Formaldehyde Release Research Articles

Управление качеством, химической и радиационной безопасностью древесных плит, фанеры и мебели

The article analyzes the experience of development, implementation and certification of quality management systems at enterprises for the production of wood-based panels, plywood, furniture. The specifics of the implementation of the process approach in the QMS of enterprises, the experience of widespread use of methodological instructions (MI), standards of organizations (STO), guidelines (RD) are shown. Information is given on the demand for QMS certified by the Lessertika Center by foreign QMS certification bodies. A critical analysis of the state of chemical safety of wood-based panels and plywood, as well as the problems of implementation and implementation of TR CU 025/2012 «On the safety of furniture products» is given, directions for revising this TR CU are indicated. For the first time, special attention is paid to the analysis of the methods used by the RF for determining the release of formaldehyde from wood-based panels, plywood and furniture. The advantages and disadvantages of using three methods for assessing the emission of formaldehyde from wood materials and furniture are objectively considered, which will allow manufacturers, consumers of products and regulatory authorities to substantiate their requirements for the methods used to confirm the environmental friendliness of products. The experience of determining the content of radionuclides in wood materials and furniture is indicated.

Effect of Temperature on Formaldehyde Diffusion in Cellulose Amorphous Region: A Simulation Study

A formaldehyde-cellulose amorphous region model at the micro-level was established using the molecular dynamics software Materials Studio to simulate the change of cellulose and formaldehyde molecules in an external temperature field. The diffusion coefficients of formaldehyde molecules increased as the temperature increased. Moreover, the total number of hydrogen bonds decreased, and the interaction energy in the formaldehyde-cellulose model was reduced, which confirmed this conclusion and indicated that temperature increase could enhance the diffusion of formaldehyde in cellulose. The mechanical parameters of cellulose were analyzed in terms of Young’s modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and the ratio of bulk modulus to shear modulus (K/G), which were affected by the temperature. The elastic modulus (E, G, and K) of cellulose decreased as the temperature increased, while the Poisson’s ratio V and K/G values increased. The results of the research explain how elevated temperature can promote the release of formaldehyde in furniture from a microscopic perspective, which supports each other with the results of previous experimental data and practical applications in production.

Migration of monomers, plastic additives, and non-intentionally added substances from food utensils made of melamine–formaldehyde resin following ultraviolet sterilization

Ultraviolet (UV) sterilization of kitchenware is considered environmentally friendly and economical. However, there are many cases of extended UV irradiation, which raises concerns about the release of hazardous substances. Here, we investigated the migration of monomers, plastic additives, and non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) from food utensils made of melamine–formaldehyde resin into food simulants after UV irradiation for up to 7 d. The migration of monomers (melamine and formaldehyde) was analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a diode array detector. When irradiated with a UV lamp for 7 d, the release of melamine from food utensils made of melamine–formaldehyde resins increased by up to 85-fold compared with that from the unexposed samples. Formaldehyde release increased up to 4-fold after UV exposure. UV exposure led to a sustained increase in melamine migration in a time-dependent manner. Formaldehyde release also increased on the first day, but plateaued after seven days of exposure. Safety assessment demonstrated that there is a low risk of melamine and formaldehyde exposure of up to 11.78% and 7.95%, respectively, compared with the tolerable daily intake. Non-target screening analysis of plastic additives and NIAS from melamine–formaldehyde resin and other synthetic resins was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Exposure of melamine–formaldehyde resin to UV for 7 d drastically increased the release of plastic additives and NIAS. In contrast, for other synthetic resins (polypropylene, polyamide, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and silicone), the peaks of these compounds disappeared or decreased after UV exposure, indicating that the melamine–formaldehyde resin is less resistant to UV degradation than other synthetic resins.

Legislative update: Regulating ingredients in personal care products

The prevalence of personal care product (PCP)-related dermatoses has increased over the last 20 years. The frequency of PCP-related allergen positive patch tests more than doubled between 1996 and 2016.1 Notably, many dermatologist-recommended shampoos, including prescription-strength and over-the-counter antidandruff shampoos and tar shampoos, contain formaldehyde releasers and other known allergens. PCP allergy has also been associated with lichen planopilaris and frontal fibrosing alopecia. In a study of 42 patients with lichen planopilaris/fibrosing alopecia, 76.2% had positive reactions to allergens in their PCPs used on the face and scalp, and allergen avoidance resulted in decreased scalp inflammation.

Utilization of Birch Bark as an Eco-Friendly Filler in Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesives for Plywood Manufacturing.

The potential of using ground birch (Betula verrucosa Ehrh.) bark as an eco-friendly additive in urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesives for plywood manufacturing was investigated in this work. Five-ply plywood panels were fabricated in the laboratory from beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) veneers bonded with UF adhesive formulations comprising three addition levels of birch bark (BB) as a filler (10%, 15%, and 20%). Two UF resin formulations filled with 10% and 20% wheat flour (WF) were used as reference samples. The mechanical properties (bending strength, modulus of elasticity and shear strength) of the laboratory-fabricated plywood panels, bonded with the addition of BB in the adhesive mixture, were evaluated and compared with the European standard requirements (EN 310 and EN 314-2). The mechanical strength of the plywood with the addition of BB in the adhesive mixture is acceptable and met the European standard requirements. Markedly, the positive effect of BB in the UF adhesive mixture on the reduction of formaldehyde emission from plywood panels was also confirmed. Initially, the most significant decrease in formaldehyde release (up to 14%) was measured for the plywood sample, produced with 15% BB. After four weeks, the decrease in formaldehyde was estimated up to 51% for the sample manufactured with 20% BB. The performed differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and derivative thermogravimetry (DTG), also confirmed the findings of the study. As this research demonstrated, BB as a waste or by-product of wood processing industry, can be efficiently utilized as an environmentally friendly, inexpensive alternative to WF as a filler in UF adhesive formulations for plywood manufacturing.

Warpage control method during surface forming process of plastic film‐reinforced flexible decorative veneer

AbstractThe plastic film of the new plastic film reinforced pliable decorative veneer (PRPDSV) is used as a flexible reinforcement material and an adhesive material. It has good water resistance, impermeability, simple preparation and finishing processes, and no formaldehyde release. However, warpage phenomenon during hot pressing has been a bottleneck problem restricting its industrial development. In order to solve this problem solve, the study proposed a concave, and convex molds method, established an elastic–plastic FEA model of hot pressing processes of the PRPDSV using concave and convex molds with static/general static solution module in the nonlinear ABAQUS, and researched the effect on the performances of the PRPDSV from the parameters of temperature, pressure, and mold curvature radius theoretically and verified experimentally. Analysis results showed that the surface forming temperature had a great effect on warpage control for PRPDSV. The higher the temperature is, the smaller the curvature radius of the corresponding mold will be and the better the warpage will be. The curvature radius of the molds had a significant effect on the warpage control. Under the conditions with the same hot pressing parameters, the smaller the curvature radius is, and the better control on the warpage for the PRPDSV will be.

Eco-Friendly, High-Density Fiberboards Bonded with Urea-Formaldehyde and Ammonium Lignosulfonate.

The potential of producing eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free, high-density fiberboard (HDF) panels from hardwood fibers bonded with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin and a novel ammonium lignosulfonate (ALS) is investigated in this paper. HDF panels were fabricated in the laboratory by applying a very low UF gluing factor (3%) and ALS content varying from 6% to 10% (based on the dry fibers). The physical and mechanical properties of the fiberboards, such as water absorption (WA), thickness swelling (TS), modulus of elasticity (MOE), bending strength (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), as well as formaldehyde content, were determined in accordance with the corresponding European standards. Overall, the HDF panels exhibited very satisfactory physical and mechanical properties, fully complying with the standard requirements of HDF for use in load-bearing applications in humid conditions. Markedly, the formaldehyde content of the laboratory fabricated panels was extremely low, ranging between 0.7–1.0 mg/100 g, which is, in fact, equivalent to the formaldehyde release of natural wood.

Thermal degradation of POSS-containing nanohybrid linear polyurethanes based on 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate

Synthesized from 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), 1,4-butanediol (BDO), poly(tetramethylene)glycol (PTMG), and propanediolisobutyl-POSS (PHI‑POSS) nanohybrid polyurethanes (PU) were examined by TG/FTIR/MS coupled method to determine the mechanism of thermal improvement caused by POSS addition. The measurements were made in both; inert and oxidizing atmosphere for composites containing 0, 6, and 10 % of PHI-POSS. Depending on the concentration of additive, and the surrounding atmosphere we noticed from 5 to 15 °C improvement on different stages of degradation. Among the released gases, mostly tetrahydrofuran (THF), butanediol (BDO), and HDI were recorded, as well as various PTMG-derived ethers and alcohols formed during the depolymerization of segments present in the amorphous phase, as well as amines and amides as decomposition products of segments in the crystalline phase. Interestingly, the release of formates and formaldehyde before the first stage of degradation was observed in the oxidizing atmosphere. The effect of POSS addition causes: (i) reduction of the number of hard domains intensifies the first stage of degradation, but simultaneously increases the onset and the temperature of the maximum rate of decomposition at different stages through preventing some rearrangements leading to breaking of chain, and (ii) formation under elevated temperature conditions of silica-rich char residues that act as a barrier for gas and mass transport.

Formaldehyde Emissions from Wooden Toys: Comparison of Different Measurement Methods and Assessment of Exposure.

Formaldehyde is considered as carcinogenic and is emitted from particleboards and plywood used in toy manufacturing. Currently, the flask method is frequently used in Europe for market surveillance purposes to assess formaldehyde release from toys, but its concordance to levels measured in emission test chambers is poor. Surveillance laboratories are unable to afford laborious and expensive emission chamber testing to comply with a new amendment of the European Toy Directive; they need an alternative method that can provide reliable results. Therefore, the application of miniaturised emission test chambers was tested. Comparisons between a 1 m3 emission test chamber and 44 mL microchambers with two particleboards over 28 days and between a 24 L desiccator chamber and the microchambers with three puzzle samples over 10 days resulted in a correlation coefficient r2 of 0.834 for formaldehyde at steady state. The correlation between the results obtained in microchambers vs. flask showed a high variability over 10 samples (r2: 0.145), thereby demonstrating the error-proneness of the flask method in comparison to methods carried out under ambient parameters. An exposure assessment was also performed for three toy puzzles: indoor formaldehyde concentrations caused by puzzles were not negligible (up to 8 µg/m3), especially when more conservative exposure scenarios were considered.

Research on Formaldehyde Release Rate of Car mats

The environmental test cabin method was used to simulate the actual use environment of car mats to collect test gas, The formaldehyde content in the collected gas was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometer, and the formaldehyde release rate was calculated. The results indicated that formaldehyde was released in all 30 batches of samples at a rate ranging from 0.02 to 0.13mg/ m2 (m2•h).

Formaldehyde-doxorubicin dual polymeric drug delivery system for higher efficacy and limited cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines

We report the synthesis of a dual delivery system composed of chemically bound pH-responsive formaldehyde polymer prodrugs and pH-responsive doxorubicin loaded nanoparticles to increase the therapeutic index of doxorubicin by working in synergy with formaldehyde to enable the formation of DOX-DNA adducts and limiting the cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines. Polyacrylates bearing 1,2- and 1,3- pendant diols were synthesized via reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to conjugate formaldehyde, forming 5- or 6-membered acetal rings with tunable conjugation percentages (1.5–10 wt%) for controlled release in acidic environments of the tumor extracellular matrix. The formaldehyde-conjugated prodrugs are then combined with polyester nanoparticles formed by intermolecular crosslinking via oxime click chemistry of less than 200 nm in size containing 14 wt% encapsulated Doxorubicin (DOX). Release kinetics show a sustained release of both DOX and formaldehyde at pH 5.0, mimicking the low pH of the tumor environment whereas insignificant release was recorded at physiological pH. The cell viability of the dual delivery system combination was evaluated in 4 T1 breast cancer cells resulting in a considerably increase of cell death of about 4-fold compared to free DOX alone. The protective effect of formaldehyde towards DOX- induced damages was observed in Lactate dehydrogenase assays with cardiomyocytes (P1-3). The resulting polymeric delivery system is the first reported example of a DOX and formaldehyde co-administration, demonstrating the potential significant effect of formaldehyde towards an improved anti-cancer efficacy and reduced cardiotoxicity of DOX.

Formaldehyde Release From Predispersed Tattoo Inks: Analysis Using the Chromotropic Acid Method.

Allergic contact dermatitis to tattoo ink may last from weeks to years. Formaldehyde is a strong sensitizer that may be present in predispersed tattoo inks. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of formaldehyde in predispersed tattoo inks using the chromotropic acid method. Tattoo inks from 39 companies were evaluated. Inclusion criteria included availability to purchase inks online through US tattoo product wholesalers or individual Web sites. Brands were grouped based on prevalence of use: common, uncommon, or rare. For common brands, 8 colors (primary colors, secondary colors, black, and white) were purchased. For uncommon and rare brands, 5 colors (primary colors, black, and white) were purchased. Each ink was tested with standard chromotropic acid method procedures; concentration of formaldehyde released was quantified using spectrophotometry. In total, 127 tattoo inks were purchased and tested. Ninety-three (73%) tested positive for formaldehyde release; 34 (27%) tested negative. Formaldehyde release did not correlate with color or brand. At least 1 ink from all brands (except 1) was positive for formaldehyde release. Approximately three-quarters of selected US tattoo inks tested positive for formaldehyde release. Clinicians should be aware of tattoo ink as a potential source of formaldehyde.

Allergen Content of Best-Selling Ethnic Versus Nonethnic Shampoos, Conditioners, and Styling Products.

Hair products are a potential cause of allergic contact dermatitis. There are limited data on the allergen content of ethnic hair products. To identify allergens unique to ethnic hair products (shampoos, conditioners, styling products) and provide a resource for low allergen hair care products for patients with ethnic hair types. The top 100 best-selling shampoos, conditioners, and styling products for ethnic and nonethnic hair products were determined from 3 major online retailers (Walmart, Target, Walgreens). Allergen was defined as presence on the 2017 American Contact Dermatitis Society Core 80 allergen list. The 2017 American Contact Dermatitis Society Core 80 allergens were tabulated for ethnic and nonethnic shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. A list of low-allergen shampoos, conditioners, and styling products was identified. Fragrance was the most common allergen for ethnic shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Other notable allergens included methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone, formaldehyde releasers, cetyl steryl alcohol, tocopherol, decyl glucoside, sodium benzoate, and phenoxyethanol. This study identifies important differences in allergens found in products marketed for ethnic hair compared with those marketed for nonethnic hair.

Hidden Formaldehyde Content in Cosmeceuticals Containing Preservatives that Release Formaldehyde and Their Compliance Behaviors: Bridging the Gap between Compliance and Local Regulation

Background: Many personal care products, and particularly cosmetic products, contain preservatives that release formaldehyde. These are potentially harmful to consumer health, especially considering that the levels of formaldehyde in some products are hidden and excessive. Objectives: To study the formaldehyde levels of preservatives in personal care products and cosmetics on the UAE market and determine the extent of compliance with health and safety requirements. Methods and Materials: Sixty-nine personal care and cosmetic product samples from the UAE market were collected and prepared to determine their formaldehyde content. According to the Second European Commission Directive 82/434/EEC of 2000 and as per the Gulf Technical Regulation, Safety Requirements of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products in GSO 1943:2016, quantitative analyses were performed to identify and quantify the content of formaldehyde as free formaldehyde. Results: With a maximum permissible limit of ≤0.2% w/w, the average formaldehyde content was found to be 0.083 with a 95% CI (0.039–0.13). Nine of the tested personal care and cosmetic products exceeded the recommended formaldehyde level, corresponding to 13% of all samples. None of these samples listed the free formaldehyde content or formaldehyde releaser. Conclusion: Applying good manufacturing practices (GMP), education, and regulatory control to improve the regulation and inspection of cosmetics containing formaldehyde releasers as preservatives, conducting research, and reporting the adverse side effects are highly recommended. There is an urgent need to monitor the incidence of skin sensitivity resulting from the use of cosmetics containing formaldehyde releasers as preservatives.

Development of hydrophilic anti-crease finishing method for Cotton fabric using alpha-Lipoic acid without causing strength loss and formaldehyde release problem

Extensive research and practice on anti-crease of cotton fabric has been made in the past few decades because of its easy creasing properties. However, it has not achieved a good balance between anti-crease performance, strength loss, hydrophilicity and formaldehyde release until now. In this study, for the first time, α-lipoic acid (ALA) which contains bifunctional groups, carboxyl group and disulfide bond, has been successfully used as an innovative cross-linking agent in the anti-crease functionalization to prepare high crease resistant and hydrophilic cotton fabric without strength loss and formaldehyde release. The mechanism between ALA and cellulose through esterification, disulfide breaking and reconstruction, and anti-crease mechanism based on topological disulfide bridges among cellulosic molecules were illustrated in terms of the characterization analyses of cross-linked ALA and poly(α-lipoic acid). This study provides a completely different idea for the preparation of anti-crease cotton fabric with high strength and hydrophilic without negative environmental impact.

Properties of High Density Fiberboard Mixed with Poplar Bark

Formaldehyde in the indoor air is one of the chemicals which can cause health risk; therefore, researchers have strived to reduce formaldehyde emissions from different wood products. There are many chemical compounds in bark, including tannins, which can react with formaldehyde. The aim of this study was to reduce the formaldehyde emissions from HDF by mixing poplar bark powder into the raw material. 2, 4, 6, and 8 % (based on dry weight) Populus×euramericana bark was mixed with fibers, and HDF panels were manufactured with urea-formaldehyde resin. Mechanical properties, color change, and formaldehyde release were measured. Contrary to expectations, the mixed bark did not reduce formaldehyde emissions, but the mechanical properties deteriorated due to the bark powder. Formaldehyde emissions were reduced only in the case of 2 % added bark; in cases of 4, 6, and 8 %, the emissions increased.

The Application of Oak Bark Powder as a Filler for Melamine-Urea-Formaldehyde Adhesive in Plywood Manufacturing

The woodworking industry generates a great amount of bark which has not yet found a wider industrial application. None of the previously conducted research has considered oak bark application (which is one of the most often processed wood species in Poland) as a filler for wood adhesives. Moreover, no studies have determined the properties of bark containing melamine-urea-formaldehyde resin (MUF), which increasingly replaces pure urea-formaldehyde adhesives. Thus, the aim of the study was to determine the possibility of grinded oak bark application as a filler for MUF adhesive in plywood manufacturing. The chemical composition of oak bark was evaluated. Properties of liquid resins, such as viscosity, gel time, pH, and solid content, were determined. Chemical interaction between the filler and resin was assessed with using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Plywood panels manufactured using MUF adhesive filled with different bark concentrations (10%, 15%, 20%, 25%) were tested in terms of such properties as formaldehyde release and bonding quality. Studies have shown an improvement in liquid resin properties. The course of FTIR spectra did not explain the chemical interaction between the polymer and the filler. The addition of oak bark at a concentration of 15% made it possible to produce plywood panels characterized by reduced formaldehyde release and improved bonding quality.

Thermal, electrical and purification performance of a novel thermal-catalytic CdTe double-layer breathing window in winter

CdTe PV cell is one perfect candidate for window application because of its good daylighting performance, low-temperature coefficient and excellent electrical performance under weak light. In addition, thermal catalytic oxidation is an thermal driven air purification technology and the thermal energy can be easily obtained from PV window systems. Therefore, a novel thermal-catalytic CdTe double-layer breathing window was proposed. Firstly, the electrical, thermal and daylighting performances of proposed window were investigated experimentally. Secondly, the removal of formaldehyde was investigated using the verified coupled formaldehyde mass transfer and thermal-catalytic reaction kinetic model. Finally, the evolution of indoor formaldehyde concentration considering formaldehyde release source was calculated. Main results were: (1) The thermal and electrical efficiencies were respectively 0.297 and 0.0715, which were closed to the reported results. Also, the proposed window had better daylighting uniformity compared with conventional window. (2) The total generated clean air was 25.7 m3/(m2•day), with the equivalent formaldehyde degradation efficiency of 0.010 based on purification performances of various air purifiers in market. (3) The comprehensive thermal efficiency was 0.518, with increase of 9.28% considering the contribution from formaldehyde removal. (4) The proposed window could make the indoor concentration approach to standard concentration under most working conditions.

Formaldehyde 2% is not a useful means of detecting allergy to formaldehyde releasers- results of the ESSCA network, 2015-2018.

Studies suggest that patch testing with formaldehyde releasers (FRs) gives significant additional information to formaldehyde 1% aq. and should be considered for addition to the European baseline series (EBS). It is not known if this is also true for formaldehyde 2% aq. To determine the frequency of sensitization to formaldehyde 2% aq. and co-reactivity with FRs. To establish whether there is justification for including FRs in the EBS. A 4-year, multi-center retrospective analysis of patients with positive patch test reactions to formaldehyde 2% aq. and five FRs. A maximum of 15 067 patients were tested to formaldehyde 2% aq. and at least one FR. The percentage of isolated reactions to FR, without co-reactivity to, formaldehyde 2% aq. for each FR were: 46.8% for quarternium-15 1% pet.; 67.4% imidazolidinyl urea 2% pet.; 64% diazolidinyl urea 2% pet.; 83.3% 1,3-dimethylol-5, 5-dimethyl hydantoin (DMDM) hydantoin 2% pet. and 96.3% 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol 0.5% pet. This demonstrates that co-reactivity varies between FRs and formaldehyde, from being virtually non-existent in 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol 0.5% pet. (Cohen's kappa: 0, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.02 to 0.02)], to only weak concordance for quaternium-15 [Cohen's kappa: 0.22, 95%CI 0.16 to 0.28)], where Cohen's kappa value of 1 would indicate full concordance. Formaldehyde 2% aq. is an inadequate screen for contact allergy to the formaldehyde releasers, which should be considered for inclusion in any series dependant on the frequency of reactions to and relevance of each individual allergen.

Contact sensitization in metalworkers: Data from the information network of departments of dermatology (IVDK), 2010–2018

Metalworkers are exposed to a variety of contact allergens by handling tools, metals, metalworking fluids (MWFs), oils and greases, rubber materials, and so on. Most large-scale reports on contact allergy due to MWFs are more than 10-years-old, and there are only few studies on contact allergy in mechanics and other metal workers not exposed to MWFs. To describe a current spectrum of contact sensitization in metalworkers with occupational dermatitis (OD). Retrospective analysis of patch test data collected by the Information Network of Departments of Dermatology (IVDK; 2010-2018), stratifying for 804 cutting metalworkers, 2197 mechanics, and 355 other metalworkers. Cutting metalworkers were most frequently sensitized to monoethanolamine (12.6%), colophonium/abietic acid (11.4%) and formaldehyde releasers (up to 8.5%) from the MWF series, and formaldehyde (4.6%) and iodopropynyl butylcarbamate (4.6%) from the baseline series. Sensitization among mechanics and other metalworkers indicates possible occupational exposure to MWFs, glues, and resins, although this may not be expected from their job titles. The spectrum of MWF contact allergens remained largely unchanged during the last years. Taking a comprehensive occupational history is indispensable in order to not miss relevant allergen exposures.