Formaldehyde, is E1 = safe?

[glemmy]

Hi,

I was thinking of using plywood in a construction. I don’t want any unnecessary toxins since it’s close to the bed.

The board meets the E1 requirements:
https://www.sp.se/sv/index/services/traprodukter/formaldehydavgivning/svenskakrav/sidor/default.aspx
But I can't decipher if that means it's suitable to use. 0.13 mg formaldehyde/m3 air doesn't tell me much.

Does anyone have a good source?
http://www.hse.gov.uk/woodworking/faq-mdf.htm

Thanks

 

[tommib]

It's probably fine. When looking at the hygienic limit values for formaldehyde in a lab environment, the NGV (level limit value) is 0.3ppm / 0.37mg/m3.
Here is a safety data sheet from Sigma Aldrich that sells it.
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/MSDS/MS...ch.com/catalog/product/aldrich/433284?lang=en

Edit: It was in your own link what is recommended as a short-term and long-term limit value (2.5mg/m3).

Welcome to the forum, by the way!

 

[glemmy]

It's probably fine. When looking at hygienic limit values for formaldehyde in a lab environment, the NGV (level limit value) is 0.3ppm / 0.37mg/m3. Here is a safety data sheet from Sigma Aldrich that sells it. [link]

Edit: It was stated in your own link what is recommended as short-term and long-term limit values (2.5mg/m3).

Welcome to the forum by the way!

Thank you tommib

I find some mixed information, that there might not be a safe level at all, for example:

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reclassified formaldehyde from "probably carcinogenic to humans" to "carcinogenic to humans" in 2004, based on the increased risk of nasopharyngeal cancer. Formaldehyde was also designated as a toxic air contaminant (TAC) in California in 1992 with no safe level of exposure. State law requires ARB to take action to reduce human exposure to all TACs.

http://www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm

At the same time, walls, wallpapers, furniture might still emit a certain level.

 

[tommib]

Life is a sexually transmitted disease with 100% mortality.....

But seriously, you expose yourself to much greater risks with most other things you do. People are just extremely bad at assessing risks, especially this kind that they don't really understand. The lifetime risk of cancer in some form is about 1/3, so if you avoid smoking, being overweight, and working with asbestos or in a mine, you've probably done what you need to do.