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What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. It is widely used to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. Its most significant use in homes is as an adhesive resin in pressed wood products. There are two types of formaldehyde resins: urea formaldehyde (UF) and phenol formaldehyde (PF). Products made of Urea Formaldehyde can release formaldehyde gas; products made of Phenol Formaldehyde generally emit lower levels of the gas. Where is it found?
Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical used to make other chemicals, building materials, and household products. Building products made with formaldehyde resins can “off-gas” (emit) formaldehyde gas. These products include particle board used as sub-flooring or shelving, fiberboard in cabinets and furniture and plywood wall panels. Some sources that previously contained formaldehyde are either no longer used or have been reformulated to contain less formaldehyde.
What are the Health Effects?
Formaldehyde affects people in various ways. When present in the air at levels at or above 0.1 ppm, acute health effects can occur including watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat; nausea; coughing; chest tightness; wheezing; skin rashes; and other irritating effects. The World Health Organization recommends that exposure should not exceed 0.05 ppm. Formaldehyde has caused cancer in laboratory animals and may cause cancer in humans; there is no known threshold level below which there is no threat of cancer. The risk depends upon amount and duration of exposure. Solution
Sawa Bio Composite Agrifibre Boards are manufactured using MDI polyurethane as a binding agent which produces a "Zero Formaldehyde" or "Formaldehyde Free" material. This means that Sawa BCA Boards have emissions far below the strict E1 European low formaldehyde (LF) standard and the USA (HUD 24) standard. Sawa BCA Boards are therefore suitable for specification in environmentally sensitive areas such as: - Schools
- Nurseries, and hospitals
- Public buildings and museums
- Laboratories and or any Domestic application where the end user has concern for their living environment.
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