Formaldehyde.
Nothing on concentrations or anything, which makes it difficult to assess the risk level, compared to e.g. a cheap bed made out of particleboard and foam mattresses. Meh.
Nothing on concentrations or anything, which makes it difficult to assess the risk level, compared to e.g. a cheap bed made out of particleboard and foam mattresses. Meh.
"In announcing a massive recall of ventilators and sleep apnea machines, Philips Respironics acknowledged that an industrial foam placed inside the devices to reduce noise could break apart and send tiny particles and fumes into the noses, mouths and lungs of patients."
https://www.propublica.org/article/nine-stories-of-people-im...
Still, sucks for the affected. I just got my CPAP machine and if I had to choose between cancer or constant sleep deprivation, I'm not sure which way I'd go.
The WHO threshold is, based on quick googling, 0.08 ppm which sounds pretty reasonable. I have been unable to find a corresponding EPA value. Anyone got better luck?
- https://www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/laws-and-regulations-concer...
- https://www.regulations.gov/document/EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0461-0... ("Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products", linked from the first page, this one has ppmz)
- https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/safety-guides/home/upd... ("An update on formaldehyde", lists some numbers like 0.1 ppm for absolute upper limit without adverse effects for most people, 0.03 ppm in low-emission environments)
Plenty of non-PU foams use formaldehyde based resins - melamine-formaldehyde foam is an example.