Much of the furniture we enjoy every day is slowly “off-gassing” toxins into the air. These wood products traditionally rely on formaldehyde as an integral part of the binding system.
Towards low-emitting and sustainable particle- and fibreboards
Formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical and known respiratory irritant and carcinogen. The toxicity of urea-formaldehyde is exacerbated when humidity and temperature are high, as the adhesive can break down and continually emit formaldehyde.
This article provides more information on the specific chemistry.