Huntington Beach, CA, July 15th, 2020
In May, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) published information about consumer products and building materials that emit formaldehyde and can negatively impact indoor air quality (IAQ). Classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable human carcinogen, exposure to formaldehyde is also an asthma trigger for some people with the condition and can act as an eye, nose, throat and lung irritant.
California’s Proposition 65 lists formaldehyde as a chemical that causes cancer. The listing requires businesses in the state to determine if they must provide a warning to the public about exposures to it. The California Composite Wood Products Regulation (CWP) requires finished goods made with hardwood plywood (HWPW), particleboard (PB) and medium density fiberboard (MDF) to comply with regulatory requirements for formaldehyde emission standards and to be labeled as such.
The recent CARB warning states:
Formaldehyde is widely used in composite wood products that have resins containing formaldehyde, and is in building materials and insulation, glues, permanent press fabrics, paints, lacquers and other coatings. Formaldehyde is also released into the air from formaldehyde-containing personal care products including some shampoos, soaps, hair care products, body washes and nail polish. Moreover, many other consumer products also emit volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that react with ozone in the air to produce formaldehyde. Some indoor air purifiers actually create ozone, which can lead to increased concentrations of formaldehyde and other indoor air pollutants.
“Reducing exposure to formaldehyde in the indoor environment is important for everyone, but can be especially beneficial for children, older adults and people with respiratory conditions,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “At LA Testing, our network of laboratories provide air testing services and sampling supplies for formaldehyde and many other VOCs. Our scientists also offer material testing to manufacturers of consumer products and building materials to help keep them in regulatory compliance.”
To learn more about formaldehyde or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ), material, building science, occupational, health and safety testing services, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.
About LA Testing
LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: : AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro, San Diego and Ontario.