Formaldehyde emission from building materials

Hawthorne, A., et al. (1987) Models for estimating organic emissions from building materials formaldehyde example. Atmos. Environ. 21, No. 2. Lewis, R. G., et al. (1986) Monitoring for non-occupational exposure to pesticides in indoor and personal respiratory air. Presented at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Air Pollution Control Association, Minneapolis, MN. 

Formaldehyde as a pollutant in the indoor air is usually connected with the use of formaldehyde based resins in e.g. building materials and in furniture. This article presents measurements of the formaldehyde emission from various products containing urea-formaldehyde (UF) or phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins. The emission from all test objects have been measured in a ventilated test chamber at the standardized testing atmosphere 23 C, 50 % RH according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The emission from woodbased panels and other materials have been measured at a loading factor of 1.0 m /m and at an air change rate of 1.0 h . ... 

The monitoring and toxicological studies of formaldehyde exposure, as well as studies on the emission of this chemical from wood products generate large numbers of samples to be analyzed. Furthermore, it is necessary to monitor the emissions on a routine basis during production to ensure that the material continues to release low level of formaldehyde. In homes, particularly in mobile homes, the amount of formaldehyde release depends on the construction technoloy, ventilation, indoor temperature and relative humidity, and age, structure and porosity of building materials. It is, therefore, necessary to study the emislon of formaldehyde from wood products as a function of these parameters. 

During the past decade, urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde resin binders have contributed greatly to the progress of wood industries. Formaldehyde is widely used as a major component in the production of building materials, such as particleboard and plywood, and in urea formaldehyde foam insulation. However, the emissions of formaldehyde from these products create considerable concerns not only in the working environments but also in residences, mobile homes, and office buildings. These concerns have also been stimulated by reports on the health effects and carcinogenicity associated with formaldehyde exposure. 

The emission rates of formaldehyde and VOCs from most indoor decorating and refurbishing materials are highest in new or renovated buildings. These compounds can outgas (i.e., evaporate continuously) slowly over months or years. As a consequence, the indoor concentration of these compounds slowly decreases, as shown in Tables 8 and 9. However, it can be also seen from... 

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