Baby Furniture Found to Contain High Levels of Toxic Formaldehyde

A report released Tuesday by a consumer advocacy group indicates that several types of department store baby furniture, such as cribs and changing tables, contain high levels of formaldehyde that may pose a health risk to young children and infants.

The Maryland Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) evaluated test results for 21 different cribs and other pieces of baby furniture designed to be used in an infant’s nursery. They found that 6 of the products emitted levels of airborne formaldehyde that could cause asthma and other respiratory problems if inhaled.

“To protect children from formaldehyde and other chemical hazards, Maryland should adopt a new approach to chemical regulation, encouraging manufacturers to design products that are safe from the start,” wrote the researchers from the Maryland Public Interest Research Group in their report.

Formaldehyde, which is most commonly known as an embalming agent, has a number of common uses. The toxic chemical has been linked with allergies, asthma and cancer. It can also cause irritation of the eyes, headaches and difficulty breathing even with only small levels of exposure.

The chemical poses a particular risk to children, and especially infants. Studies have found that 16 percent of children in homes with low levels of formaldehyde were diagnosed with asthma, and 44 percent of children in homes with high levels of formaldehyde concentrations had asthma.

The report found that the Child Craft Oak Crib manufactured by Child Craft Industries had the highest levels of formaldehyde of all of the products tested. The crib has a composite wood drawer which appears to be made with formaldehyde-based glue. By 2009, the state of California will require that building materials emit less than 259 micrograms per hour, yet the Child Craft Oak Crib emitted 3,680 micrograms of formaldehyde per hour.

Other baby products that were found to have high formaldehyde emissions include the Bridget 4-in-1 Crib by Delta, the Kayla II Changing Table by South Shore Furniture and the Rochester Cognac Crib by Storkcraft.