MDF

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is a composite wood product used to create cabinets, flooring, countertops, desks, frames, etc. Hardwoods and softwoods are broken into fibers, combined with glues and wax, and formed into panels using heat and pressure.

The benefits of MDF are durability, workability, and cost effectiveness. Unfortunately, MDF has negative health effects that are overlooked. A lifetime of exposure to a common ingredient, formaldehyde, poses risk of cancer.1  Medium density fiberboard and particleboard typically have shorter service lives than plywood, therefore requiring more binder and risking exposure to a greater volume of  hazardous chemicals.3

Formaldehyde in MDF

• It’s ideal to use No-Added Formaldehyde (NAF) glue.4
• The most prominent glue used in MDF is Urea Formaldehyde (UF). The more formaldehyde added, the more likely it will be trapped in wood and emit gas for long after the manufacturing process.1
• Other glues like Melamine-Urea Formaldehyde might be used in MDF for moisture resistance.
• Formaldehyde is not only present in glue, but small amounts can also be found in wood dust. Wood dust is known to cause asthma and nasal and sinus cancer in woodworkers.1

What are the major health concerns?

• Long-term exposure to formaldehyde can result in various cancers. These cancers are long-term effects that take up to 10-15 years to develop, often within carpenters who work with these products daily or others with prolonged exposure. 1
• Short-term effects include: watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. 1

Industry Regulations

• Due to the prominence of MDF, the building industry has taken steps to reduce chemicals of concern. Manufacturers lowered the amount of formaldehyde in Urea Formaldehyde (UF) resin and utilize other glues with No-Added Formaldehyde (NAF), such as soy or methylene. 2
• The 2007 CARB Composite Wood Products Airborne Toxic Control Measure regulates formaldehyde emissions in finished goods made with MDF, plywood, and particleboard. 5
• The Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products Act requires the EPA to adopt CARB regulations nationally. 1