Formaldehyde: in spotlight's glare.

Last August, I reported on the International Agency for Research on Cancels decision to elevate formaldehyde's status from a "probable" to a "known" human carcinogen.

To recap, IARC's ruling was based on its interpretation of several epidemiological studies of formaldehyde's health effects. The most important proved to be a study by the National Cancer Institute of 22,000 workers exposed to formaldehyde at 10 plants, compared to 3,000 chemical workers not exposed to formaldehyde. While the NCI study found lower mortality from all cancers, it also found an excess incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer, an extremely rare form of cancer that occurs where the back part of the nose opens into the upper throat.

Much has happened, or is happening, on the formaldehyde front since IARC moved formaldehyde to the top rung on its ladder of cancer classifications, where it joined 94 other known human carcinogens. In fulfilling my pledge at the conclusion of my August 2004 column for readers to "stay tuned" to new developments of formaldehyde's continuing saga, here is a timely and important update.

U.S. Government Hops on IARC's Bandwagon

Citing the IARC ruling, the National Institute of Environmental Sciences, has nominated formaldehyde for review and possible reclassification by the National Toxicology Program as a known human carcinogen. Formaldehyde is currently listed in the Register of Carcinogens as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen."

NCI Works on Follow-up

Industry's biggest criticism of NCI's 2003-2004 study reviewed by IARC was that it involved workers who were exposed decades ago to formaldehyde levels far exceeding those permitted in workplaces today by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. According to the Formaldehyde Council, a consortium of industry groups that includes the Composite Panel Assn., American Forest & Paper Assn., Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. and the National Funeral Directors Assn., the NCI's epidemiological study update is to "make available additional data for a more informed scientific evaluation of this important data set." The update is expected to be completed in 2006.

In the meantime, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has delayed updating its formaldehyde cancer risk assessment, last revised in 1987, until after NCI completes its update.

BIFMA Proceeds with Furniture Emissions Standard

Members of the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Assn. recently voted in favor of a proposed Furniture Emissions Standard. The voluntary FES, which is being subjected to ANSI approval, establishes harmonized testing procedures for emissions of formaldehyde and VOCs in office furniture and seating.

BIFMA said it hopes the U.S. Green Building Council will recognize the FES within its Leadership in Environmental and Energy Development certification program for low-emitting products. The LEED-CI EQ Credit 4.5 establishes emission limits of 50 parts per billion for workstations and 25 parts per billion for seating. Those limits are generally considered out of the reach of furnishings made with particleboard and MDF made with urea formaldehyde resins.

Public Comments Cast Formaldehyde's PR Problems

Manufacturers of particleboard and MDF received a jolt from the keynote speaker at the CPA's fall meeting last month.

Dan Miller, executive vice president of Kimball International, cited the IARC ruling and LEED System in forcefully stating that manufacturers of particleboard and MDF must find an alternative to urea formaldehyde in their products.

"Formaldehyde is a bad actor," said Miller, who is also the current president of BIFMA. "We have got to find a way to eliminate it, and in the meantime, substantially reduce it."

Challenged by a member of the audience about whether Kimball would be willing to pay more for a formaldehyde-free substrate, Miller matter-of-factly replied, "No."

CPA Promises Important Announcement

Members of the Composite Panel Assn. have reason to be proud of the strides they have made to reduce formaldehyde emissions from their products. Tom Julia, president of the CPA, estimated that emissions have been reduced 90 percent over the course of the last 20 years.

As it continues to advocate the safety, and environmental and utilitarian benefits of particleboard, MDF and hardboard, the CPA promises to make a major announcement in the first quarter of 2006 concerning the creation of new voluntary formaldehyde emission standards. One can only surmise, based on all that is swirling around formaldehyde, that the CPA's announcement will entail emission figures well below what is currently mandated.

Stay tuned.