My house is slowly killing me. What can I do?
Reports have surfaced recently of people falling ill due to high formaldehyde levels in their furnishings
Home is a refuge for most, but it can on rare occasions be the cause of illness. Reports have surfaced recently of people in Singapore falling ill due to high formaldehyde levels in their furnishings. Since 2020, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has received feedback on 19 cases involving formaldehyde levels arising from renovation works.
Formaldehyde is a water-soluble, colourless and pungent gas that gives off the “new house smell” at room temperature. It has multiple uses – as a disinfectant and fumigant, in furniture manufacturing, wood processing, textiles and leather. Toxicity from formaldehyde can come from inhalation, skin exposure or ingestion. While Singapore has guidelines for formaldehyde, they are not mandatory. A national safety standard applies for indoor air-conditioned spaces, where formaldehyde concentrations should be limited to 0.08 part per million (ppm).
In January 2023, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said the Government would “very seriously” consider recommendations by industry leaders to set formaldehyde emission limits in building products and household furnishings. Slightly over a year later, in March 2024, it was announced that Singapore will ban formaldehyde in paint used for the interiors of buildings from January 2026. Other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home that could make its inhabitants sick include asbestos and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which are used as flame retardants.
Pledge to spur use of low-emitting formaldehyde solutions for indoor spaces
DPM Heng Swee Keat (fourth from left) with members of the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces
Formaldehyde is commonly used in building products and household furnishings, but products containing the chemical can release particles that are hazardous to health at high levels of exposure. A new pledge has now been launched to spur greater supply and adoption of low-emitting formaldehyde solutions for indoor spaces among businesses and other organisations.
The Low Formaldehyde Commitment Statement is part of the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces' effort to raise public awareness and open up opportunities for suppliers of sustainable products and services that can improve wellness and quality of living. Exposure to formaldehyde - a pungent chemical and pollutant - can result in effects such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as chest pains and bronchitis. The statement, which is in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, was officially rolled out on Monday (April 11) by Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat during a visit to paint manufacturer Gush.
Gush is among 75 organisations that have committed to the statement to date. They include businesses in sectors like real estate and furniture, as well as trade associations and chambers and government agencies. The alliance was formed by the Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Furniture Industries Council and Singapore Green Building Council in November 2021. It seeks to bring together stakeholders across different sectors to create and enhance sustainable spaces and help solution providers and adopters seize opportunities in the green economy.
Use of formaldehyde in furniture, adhesives being reviewed: Baey Yam Keng
The authorities are reviewing the use of formaldehyde in products such as furniture and adhesives, even as five MPs raised parliamentary questions calling for greater action on the issue.
This follows recent media reports of people here falling ill due to high formaldehyde levels in their furnishings, with CNA reporting in July that one family paid $1,000 for treatments to their wooden cabinets and shelves after their young children repeatedly fell sick due to high levels of the chemical. Mr Melvin Yong (Radin Mas) asked how many complaints the National Environment Agency (NEA had received over the past five years about high levels of formaldehyde in new furniture, while Dr Wan Rizal (Jalan Besar GRC) inquired about plans to review and update existing regulations on indoor air quality and furniture safety standards.
Often found in resins and glues used in wooden furniture – as well as in composite wood products such as plywood and fibreboard – formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, with long-term exposure linked to certain cancers. Earlier in 2024, it was announced that Singapore will ban formaldehyde in paint used for the interiors of buildings from January 2026.
Worried about pollutants from paint? Govt may regulate emissions for indoor products, furnishings
The spread of Covid-19 due to poor ventilation has led the Government and many businesses to tackle the issue
The Government will “very seriously” consider recommendations by industry leaders to set formaldehyde emission limits in building products and household furnishings, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Wednesday.
Formaldehyde is found in adhesives, composite wood and paint, which are used in some indoor products like cabinets. The pungent pollutant, commonly found in these items, releases particles that are hazardous to health at high levels of exposure and can result in cancer after long periods of time. Ms Fu was speaking at the official launch of guidelines and recommendations by the Alliance for Action on Sustainable Spaces to ensure that air breathed indoors is cleaner and greener.
They were developed in consultation with industry stakeholders by the alliance, which was initiated by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) and Singapore Green Building Council in November 2021. Under the alliance’s proposal for regulation, companies will have to submit test reports for all products for certification before sale and provide proof that the goods sold meet emissions limits. These guidelines come as the spread of Covid-19 due to poor ventilation and poor air quality led the Government and many businesses to tackle the issue.
Chemical giving a ‘new house smell’ in her home made her seriously ill
Aden, 32, suffered formaldehyde-induced conjunctivitis and wound infection of the eye after renovating her apartment
She had spent about $40,000 making her new apartment liveable, but it turned out to be anything but a cosy home for her and her two cats. Days after moving into her unit at a condominium in the east in November 2023, the 32-year-old loan consultant, who wanted to be known only by her first name, Aden, started feeling sick. “There was a burning sensation in my eyes, up my nostrils and down my throat. At times, I could not breathe and suffered shortness of breath,” she told The Straits Times.
She was suffering from formaldehyde poisoning, which was diagnosed only after she was referred to an ophthalmologist. Formaldehyde is commonly used in building products and household furnishings, and products containing the chemical can release particles that are hazardous to health, should levels of exposure be high. Often found in resins and glues used in wooden furniture – as well as in composite wood products such as plywood and fibreboard – formaldehyde, commonly known as “new house smell”, can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, with long-term exposure linked to certain cancers.
“I should have caught on that something was not right because whenever I visited the apartment while work was going on, there was a pungent smell. It was particularly bad when the cabinets were being installed,” Aden said. Another clue that she missed was that her cats, Bobby and Fluffy, stayed on the balcony, refusing to step inside. “They were also affected. They kept their eyes shut, and they were losing fur, leaving red patches, especially on Bobby’s skin,” she added. Aden was away from January to March 2024 for work and did not have any symptoms while overseas, but when she returned and spent a day at home, she became sick again.
Formaldehyde: Chemical compound
formaldehyde (HCHO), an organic compound, the simplest of the aldehydes, used in large amounts in a variety of chemical manufacturing processes. It is produced principally by the vapour-phase oxidation of methanol and is commonly sold as formalin, a 37 percent aqueous solution. Formalin may be dehydrated to trioxane, a crystalline trimer, or to an amorphous polymer, paraformaldehyde, which is a convenient source of gaseous formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde and ammonia yield methenamine, or hexamethylenetetramine, which is used as a urinary antiseptic. Nitration of methenamine gives the explosive cyclonite, or RDX. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde react in the presence of calcium hydroxide to give pentaerythritol, the tetranitrate of which is the explosive PETN. Large quantities of formaldehyde are used in the manufacture of urea–formaldehyde resin, phenol–formaldehyde resin, and acetal resin (polyoxymethylene). The reaction of formaldehyde with proteins leads to its use in the tanning industry and in treating various vegetable proteins to render them fibrous. The reactivity with proteins is also the basis for the use of formaldehyde as a disinfectant, an embalming agent, and a soil sterilant.
Pure formaldehyde is a colourless, flammable gas with a strong pungent odour. It is extremely irritating to the mucous membranes and is associated with certain types of cancer in humans and other animals. Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance).
Risks of Formaldehyde Exposure
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature. It has a distinct odor, sometimes described as smelling like pickles.
Small amounts of formaldehyde are produced naturally by animals, plants, and humans. The chemical is also used in many building materials and as a preservative in household products. Most people don’t experience health problems when exposed to low levels of formaldehyde. However, even low amounts can irritate the eyes, throat, nose, airways, and skin in sensitive skin. Exposure to very high levels of formaldehyde for many years has been linked to more serious medical problems, including a greater risk of cancer.
Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the body of living organisms and in some foods. It’s also a byproduct of combustion. The chemical is produced when burning natural gas, gasoline, wood, kerosene, or tobacco.2 Additionally, formaldehyde is used in various industries to make materials or to preserve certain products. People are exposed to formaldehyde mainly by inhaling it. Products that contain formaldehyde can release the chemical as a gas or vapor into the air. Formaldehyde can also be absorbed through the skin or consumed through foods and drinks
Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and to produce many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; paper product coatings; and certain insulation materials. In addition, formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes.
According to a 1997 report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde is normally present in both indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air (ppm). Materials containing formaldehyde can release formaldehyde gas or vapor into the air. One source of formaldehyde exposure in the air is automobile tailpipe emissions. During the 1970s, urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was used in many homes. However, few homes are now insulated with UFFI. Homes in which UFFI was installed many years ago are not likely to have high formaldehyde levels now. Pressed-wood products containing formaldehyde resins are often a significant source of formaldehyde in homes. Other potential indoor sources of formaldehyde include cigarette smoke and the use of unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters.
Industrial workers who produce formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products, laboratory technicians, certain health care professionals, and mortuary employees may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general public. Exposure occurs primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin. When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, whereas others have no reaction to the same level of exposure.
Facts About Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature and has a strong odor. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause adverse health effects.
Formaldehyde is found in:
- Resins used in the manufacture of composite wood products (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard);
- Building materials and insulation;
- Household products such as glues, permanent press fabrics, paints and coatings, lacquers and finishes, and paper products;
- Preservatives used in some medicines, cosmetics and other consumer products such as dishwashing liquids and fabric softeners; and
- Fertilizers and pesticides.
It is a byproduct of combustion and certain other natural processes, and so is also found in:
- Emissions from un-vented, fuel burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters
- Cigarette smoke
What should I know about formaldehyde and indoor air quality?
Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, by itself or in combination with other chemicals, serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example, it is used to add permanent-press qualities to clothing and draperies, as a component of glues and adhesives, and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.
In homes, the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.
Other pressed wood products, such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strandboard, are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark, or red/black-colored phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. Although formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably lower rates than those containing UF resin.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde may be best known for its preservative and anti-bacterial properties. Formaldehyde-based chemistry is also used to make a range of products in the building and construction, health care, automotive, and personal care products sectors.
All life forms–bacteria, plants, fish, animals and humans–naturally produce formaldehyde as part of cell metabolism. Formaldehyde is one of the most well-studied and well-understood compounds in commerce. Federal agencies including FDA, EPA, OSHA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have extensively evaluated the safety of formaldehyde and approved its use in a variety of applications.
Studies show that formaldehyde does not accumulate in the body; it is quickly broken down by the body’s natural metabolic processes. Formaldehyde is an essential building block chemical in the production of hundreds of items that improve everyday life. Little, if any, formaldehyde remains in the final products that consumers use.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde (/fɔːrˈmældɪhaɪd/for-MAL-di-hide, US also /fər-/ fər-) (systematic name methanal) is an organic compound with the chemical formula CH2O and structure H−CHO, more precisely H2C=O. The compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde. It is stored as aqueous solutions (formalin), which consists mainly of the hydrate CH2(OH)2. It is the simplest of the aldehydes (R−CHO).
As a precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds, in 2006 the global production of formaldehyde was estimated at 12 million tons per year.[14] It is mainly used in the production of industrial resins, e.g., for particle board and coatings. Small amounts also occur naturally. Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogen[note 1] and can cause respiratory and skin irritation upon exposure.
Formaldehyde is more complicated than many simple carbon compounds in that it adopts several diverse forms. These compounds can often be used interchangeably and can be interconverted:
- Molecular formaldehyde. A colorless gas with a characteristic pungent, irritating odor. It is stable at about 150 °C, but polymerizes when condensed to a liquid.
- 1,3,5-Trioxane, with the formula (CH2O)3. It is a white solid that dissolves without degradation in organic solvents. It is a trimer of molecular formaldehyde.
- Paraformaldehyde, with the formula HO(CH2O)nH. It is a white solid that is insoluble in most solvents.
- Methanediol, with the formula CH2(OH)2. This compound also exists in equilibrium with various oligomers (short polymers), depending on the concentration and temperature. A saturated water solution, of about 40% formaldehyde by volume or 37% by mass, is called "100% formalin".
