Cribs, changing
tables, and dressers can emit formaldehyde at levels linked with increased risk
of childhood allergies and asthma, according to a new report released today by Maryland
PIRG Foundation. In Toxic Baby Furniture:
The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start, Maryland PIRG
Foundation revealed test result of an independent laboratory that show
formaldehyde emissions from common baby nursery furnishings can significantly
contribute to indoor air pollution. The report also made recommendations to
protect children from toxic chemicals.
“The more we look,
the more we find chemicals in our children’s products at levels known to
contribute to significant health problems ranging from asthma to cancer.
Unfortunately, formaldehyde is just the latest example,” said Johanna Neumann, state
director of Maryland PIRG. “Maryland’s
leaders need to provide real protections to children by requiring manufacturers
to replace toxic chemicals with safer alternatives.”
The report reveals
the results of independent laboratory tests of 21 products intended for use in
a baby nursery. Six of the cribs, changing tables, and dressers produced levels
of formaldehyde emissions associated with an increased risk of developing
allergies and asthma. Of the products tested, the Child Craft Oak Crib emitted
the highest levels of formaldehyde. The crib includes a drawer made with
composite wood, which is often manufactured using formaldehyde-based glue.
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 risk 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. Manufacturers use formaldehyde in glues and
adhesives, as a preservative in paints, and as a means to give fabrics a
permanent-press quality. When used in the home, formaldehyde-containing
products can release the chemical into indoor air. In particular, products made
from composite wood containing urea-formaldehyde glue tend to create indoor air
pollution.
Children chronically
exposed to elevated levels of airborne formaldehyde face an increased risk of
developing allergies and asthma. The state of California and the International Agency for
Research on Cancer classify formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.
“Unfortunately,
formaldehyde represents just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to children
being exposed to toxic chemicals,” said Katie Huffling, CNM, Assistant
Director of Midwifery Services at Prince George's Hospital Center.
Maryland PIRG
Foundation recommends the following policies to protect children from exposure
to toxic chemicals:
- Require chemical manufacturers to prove
their chemicals are safe before allowing them to be used in consumer
products,
- Empower state regulators to restrict or
ban the manufacture and use of chemicals that pose potential dangers to
human health or the environment, and
- Ensure the public has access to
information about chemicals used in consumer products and the potential
health impacts they pose.
“Parents cannot be
expected to deal with these issues on their own,” said Joan Plisko, a Catonsville resident and mother of two. “It’s time to strengthen the product safety
net in our state to protect our children from exposure to toxic chemicals.”
