Part Two: Formaldehyde Alternatives Can Pose Dangers, Too
It has been observed that in trying to solve a problem, we often create another.
The U.S. Green Building Council was trying to solve a problem in 2007 when it clamped down on Urea Formaldehyde – an ingredient in the adhesive used in many bamboo and engineered hardwood floors.
Until then, most traditional (non-strand) bamboo floors from the bamboo leaders contained Urea Formaldehyde, but in amounts far below the E1 limit (a German standard adopted in China) of 0.1 parts per million.
More stringent limits have followed. The CARB (California Air Resource Board) limit for formaldehyde emissions is .05 ppm. And flooring products with GREENGUARD Environmental Institute Certification® have been tested to ensure that formaldehyde emissions do not exceed .05 ppm.
