Boston, MA – Baby nursery cribs, changing
tables, and dressers can emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased incidence of
childhood allergies and asthma, according to a new report released today by Environment Massachusetts Research
& Policy Center. In Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case
for Making Products Safe from the Start, Environment
California Research
& Policy Center (Environment Massachusetts Research
& Policy Center’s
sister organization) worked with an independent laboratory to determine whether
formaldehyde emissions from common baby nursery furnishings significantly
contribute to indoor air pollution.
“We’re finding toxic chemical after toxic chemical
in our air, water and even children’s products.
Unfortunately, formaldehyde is just the latest example,” said Winston
Vaughan, Field Organizer with Environment Massachusetts. “Right now Massachusetts has the opportunity to provide real protections to children by passing
the Safer Alternatives Act which requires the replacement of toxic chemicals
with safer alternatives.”
Environment California Research &
Policy Center worked with an
independent laboratory to test 21 products intended for use in a baby nursery. The researchers purchased the products from
Babies “R” Us, Target, and Wal-Mart. Six of the cribs, changing tables, and
dressers produced high levels of formaldehyde emissions—levels associated with
an increased risk of developing allergies and asthma.
The implications of these findings are startling:
- A new
single-family home furnished with a Child Craft Oak Crib and a Storkcraft
Kayla II Changing Table—and no other
furniture—would have indoor formaldehyde levels of about 30 parts per
billion (ppb) on average throughout the entire house. A unit in a new
apartment building would have indoor formaldehyde levels as high as 52
ppb.
- Studies
have shown that chronic exposure to formaldehyde at levels greater than 16
ppb in indoor air is linked with an increased likelihood of respiratory
problems (such as coughing) and allergies in children. Indoor formaldehyde
levels greater than 50 ppb have been associated with an increased incidence
of diagnosed asthma.
- Formaldehyde
levels could be higher in the actual baby nursery. For example, in a
lightly-ventilated nursery furnished with a Child Craft Oak Crib,
formaldehyde levels could be as high as 75 ppb.
Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical widely used in the manufacturing of
building materials and a variety of household products. When used in the home,
formaldehyde-containing products can release the chemical into indoor air.
"It's not surprising that we now see childrens'
furniture containing toxic chemicals. We need to fundamentally change our
manufacturing mindset, like Europe did decades
ago.” Said Representative Jay Kaufman (D-Lexington) “It another reason why I
filed and hope to have pass The Safer Alternatives Bill, which would promote
the use of alternative, non-toxic, ingredients".
Children chronically exposed to elevated levels of airborne formaldehyde
face an increased incidence of developing allergies and asthma. In addition the
International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a known
human carcinogen.
Unfortunately, formaldehyde represents just the tip of the iceberg when
it comes to toxic chemicals in consumer products.
“First it was toxic chemicals in crib mattresses, then toxic chemicals
in plastic teethers, toys, and baby bottles, now toxic chemicals in baby
furniture.” Said Vaughan.
“Massachusetts
has the opportunity to lead the nation by moving beyond the
chemical-by-chemical approach to getting known hazards out of consumer
products.”
The Massachusetts State Senate
has passed, and the General Assembly is considering a bill called the Safer
Alternatives Act. This act would tackle
the problem of toxic chemicals in consumer products through a more systematic
approach. The bill would expand on the success that Massachusetts’ Toxic Use Reduction Institute
(TURI) at UMASS Lowell has seen in identifying safer alternatives to the most
dangerous and widely used chemicals, such as formaldehyde, by requiring that
manufacturers make the switch where feasible.
"This report again illustrates the pressing problem of
toxic chemicals in everyday products, especially ones where children have high
exposure levels. “ Said Representative Frank Smizik (D-Brookline) who chairs
the Joint
Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. “It demonstrates why the Safer
Alternatives bill is so important -- it would allow the Commonwealth to help
companies doing business in Massachusetts
transition from using toxic chemicals to using safer alternatives wherever they
are feasible. It is our job to protect the health and well-being of every child
in this state, and we're not doing that job well if we're not doing our best to
move away from harmful, toxic chemicals in consumer products."
As with other toxic chemicals, alternatives to formaldehyde exist. For
example, Columbia Forest Products, which is North America’s
largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer, uses a natural
adhesive made primarily of soy flour and water as a substitute for
formaldehyde-based adhesives. Notably, these products cost no more than those
made with the standard urea-formaldehyde adhesive.
In the absence of government action, Environment Massachusetts
Research & Policy Center recommends that parents and
others caring for children do the following:
Ask about
the formaldehyde emissions of furniture, cabinetry, and building materials
before you purchase and install them in your home. If such information is
not available, avoid products that have components made of raw medium
density fiberboard or other types of composite wood.
- Ensure
adequate ventilation and maintain moderate temperatures and humidity
levels within your home.
- Place pollution-absorbing
plants—such as spider plants, Boston
ferns, dwarf date palms, pot mums, or peace lilies—in your home.
- For
additional helpful tips and other information to protect children’s
health, visit www.EnvironmentMassachusetts.org.
“Parents cannot be expected to deal with these issues on their own,”
said Vaughan. “While Massachusetts
has done a great job of finding alternatives to these toxics, we need to do
more to get companies to make the switch and passing Safer Alternatives Act
would be a great start.
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Toxic-Baby-Furniture-1.pdf