Is Formaldehyde in My Home Too?
The following article is contributed by my husband:
So what’s up with these “High Levels of Formaldehyde in FEMA Trailers” in the news lately, and why would I care as a parent, or simply as an individual?
Well, we’re not talking about high levels of “happiness”, we’re talking about high levels of toxicity in supposedly safe shelters, in homes after all.
Oh, great! Another thing to look after? My parent list seems endless. Yep, and here’s why:
This toxic, carcinogenic substance is present in a lot of consumer products - wallpapers, cardboard, fabric softeners, carpet cleaners, glues, nail polish, nail hardener - in furniture, cabinets and construction particleboard, new cars (smell that?), oh and the list can go on for quite a while…
What can I do without going bonkers and living in a cave in the desert ?
It so happens that avoiding new furniture in your baby’s room, or new paint, or carpet cleaning, or even a ride in daddy’s brand new car, can reduce considerably the exposure to formaldehyde.
Oh, and plenty of clean air; just open those windows every morning and let some nice clean air in the house. Don’t fear the few extra dollars on the heating bill. I’d rather have that than listening to the fake compassion of a doctor while delivering a sad verdict and the price tag of treatment.
Most of all new “stuff” out-gases for quite a while, avoid it, air it, let it leek the toxic fumes - by the way formaldehyde has a sharp odor, so you know when it’s gone.
One thing I like to ask at the store: “Is it formaldehyde free?”. That usually brings up a shrug, but eventually will drive the point back to the manufacturers.
And yes they can do without formaldehyde, otherwise The European Union would not have scheduled to ban it on September 22nd of 2007.
More can be read on my wife’s earlier post reviewing the book Exposed, and this article:
February 19th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Thanks or the reminder on air quality! I just opened the bedroom windows. It had been months.
February 19th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
ohhh boy. If my husband sees this, I’ll have NO excuse for not letting him guest blog at MamaNeed Java. LOL
Great post, Diane’s man! (and great job with the blog!)
July 28th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Checkout my website and see the benefits of the Safety Blanket.
October 1st, 2008 at 4:59 am
I can hardly believe what happened, I recently was so frustrated with carpet cleaners because I had been ripped off so many times over the years. But recently I learnt of the carpet cleaning consumer guide at http://www.CarpetCleaningConsumerGuide.com.au and the fast information on that website truly made all the difference. I finally hired someone trustworthy. They were a bit more expensive up-front compared to many others BUT they didn’t charge me any extra like all the others I previously hired. Thank you to the carpet cleaning consumer guide.