13 Jan 2023
Formaldehyde?
When you complete your house renovation and move in, you’re giddy from excitement of being a new home owner- or rather, that’s what most people think. When the dust settles, and the headaches still persists, maybe you want to look at other culprits instead. Recently, the talk of the town among home owners is the word Formaldehyde..jpg)
What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a pungent, colourless and flammable chemical that is often used in the production and fabrication of building materials such as wood slabs, joining solvents and product coatings. While it is originally used to treat the wood products, overtime they will off-gas into the environment that they are placed in. Formaldehyde as a chemical is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories.
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When do they become a problem?
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance and are produced in small amounts by most living organisms as a normal part of our metabolism.
When formaldehyde accumulates in a tight space and exposed to over long periods of time, it can start causing problems and even have long-term health effects. Even when ventilated, if your carpentry or wood products already have elevated levels of formaldehyde, the continuous release and formation would also result in long-term exposure near these sources.
At high concentrations, it can cause sensory irritations in the eyes, nose and throat. These symptoms can happen to anyone, but children, elderly as well as people with respiratory problems (eg asthma) are more susceptible to such issues, ranging from mild to serious depending on one’s sensitivity. At concentrations higher than those generally associated with sensory irritation, formaldehyde may also contribute to some effects on lung function.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified formaldehyde as a probable carcinogen as early as 1987. Since then, numerous studies have emerged to suggest the same. Based on 15th Report on Carcinogens released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2021, formaldehyde is listed under the ‘Known To Be Human Carcinogens’ category.
Does Stainless Steel Contain Formaldehyde?
The answer is no! Stainless steel does not contain formaldehyde since the material does not need to be treated. Choosing full stainless steel would mean your kitchen is free from any wood products, and more importantly, free from the chemicals that are used in its treatment and production and its corresponding health risks.
Combined with their resistance to corrosion, as well as durability against water, stainless steel is ideal for usage inside wet areas or heavily used spaces like the kitchen, and even the common carpentry areas like the wardrobes and shoe cabinets spaces.
Home is a meant to be a safe space.
While you want your house to be inviting and warm, it is also important that your renovation makes use of safe materials that ensure good in-door air quality. With so many working from home nowadays, it is important to assess your areas and ensure the environmental risks are reduced as much as possible. Afterall, health is greatest wealth!
For more information about how to build your dream stainless steel kitchens/wardrobes/cabinets, feel free to head down to our showrooms to speak to any of our friendly salespeople. Test reports on formaldehyde concentrations for our kitchens are available. Write into enquiry@songcho.com.sg for more information.