive, if possible, consider replacing your gas stove with an electric stove, which generally produces less formaldehyde. Naturally, you may be wondering, “Can an air purifier help?” Researchers are still investigating how well air purifiers reduce formaldehyde. Research suggests that some air purifiers may produce formaldehyde as a byproduct. Scented air fresheners can also introduce formaldehyde into the air.
clothes
Sometimes our clothes also contain formaldehyde. Clothes designed to resist wrinkles and stains are more likely to contain carcinogens. This chemical is used during the dyeing process and helps reduce shrinkage, mold growth, and wrinkles. Using formaldehyde in clothing can cause skin diseases such as eczema. However, it is often very difficult to determine whether a garment was made using that chemical. Usually you can’t tell from the label. Clothing woven from natural fibers such as linen, wool, and cotton are less likely to be made using formaldehyde than synthetic fibers such as polyester. Washing all new clothes before wearing them can reduce exposure. In a recent study, researchers detected formaldehyde in 20% of the cotton clothing they examined, but the formaldehyde disappeared after washing.
car
Formaldehyde adhesives are found in car dashboards, seat covers, floor coverings, carpets, door trims, window sealants, armrests, and more. Also, like furniture, new cars often have the highest levels of formaldehyde. You should still rely on ventilation to reduce exposure to formaldehyde inside your car. On particularly hot days, it’s a good idea to roll down your car windows to give the car time to freshen up. ProPublica found that not only new cars contain formaldehyde levels higher than the EPA’s calculated to protect people from breathing problems, allergic reactions, and asthma symptoms, but cars as old as four years old also contain formaldehyde. , found that cars in particular can continue to emit potentially harmful levels of chemicals. Hot days. Set up your car’s air conditioner to allow outside air to circulate inside the car.
All the advice and research to reduce formaldehyde exposure indoors has one thing in common: ventilation. Chemicals are released from us when we open windows and doors, turn on fans and extractors, and leave products outside for long periods of time to release formaldehyde. The ubiquity of formaldehyde means there is no way to protect yourself from it. However, opening the windows may be the cheapest and best course of action.
Sharon Lerner and Al Shaw contributed reporting.
