Formaldehyde in Kitchen Cabinets

I came across a story about some folks in California who bought new kitchen cabinets for their new house. Before taking delivery, they tested the cabinets for formaldehyde. California has a new standard for formaldehyde emissions that went into effect at the beginning of the year.

The tests showed that the cabinets exceeded the new standards, yet because these cabinets were built with materials produced before the new standard went into effect, they were exempt.

Formaldehyde is found in adhesives used in many wood and wood-based products over the years. I discussed its presence in kitchen cabinets in Shopping for Green Kitchen Cabinets. I also prepared this list of sources for formaldehyde-free cabinets.

But if you are buying cabinets in California, expecting to get products that contain little if any formaldehyde, keep in mind that cabinets built with products manufactured before 2009 do not have to comply.

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