Stan and Andrea Bassett were convinced that something in their home was making them ill. Both have missed work due to illness. They have had thousands of dollars in medical costs.
Stan and Andrea feel fine when they stay with Stan’s parents. They both get ill again when they return to their own home. Clearly, something in the home is the source of the problem.
Andrea’s “velvet” hangars and matching closet organizer boxes were sources of formaldehyde in the master bedroom. Andrea’s sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and nosebleeds are consistent with formaldehyde exposure. Stan’s respiratory irritation and fatigue also fit the profile.
Further testing confirmed that many items of furniture in the Bassett home emitted substantial amounts of formaldehyde. At a cool 65° F on the day we tested, the home had about 50 ppb formaldehyde in room air.
Formaldehyde concentration doubles for each 10° rise in temperature. At 75°, formaldehyde in the Bassett home would increase to an uncomfortable 100 ppb. At 85°, formaldehyde would be an alarming 200 ppb.
For comparison, average formaldehyde concentration in the Katrina FEMA trailers was 77 ppb. Many residents of those trailers became ill. Children can be harmed by as little as 30 ppb.
With interior doors closed, formaldehyde was more than 300 ppb in the room with the most furniture. The “ceiling limit” for occupational exposure is 300 ppb. In rooms without the problem furniture, formaldehyde was around 20 ppb.
A factory worker would be provided with respiratory protection at 300 ppb. However, the company that sold the furniture to Stan and Andrea gave them no warning that they could be harmed.
The furniture items emitting formaldehyde were upscale pieces from “a leading home furnishings retailer” based in California. Stan and Andrea have elegant tastes, and their furniture was excellent quality.
Stan’s trendy black desk emitted the most formaldehyde of any item in the home. A 4-liter test chamber was placed on the surface of the desk to trap formaldehyde emissions. After 30 minutes, formaldehyde in the chamber reached 1,543 ppb.
That formaldehyde was emitted into the air above the desk, directly into Stan’s breathing zone. A matching desktop organizer added to the formaldehyde in Stan’s breathing zone.
The furniture retailer’s website proclaims their “environmental commitment” and “sustainable manufacturing”. It is unfortunate the company does not place equal emphasis on the health of their customers.
Free formaldehyde testing is available for new Los Altos homes.
Photo by Linda Kincaid.
You might also enjoy these:
Comments
Linda Kincaid aka Spy Purse Lady (SPL) strikes again with her miss-information and distortions of facts. She states in all her articles that all symptoms, illnesses, and even death results from being exposed to 77 ppb formaldehyde!
The Bassett’s had Ms. Kincaid do formaldehyde testing in their home. To the amazement of all, formaldehyde was found in the air at 50 ppb at 65 oF. SPL then did various manipulations of environmental conditions (e.g. raising temperatures, shutting down of ventilation and air movement) so as to reach 300 ppb. Paraphrasing: “See, you have too much formaldehyde in your home due to all this excellent quality furniture and this is why you are sick. Of course, I had to raise the temperature and shut all the doors and windows but I got my Katrina level!” She trots off to sell her sensational headline article to her editor. Remember, she is a journalist first.
CONTINUED
She reports her formaldehyde level from this device in parts per billion (ppb) when it should be micrograms per square meter per hour (ug/m2-hr). Doesn’t the photograph of her Tupperware container on the desk raise questions about her methodology?
A valid IAQ survey considers not only formaldehyde but other contaminates such as low levels of carbon monoxide; high levels of carbon dioxide; indoor mold; mold under crawl spaces; airborne glass or cellulose fibers; bio-organisms from bird/rodent droppings; high levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons; specific toxic volatile organic compounds; allergens; physical conditions such as fresh air exchanges, temperature, humidity, etc; and the life style of the occupants. A valid IAQ survey evaluates controls and manages the entire living environment including the occupants.
Ms. Kincaid said: “sore throats, headaches, fatigue, and nose bleeds are consistent with
CONTINUED
CONTINUED
formaldehyde exposure.” She went on to say “Steve’s respiratory irritation and fatigue also fit the profile.” Do other contaminates mentioned above have the same symptoms?
Check it out:
Carbon Monoxide: Headache; Fatigue, etc. Flu like symptoms that disappear when a person breaths fresh air or leaves the area. Oxides of Nitrogen: Fatigue; Headaches; Sore Throat. Fibers, Low Humidity, Mold, Dust: Sore Throat; Headaches; Stuffiness. Fibers, Low Humidity, Aspirin or anticoagulants, High blood pressure, Hemophilia, Leukemia: Nosebleeds. NOTE: Forty years in the business I have never seen nosebleeds caused by formaldehyde at the levels reported in this article.
Was it proved beyond a reasonable doubt the furniture is the cause of the Bassett’s illnesses? Do the Bassett’s actually believe they got an accurate assessment of their air quality?
CONTINUED
CONTINUED-FINAL
The formaldehyde levels reported in Ms. Kincaid’s article are not sufficient to trigger all the reported symptoms. I am concerned there are other contributing factors in this home. The Bassett family is urged to contact a reputable Indoor Air Quality specialist for a second opinion.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!