Indoors formaldehydes

BS ISO 16000 Indoor formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds Active and diffusive sampling... 

Krzyzanowski M, Quackenboss J J, Lebowitz MD (1990) Chronic respiratory effects of indoor formaldehyde exposure. Environ Res, 52(2) 117-125. 

Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical for the production of synthetic resins. These resins are applied primarily as adhesives in the production of a large number of consumer products and construction materials that end up in homes. Other sources of indoor formaldehyde include urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, textile additives, as well as combustion and tobacco smoke. Formaldehyde is one of the many VOCs present indoors and it is considered the most abundant among them. It has important toxic effects in the 0.1-5 ppm concentration range. 

Tables 8 and 9 that the indoor formaldehyde and VOCs concentrations are still much higher than the outdoor ones even in the 12th month after the indoor decoration project had finished [9,21].

Pressed wood products contribute to indoor formaldehyde levels. Combustion sources and phenol-formaldehyde resin bonded products generally are weak emitters to indoor air. Common indoor combustion sources include gas burners and ovens, kerosene heaters, and cigarettes (Matthews et al. 

In another study on indoor formaldehyde emissions, quasi steady-state emission rates of formaldehyde from new carpets were measured in a large-scale environmental chamber (Hodgson et al. 1993). The emission rates were 57.2 and 18.2 g/nr/liour at 24 and 168 hours, respectively, after the start of each experiment. Similar results were observed in a Swedish study where indoor formaldehyde levels were found to be higher in homes having wall to wall carpeting (Norback et al. 1995). Another recent... 

A formaldehyde emission rate of 0.48 g/kilojoule has been determined for normal operation of unvented gas ranges however, this emission rate leads to relatively low indoor formaldehyde concentrations (Moschandreas et al. 1986). Formaldehyde emission rates ranging from 0.43 to... 

Krzyzanowski et al. (1990) measured formaldehyde concentrations in 202 households in Pima County, Arizona, and found an average value of 26 ppb. Concentrations varied slightly with locations in the house, with the highest levels generally found in the kitchens. Only a few concentrations exceeded 90 ppb, with a maximum value of 140 ppb. The average indoor formaldehyde concentrations measured in homes in Pullman, Washington, ranged from approximately 5-72 ppb (Lamb et al. 1985). 

Hare DA, Groah WJ, Schweer LG, et al. 1996. Evaluating the contribution of UF-bonded building materials to indoor formaldehyde levels in a newly constructed house. Presented at Washington State University 30 Annual Particleboard/Compositc Materials Symposium, Pullman, WA. 

Matthews TG, Reed TJ, Tromberg BJ, et al. 1985. Formaldehyde emission from combustion sources and solid formaldehyde-resin-containing products Potential impact on indoor formaldehyde concentrations. In Gammage RB, Kaye SV, Jacobs VA, ed. Indoor air and human health. Chelsea, MI Lewis Publishers, Inc., 131-150. 

Thrasher JD, Broughton A, Gard Z. 1988a. Indoor formaldehyde and the elderly. Clin Gerontol 7 63-66. 

Recent work by Black, reported in a separate chapter, M lhave (47), and by others (48) has shown that it is now possible to quite reliably correlate production tests to product performance If the use conditions are well known. Indoor formaldehyde levels are determined by the following factors ... 

The need for control of formaldehyde emission from UF-bonded wood products has been recognized since Wittmann (4) reported in 1962 that extensive use of particleboard in furniture and building envelopes can cause indoor formaldehyde concentrations exceeding occupational threshold levels. However, it proved to be difficult to define the problem because formaldehyde emission from finished products was not regularly measured, and the correlation between emission rate and the environmental factors were not yet well established. 

During the past ten years the occupational and ambient indoor formaldehyde guidelines and regulations have been thoroughly reviewed and revised. The recent development of product emission standards will greatly reduce confusion about the safety of UF-bonded products and will make it possible to eliminate products with unacceptably high emission before they are installed. 

Formaldehyde is one of several volatile organic compounds. Indoor sources of formaldehyde include particleboard, plywood, fibre board, panelling, urea formaldehyde foam insulation and some carpets and furniture, as well as some household chemicals. Formaldehyde is a well-known irritant of the upper respiratory tract. Other problems may include IgE sensitisation to formaldehyde, and the possibility that formaldehyde exposure increases the risk of IgE sensitisation to common aeroallergens. In a study in Australia it was shown that low-level exposure to indoor formaldehyde may increase the risk of IgE sensitisation to common aeroallergens in school children [311(111)]. 

Zhai L, Zhao J, Xu B, Deng Y, Xu Z. Influence of indoor formaldehyde pollution on respiratory system health in the urban area of Shenyang,... 

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