The Wooden Horse’s Weblog

What you need to know about furniture materials

Does your baby get restless, cranky, or have unexpected illness and allergies? It may not be your child’s fault, but may be caused by the furniture in their room. Modern furniture has many synthetic components, some of which could be toxic. Several government agencies are passing laws to reduce this threat. What can you do to protect yor child’s health?

Have you ever bought antique furniture or received a wooden heirloom? If it was built before 1850, it was probably made of solid wood.  It was constructed to last. Presently, when you buy furniture from the big box stores, most likely it is manufactured from composite materials combined with chemicals.

 In the last 40 years, composite wood products have made major inroads into furniture manufacturing. They are labeled as MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard), particleboard, chipboard, or veneered plywood with a composite core. These commodities are made from waste wood leftovers.  In addition, waste paper, corn silk, and sugarcane fibers may be added. Very little raw material is thrown away. This may sound like good environmental common sense, but there are potentially toxic effects.

 As a parent, you should know the methods and materials that are used to fabricate your child’s furniture. Fragments are bonded or held together with synthetic resins. Characteristics are amended with other additives. One resin, formaldehyde, poses a significant concern.  There is not much debate about the negative health effects of exposure to formaldehyde. According to the World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), formaldehyde “is probably carcinogenic to humans”.

 Why be concerned about composite wood?

Many household items contain formaldehyde such as furniture, carpets, draperies, sheets, paint, and floor finishes. These items expel formaldehyde as a gas. Breathing the gas, even at low levels, can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Formaldehyde can also affect the skin leading to dermatitis. Furthermore, it is a sensitizer causing allergic reactions.

 In a child’s room, there are cribs, change tables, chairs, curtains, and carpets that give off formaldehyde gases as part of the curing and degradation process. Moreover, you thought it was just that new furniture smell.

 Don’t be too surprised. Furniture like cribs are made from composite wood such as particle board and MDF. Regrettably, gases escape thereby polluting the indoor air. Then, it spreads out into the room where it resides in curtains, fabrics, and rugs. One test by Environment California showed that cribs and change tables could be significant source of formaldehyde gases. Many cribs are made overseas where controls are not as strict as in North America.

 What’s more, Environment Canada declared formaldehyde “toxic” under the Environmental Protection Act. The agency stated that it is “entering the Canadian environment in a quantity or concentration that it constitutes or may constitute a danger for the environment on which life depends and a danger in Canada to human life and health.”

 What can you do?

As your baby spends so much time in the nursery, you might think about some strategies.

1.  1 Avoid composite wood products made with formaldehyde.
2. 2 If you can’t avoid composite wood products, look for items with the most solid wood.
3. 3 Verify that all surfaces are sealed or coated. That is, there are no untreated wood areas.
4. 4 Coat exposed areas with natural finishes made from plant oils or low or no-VOC finishes. If this is not possible, determine that the finishes are non-toxic. Generally, if it smells bad, it probably is bad for your baby’s health. Read the label.
5. 5 Before bringing the furniture indoors, let it off gas out doors or at least away from the nursery. Ensure that fresh air has passed over the product to remove the formaldehyde gas.
6. 6 Adequately ventilate the child’s room.
7. 7 Avoid contact with high temperature and humidity sources, as these will increase the rate of formaldehyde emissions.
8. 8 Ask your government representative how they are working to curtail these emissions.