Environment: In The Home

One of the most important uses of formaldehyde is in adhesives, which benefit from its chemistry and are employed in the production of wood composite products that are extensively used in furniture, kitchen cabinets, counters and flooring. While very little formaldehyde is present in a form that can be released, small quantities of formaldehyde gas can be emitted from various wood composite products. These low level emissions diminish over time. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has standards that limit formaldehyde emissions from wood products and industry has set its own voluntary standards that are even more restrictive.

Industry's commitment to improving technology has resulted in decreasing releases of formaldehyde from products. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in a 1997 paper, "Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels, usually less than 0.03 ppm (parts per million), in both outdoor and indoor air."

Two recent studies have concluded that thermal insulation products manufactured with phenol-formaldehyde resins likely do not result in significant formaldehyde concentrations in buildings.

> See more information on Formaldehye and Total Volatile Organic Compound Emissions From Thermal Insulation Products

> See more information on Formaldehye Emissions From Residential Thermal Insulation Products