Question about formaldehyde

[Matstj]

She needs to take an allergy test (prick test or blood test) to find out what she is allergic to. That will make it much easier to troubleshoot in the house.

 

[Matstj]

The formaldehyde is in the glue that you use to glue the wood fibers, which you then hot press into a board like MDF. The simple explanation. I work closely with this, namely, we sell the machines for fiber production.

Symptoms of formaldehyde include irritation in the eyes and nose. I have not heard of breathing problems. In that case, it is at high concentrations. What can be found indoors is usually under 300 PPM.

 

[Marlen Eskilsson]

It could be as simple as it being too hot and dry indoors!

Too dry can't be the problem. It's too high humidity that can cause chemicals to be released from building materials, mold spores to form, etc.

 

[Pytt]

Too dry cannot be the problem. It is too high humidity that can cause chemicals to be released from building materials, mold spores to form, etc.

I think Pagno meant that too dry air can cause asthma symptoms without chemicals being involved.

 

[Lina Hedberg]

I have completely renovated my house (added insulation, plastered, installed new windows and new window jambs). Once everything was done and my wife and baby moved back in, both developed asthma. The little one seems better, but my wife gets asthma about 1 minute after coming home. We have conducted numerous air analyses, mold assessments, particle measurements, and formaldehyde tests and have several professional air purifiers, but without results. I suspect it's the window jambs that are made of MDF board and painted. Is there any way to test for emissions containment? Like completely covering all windows with construction plastic, or is there an impenetrable paint that can be applied? I'm completely at a loss, probably spent 100k trying to find the problem.

Hi! I hope your wife is feeling better! How did you measure formaldehyde?

 

[winzhangout]

We had a company, although I don't remember which, that measured chemicals. As mentioned, we sold and moved to a house that was 10 years old and chose not to move to something newly built because of this. In hindsight, I would say that "I" think there was some worry and hypochondria involved from my wife's side. But it can still create the same problems, and it was easier to move than to change wives

 

[Paratroopa]

We had a company, though I don't remember which one, that measured chemicals. As mentioned, we sold and moved to a house that was 10 years old and chose not to move to something newly built because of this. I would, in hindsight, say that "I" think there was some worry and hypochondria involved on my wife's part. But it can still create the same problem, and it was easier to move than to change wife

Reviving an old thread.
I had hoped you had come to a solution and didn't sell.
I have a house from the 70s, chlorine-impregnated beams that are now replaced with a ventilated floor with a fan.
My partner has developed rashes since we moved into the house a few years ago, which have gotten worse.
My relatively newborn daughter has started to get rashes, and I'm beginning to think it might be possible formaldehyde in the walls or that the house has remnants in the walls that have come from the floor.
I've tried almost everything, but my daughter gets better when she's not at home.
I have to put in a new ceiling as it has started to deteriorate, and I have considered tearing down the inner panels and putting new tiles on the upper floor, in addition to aesthetic reasons, to get rid of potential allergens stuck in the walls.
Anyone have experience with this? It doesn't reach upstairs. My daughter is just under 8 months old.

 

[The85]

Reviving an old thread.
Had hoped you found a solution and didn't sell.
I have a house from the '70s, chloride-impregnated sills which have now been replaced with a ventilated floor with a fan.
My partner has developed rashes since we moved into the house a few years ago, which have gotten worse.
My relatively newborn daughter has started getting rashes and I suspect it might be possibly formaldehyde in the walls or that the house still has something in the walls that came from the floor.
I've tried almost everything but my daughter gets better when she's not home.
Need to lay a new ceiling as it's starting to deteriorate and have considered tearing down the inner panels and putting new panels upstairs, besides for aesthetic reasons, to get rid of possible allergens stuck in the walls.
Does anyone have any experience with this? It's not installed upstairs. My daughter is just under 8 months.

Have you replaced the gypsum in the walls? I know my parents' '70s house has elevated moisture levels in the gypsum walls because of this. About 0.5m from the floor and up you can measure this. Ventilate the floor and replace the gypsum boards. Gypsum does not withstand moisture well and can result in various emissions due to mold/bacteria.

 

[Paratroopa]

Have you replaced the plaster in the walls? I know that my parents' 70s house has elevated moisture levels in the plaster walls because of this. About 0.5m from the floor up, you can measure this. Ventilate the floor and replace the plasterboards. Plaster doesn't tolerate moisture well and can result in various emissions due to mold/bacteria.

Thanks for the reply, nope, haven't replaced any plasterboards.
After testing, I have now found microbial growth, as well as a lot of other chemicals above critical levels. But we don't know where it is. We'll have to tear out the floor and walls. The ceiling is new. I've considered tearing down the whole house and putting up a turnkey house. Must drain and replace the roof, it will probably be very costly regardless, maybe it's more worthwhile to build new.

 

[4774]

I have completely renovated my house (added insulation, plastered, new windows, new jambs) and when everything was finished and my wife and baby moved back, both developed asthma. The little boy seems better but my wife gets asthma after about 1 minute at home. We have done numerous air analyses, mold, particle measurements, and formaldehyde measurements and have several professional air purifiers, but without results. I think it's the window jambs built with MDF board and painted, but is there any way to test to contain emissions? Like covering all windows completely with construction plastic or is there an impermeable paint you can use? I'm completely overwhelmed, have probably spent 100k trying to find the problem.

Have your wife and little one been to an allergy specialist? Because that's where they need to go, not regular clinics. They can help with investigations, but what they mainly do is find out what triggers the allergy and what the actual asthma is based on. Asthma can be triggered by everything from cold weather, dry indoor air, allergies to airborne particles, etc. In any case, if they haven't been to an allergy specialist, that's what you MUST do. This is overwhelming for you. It is doctors who can help your wife and son. Not you until they are properly investigated. If it is real asthma, they need medication immediately because you can never know at every exact moment what will cause your airways to constrict and suffocate you. Real asthma is life-threatening if you don't have the right medicine at home. I myself have adrenaline injections at home to use while waiting for an ambulance.
So one should not assume that breathlessness is due to just asthma, as it is often an allergy that causes it.
Before you spend more money and time and go crazy.

 

[Peter_Ker]

But he wrote that they sold the house and the hypochondria got better after that.

 

[Hep]

4774 does indeed quote the one who sold and moved, but the advice seems directed to the one who just joined the thread, and there the advice fits, not the quoting.

 

[hsd]

Be glad if you don't have allergic problems instead of belittling those who do.

 

[The85]

Thanks for the reply, nix, haven't changed any drywall.
After testing, I've now found microbial growth, along with many other chemicals above the critical level. But we don't know where it is yet. We'll have to tear out the floor and walls. The ceiling is new. I've considered tearing down the whole house and putting up a turnkey. Need to drain and replace the roof, it will probably be very costly regardless so it might be more worth it to build new.

When was the house built, what type of house is it? Send a picture of the house if you can. I'll see if I can figure out where you should look.

 

[The85]

But he wrote that they sold the house and the hypochondria got better after that.

Then it probably wasn't hypochondria. Lots of weird chemicals today. But fortunately, awareness around this is increasing. You should look for A+ labeling and M1 labeling when buying flooring, paint, etc.