We unknowingly installed wood paneling in our addition that contains urea formaldehyde. We plan to paint the paneling, but we don't know what product will control formaldehyde emissions. I read the following from Healthy House Q&A on this site, but I cannot confirm the report. When I called the Canadian BM paint office, the rep told me that he didn't think their company has made a product that will control formaldehyde emissions. He sounded like he didn't know what formaldehyde is, so my confidence in his response is not high. I hope somebody out there has documentation about a product that will control urea formaldehyde emissions. My painter's coming in the morning, so somebody please have an answer!! Thanks.
Q&A Part 13: Cabinets, Doors, and Trim ... most sealers are imperfect at blocking emissions. Benjamin Moore Paint Co. has a sealer called Impervo that was tested in Canada and found to block 100% of formaldehyde ... Healthy House ... 07/07/2008.
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Hi Marty, here's an article that has some tips. Also do a search on "formaldehyde" above and you'll find some results that may be helpful:
http://www.buildinggreentv.com/workshop/getting-started/329
- maxmsf
formaldehyde
Thanks for responding to my question. I'll call the EPA toxic substance control line tomorrow. I found their number in the site you recommended. I surely do wish I had read that information a month ago. I guess my home will never be formaldehyde free since it takes "forever" for it to outgas, but I have learned how to reduce levels. One way is to place spider plants in the area, a healthy solution.
This whole formaldehyde thing raises questions: I realize the responsibility was mine to do the research when I decided to buy paneling, but didn't the building supply company where I got the paneling also have a responsibility to give me information on a harmful product when I was looking at the samples and ordering the paneling? Why would the industry continue to produce products that are harmful to people, and why would they not at least inform people that a product contains a harmful material?