Formaldehyde

 

"Are the chemicals in those boards poisonous? Do they cause cancer?"

 

Generally, people who ask these questions are thinking primarily about formaldehyde. That chemical is used in the construction of MDF & Chipboard, and there have been studies linking formaldehyde with an increased risk of cancer. However, there are two important counterpoints to consider here.

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First, what off-gassing of formaldehyde does occur happens primarily during the construction of the material. By the time the piece reaches your home, especially if it has been painted, off-gassing has for the most part halted. 

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Second, there are increasingly strict government restrictions in place covering the amount of chemicals, especially formaldehyde, that may be used in the construction of MDF , Chipboard and other wood panels. 

 

There are few standard or Act to control the formaldehyde level which are still within the tolerance level, such as International Composite Board Emission Standards (ICBES), Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)  Title VI or the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Airborne Toxic Control Measures (ATCM) Phase II emission standards,   F-Three Star and F-Four Star Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) and etc.