Redecorating the apartment is an exciting prospect. It’s finally time for new wooden cabinets, beautiful drapes and tapestry on the freshly painted walls.  .

What you probably never sensed or realised is that with every deep breath, you are probably also inhaling a pungent, colourless, flammable, carcinogenic gas called formaldehyde. Those drapes, furniture and tapestry you thought to be innocuous are usually the main sources of the indoor emission.

General exposure

Formaldehyde is used in building materials and many household products. It is used in particleboard, plywood, fibreboard, glues and adhesives, permanent-press fabrics, paper-product coatings, and certain insulation materials.

Formaldehyde is normally present in both indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts per million parts (ppm) of air.

Ill effects

Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, while others do not react to the same level of exposure. Children and old people are likely to be more sensitive, making them prone to sickness. Those suffering from chronic respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis are particularly more sensitive to the fumes.

Several studies by the NCI (National Cancer Institute) showed that people with high levels of exposure to formaldehyde were at more risk of developing cancers of the blood, lymphatic system and parts of the throat. However, research also shows that risk of fatality diminishes when the exposure is curtailed.

The use of “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products can limit formaldehyde exposure. These products emit less formaldehyde because they contain phenol resins, not urea resins. Pressed-wood products include plywood, paneling, particleboard and fibreboard, and are not the same as pressure-treated wood products, which contain chemical preservatives and are intended for outdoor use. Before purchasing pressed-wood products, including building materials, cabinetry and furniture, buyers should ask enquire about formaldehyde content. Formaldehyde levels in homes can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

Practically speaking, one may not have much control over what one breathes outside, but one can surely control indoor emissions at home to a great degree with a few precautionary measures. Letting in fresh air and controlling the humidity could greatly ease the assimilation indoors. This is especially true when taking up varnishing and painting projects.

If you are looking to paint your walls, indoors or outdoors, it helps to make an informed decision while choosing the paint or coating.

Quite a few companies have developed low VOC and zero VOC paints that emit only minute quantities of Formaldehyde.

Some paints also have the ability to absorb formaldehyde from the air, convert it into water vapour – thereby diluting the concentration of the volatile organic compound, and finally refreshing the air.

These paints can be particularly useful against cigarette smoke and can also allay the worry of introducing a new source of formaldehyde to the environment. In essence, these paints actually take care of the air.

There is clearly no escaping formaldehyde emission, but as individuals we can take educated decisions to ensure improvement of indoor air quality.

(The author is the President – Decorative, Nippon Paint India Pvt. Ltd. & President, Indian Paint Association)

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