RSS
Home
Formaldehyde: new bedroom furniture causes child’s illness
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
Two-year-old Jason McAllister was excited to get a grown-up bed, just like his big brother. However, Jason started having cold and flu symptoms right after his new bedroom furniture arrived last January. Cynthia, Jason’s mom, sometimes had a sore throat and watery eyes when she snuggled in bed with Jason. She also noticed that their cat now avoided Jason’s room.
After several weeks, Cynthia consulted their family physician about her symptoms. Her physician agreed that she had been “exposed to something” that caused irritation. He suggested she wait a few weeks, and the problem should go away.
In April, Cynthia and Jason were still feeling ill. The symptoms were less pronounced when they did not sleep in the new bed. Spending time in Jason’s room brought a return of the sore throats. Cynthia was convinced the new furniture was making them ill, and she suspected formaldehyde might be the culprit.
A couple of quick air tests confirmed that Jason’s room had enough formaldehyde in the air to make a person ill. Cynthia had opened the windows several hours before we tested, so the room air was diluted to about 50 ppb of formaldehyde, still enough to cause mild irritation. However, a closed drawer in the room had 300 ppb of formaldehyde, a concentration that could be experienced by a professional embalmer. Occupants of FEMA trailers experienced illness at 77 ppb.
Formaldehyde is only part of the picture. We tested for formaldehyde because it is a quick and inexpensive test. However, numerous other chemicals can be emitted from new furniture. The presence of formaldehyde is a good indicator that other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are likely to be present.
The formaldehyde and VOC problem will remedy itself in time. Furniture that is several years old will emit far less organic vapors, so in time the new furniture will no longer cause problems. Cynthia plans to let the furniture air out for while and then test again to see if the formaldehyde emissions are lower.
Cynthia is relieved to know what caused the symptoms that she and Jason have had for months. She will open the windows most afternoons to ventilate her home. She and her husband will decide if they want to bring Jason’s crib out of storage for a few months. For now, Jason is excited because he will get to sleep in the big bed with Mom and Dad.
Photo from: Flikr Creative Commons
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
A UC San Diego study of “green” office buildings found that a number of tenants reported increased sick days after moving into Energy Star …
Tara Lucas learned that her headaches and her children’s respiratory illnesses were due to formaldehyde from MDF doors and trim in her Los Altos …
- Free Testing (Nationwide): Study by St. John's University
- Free Testing (San Francisco Bay Area): Pro bono by Industrial Hygiene Services
- Granite & Radiation: Dr. William Llope
- Granite & Radiation: IHS
- Granite & Radon: Dr. Daniel Steck
- Granite & Radon: EPA
- Granite & Radon: California DPH
- Granite & Radon: IHS
