Setting high health standards for formaldehyde (Sen. Mike Crapo)

I joined with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar to introduce the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act, which will protect consumers by establishing national uniform standards for formaldehyde in composite wood products, which would apply to both domestic products and foreign imports.  The standard would provide certainty for manufacturers of composite wood products and achieve important public health benefits.  High levels of formaldehyde are a health threat, and this bill sets national standards that will eventually be the strongest in the world.

Formaldehyde is found in many common household items and furniture because it is commonly used as an adhesive, bonding agent or solvent in many household products that use composite wood such as furniture, cabinets, shelving, countertops, flooring and molding.

At room temperature, formaldehyde releases an invisible gas into the air.  If breathed in at high concentrations, it can pose a health hazard.  In fact, the EPA lists it as a “probable human carcinogen.”

The potential health hazards posed by high concentrations have led our domestic wood products industry to adopt voluntary standards to limit the chemical, but we need to establish national emission standards.  This will ensure certainty for manufacturers and safeguard consumer health.  The measure would apply to new products; secondhand products and antiques are exempted.

Under the measure, by January 1, 2012, products sold in the U.S. would have to meet a formaldehyde emission standards of about 0.09 parts per million, making it the toughest standard in the world.  Third-party testing and certification are also required to ensure that products with formaldehyde comply with the national standards.

The wood products industry has already given broad support, as well as environmental, health and labor organizations.  This legislation is pro-industry, pro-consumer, pro-environment and pro-public health.