Here’s the scoop on formaldehyde in our furniture: It’s in pressed wood, paints, adhesives, varnishes, synthetic and wrinkle-free fabrics, and dyes…to name a few spots. (Also, some experts report that the wood alcohol in Aspartame can convert to formaldehyde in your body!) Formaldehyde is believed to cause cancer, birth defects, and chromosomal changes from inhaling released vapors during the life of a product. Not an ideal ingredient in household furniture. PBDEs are another concern when it comes to kids and furniture. They are often sprayed on foam cushions to reduce the chance of igniting. However, while they make an effective fire retardant, they might also serve as brain retardants in kids, and reproductive retardants when those kids grow up. (This is partly why the European Union doesn’t allow many PBDEs in manufacturing, and California is setting the bar for use-ban in the United States by 2008. The toxins are still pretty abundant: at least one study reported significant PBDE levels in breast milk from U.S. moms.)

What to do

Look for labels. Ask out loud.

An organization called the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifies that wood is at least sustainable, a start (furniture from sustainable wood is likely to be “environmentally conscious” throughout the process). On German imports, there’s a label called the Blue Angel, and in 2001, the Blue Angel started appearing on low-emission wood goods. IKEA is one of the few big furniture stores that tries to make “environmentally friendly” products. They report that they avoid PBDEs; buy sustainable wood for their products; and I know they use minimum packaging at the checkout stand.

Ask for any or all of these chemicals and treatments when you shop. Use the words “formaldehyde” and PBDEs in furniture and bedding stores: it’s a chance to create awareness and demand.

Head to your grandmother’s attic

Antiques and even hand-me-down furniture either never off-gassed (particle board wasn’t found in furniture in the “olden days”), or in the case of used furniture, most of the off-gassing has already taken place. So, you’re not being “cheap” when you head to the second-hand store for your dining room table: you’re being environmentally conscious!

Go natural

Wool is naturally flame retardant, and it is said to make for “cooler” pillows, by wicking body heat away (I sleep on an organic wool pillow case). Besides, little critters like dust mites stay away from wool…all great traits! So try wool instead of something synthetic in your furniture (batting and/or upholstery), and do likewise for carpets.

Paint

Before having a baby, most parents-to-be paint the baby’s room, which usually means slapping some VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) up along with the new color. Studies in Australia have shown a correlation between VOC exposure in pregnant mothers and increased allergies in kids (among other findings). Who needs that from a paint?

Don’t worry, your new baby will not have to sleep in an unpainted room. Simply buy no-VOC paint. My house is painted with several different brands of low-VOC and no VOC, both of which are increasingly easy to find these days. My favorite brand so far is the Sherwin Williams "green" paint.

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