Formaldehyde release rate coefficients from selected consumer products

Abstract

Many consumer products release formaldehyde into the atmosphere in varying concentrations. A modification of the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) desiccator test was used to measure formaldehyde release after conditioning for 46 samples from six different types of consumer products (pressed wood products, clothes, insulation, paper, fabric, and carpet). Release rate coefficients were calculated per unit mass (..mu..g g/sup -1/ day/sup -1/) and surface area (..mu..g m/sup -2/ day/sup -1/) for each product. The latter coefficient was used to rank the products. The eight highest release coefficients were from pressed wood products. More than half (24) of the products had release coefficients that were less than or equal to 100 ..mu..g of formaldehyde released (m/sup 2/ of product surface area)/sup -1/ day/sup -1/. Individual samples from five of the six types of products were represented in this class. The fraction of total extractable formaldehyde released each day under JIS desiccator conditions at loading of 21 m/sup 2//m/sub 3/ was calculated. Wood products and carpets released approx. 1-4% of total extractable formaldehyde per day while fiberglass insulation released approx. 10% per day under the conditions of this 2-day test procedure. 21 references, 1 figure, 3 tables.