September 18, 1997

The smell of a new house, or the crisp feel of a new shirt, are due partly to the presence of resins that include formaldehyde. Although widely used in wood products and consumer goods, formaldehyde is a suspected human carcinogen, and can also cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

Because of the potential for adverse effects from formaldehyde, its release from common products was t he subject of a recent study by Battelle for the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

The experiments conducted for CARB provide data on emissions of formaldehyde and other chemicals from products that included fingernail polish, bed sheets, furniture, wall paper, and latex paints.

To conduct the experiments, Battelle researchers used a Battelle-developed formaldehyde monitor. That instrument allows continual measurement of the formaldehyde emission rates of these products over several minutes, hours, or days. This capability is especially important for testing of paints, polishes, and other coatings, which have rapidly changing emission rates as the products are applied and then dried.

"Formaldehyde is a suspected carcinogen, but it is used in thousands of consumer products in the forms of resins and coatings, or as a preservative," said Tom Kelly, a Senior Research Scientist in Atmospheric Science and Applied Technology at Battelle.

More than 70 experiments were conducted using test chambers to measure the emissions from permanent press fabrics, bare and finished wood products, paper products, cosmetics, decorative laminates, fiberglass products, wallpaper, paints, and coatings. The tests establish the rates of release of formaldehyde from these products into the air in a home. CARB will use the data to advise California residents on how to reduce their exposure to formaldehyde emissions.

Kelly said some of the ways that formaldehyde emissions can be reduced in a household include:

• Using wood products that are labeled as meeting industry standards for formaldehyde emission.
• Avoiding furniture or cabinets that have bare plywood or particleboard surfaces.
• Washing new permanent press fabrics before use.
• Providing ample ventilation when painting a room or using personal products such as nail polishes and hardeners.

For more information, contact Tom Kelly, Battelle, 505 King Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693; telephone (614) 424-3495; fax (614) 424-4185.

Battelle serves industry and government by developing, commercializing, and managing technology. With a wide range of scientific and technical capabilities, Battelle puts technology to work for clients in over 30 countries.