Hi all, Last year we did a kitchen remodel (in California) and my cabinets are CARB2 compliant. I know this because I had some of the plywood independently tested. Post remodel we did an air test (sealed off from the rest of the home) and I'm getting a 150ppb reading for Formaldehyde. I'm dumbfounded by how this happening. Is it possible for CARB compliant cabinets to off gas this much Formaldehyde. Any ideas what else could be driving this? Thanks!

Posted By mrshikadance on 17 May 2015 01:32 PM
Hi all, Last year we did a kitchen remodel (in California) and my cabinets are CARB2 compliant. I know this because I had some of the plywood independently tested. Post remodel we did an air test (sealed off from the rest of the home) and I'm getting a 150ppb reading for Formaldehyde. I'm dumbfounded by how this happening. Is it possible for CARB compliant cabinets to off gas this much Formaldehyde. Any ideas what else could be driving this? Thanks!

Not surprising that you are getting Formaldehyde readings from products that are supposed to be CARB2 compliant.

CNN and CBS' 60 Minutes just did an investigation and the news report showed that factories in China were LYING and basically stamping CARB2 compliance on products but they were not compliant. CNN/CBS sent undercover reporters into the factory where it was supposed to be CARB2 compliant and the factory manager openly admitted that the products were not compliant, even though they had the CARB2 stamp on it.

A lot of the items coming out of China are very poor quality and filled with toxic compounds. Plumbing fixtures have been found to have lead and mercury in them and interior products had asbestos, VOCs and all other toxic cancer-causing compounds in them. Any of those websites which sell low dollar items such as Alibaba are coming out of very poor quality control facilities in China where toxic and illegal chemicals are being used in the manufacturing of the products. The buyer is then installing a product which will leach toxic and deadly compounds into the air and the water they drink in their homes. Not to mention the product itself is poorly made and long-term reliability is low.

There are products which are Made in the USA or even in Canada or Europe that are truly CARB2 compliant and not the Chinese garbage. It will cost a little more but if you get sick, get cancer or die, that few bucks you saved on the Chinese products will not be of any use to you at that point if you are dead or dying.

So, what kind of cabinets are these?

What are they made of and where are they made?

Where is Formaldehyde used in cabinets.. particle board? plywood?  stain? glue (wood glue?).

Any ideas what else could be driving this?

Lack of sufficient ERV/HRV ventilation. Time will also help.

Posted By patonbike on 11 Jun 2015 12:35 PM

Where is Formaldehyde used in cabinets.. particle board? plywood?  stain? glue (wood glue?).

Particle board:  Yes
Plywood:  Yes
Stain:  No
Glue (Wood Glue): Generally, No.  Most wood glue is Polyvinyl Acetate (PVA) or aliphatic resin or polyurethane based.

The source of formaldehyde indoors often comes from urea formaldehyde based adhesives used in cabinet or furniture grade plywood, particle board, and Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF).  Exterior grade plywood typically doesn't use urea formaldehyde because of its lack of water resistance.

Thanks for the info. Glad we will have an HRV in our new home.