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Formaldehyde is an important
industrial chemical that is used to make other chemicals,
building materials and household products. It is one of the
volatile organic compounds “VOCs”; which means that it gets
easily vaporized and thus released into the air as a pungent
gas. Since it is a good preservative and makes an excellent
adhesive; therefore it is used widely in the building and
furnishings industries. Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with
a strong odor. When present in the air at levels above 0.1
ppm , it acts as a strong irritant that cause burning
sensations in the eyes, nose and throat. Wheezing and
coughing, fatigue, skin rashes, headaches, loss of
coordination and nausea are other symptom. It can also cause
asthma attacks and damage to the liver, kidneys and the
central nervous system.
Pressed wood
products, such as particleboard, are the major source of
Formaldehyde in homes. Other sources include interior
plywood, veneered or laminated furniture & cabinets, some
professionally applied furniture and floor finishes,
paneling, permanent press fabrics, coated paper products,
combustion products (cigarettes and automobile exhaust,
certain insulation materials, urea-formaldehyde foam and
fiberglass insulation) and cosmetics. Formaldehyde is
usually present at low levels, usually less than 30 ppb of
air in both outdoors and indoors.
Symptoms usually
begin to appear at levels above 100 ppb. As the temperature
rises, more Formaldehyde is emitted from the product.
Humidity also effects the release of Formaldehyde, as
humidity rises more formaldehyde is released.
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Regulations
A 1985 HUD regulation
covering the use of pressed wood
products in manufactured housing was
designed to ensure that indoor levels
are below 400 ppb or 0.4 ppm.
OSHA- 1910.1048 (C) (1) Permissible
Exposure Limit (PEL) - TWA: The employer
shall assure that no employee is exposed
to an airborne concentration of
formaldehyde which exceeds 0.75 parts
formaldehyde per million parts of air
(0.75 ppm) as an 8-hour TWA.
1910.1048(c)(2) - Short Term
Exposure Limit (STEL): The employer
shall assure that no employee is exposed
to an airborne concentration of
formaldehyde which exceeds two parts
formaldehyde per million parts of air (2
ppm) as a 15-minute STEL.
US Environmental
Protection Agency (US EPA), Occupational
Safety & Health Administration (OSHA),
NESHAP and Local Clean Air Agencies
require that prior to any
renovation/demolition/maintenance
activities, all building materials must
be identified for any presence of
asbestos containing materials (ACM).
Our Lab Services
Formaldehyde Testing (NIOSH 3500)
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Accredited By |
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AIHA-IHLAP
LAB 101861 |
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NVLAP
LAB 102063-0 |
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WA-DOE
LAB C1765 |
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AIHA-ELLAP
LAB 101861 |
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AIHA-EMLAP
LAB 101861 |
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AIHA-AAR
(Asbestos Analyst Registry) |
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Resources
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
www.cpsc.gov
Formaldehyde Council
www.formaldehyde.org
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration
www.osha.gov |
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