Flat-pack furniture ‘ticking timebombs’
Published by Streem
News Limited newspapers report test completed by manufacturers in Australia show the flat-pack furniture contains high levels of the toxin chemical formaldehyde – known to cause cancer.
The products are imported from China and sometimes contain levels of the chemical far above International standards.
Tests on random flat-pack furniture show some furniture could be unsuitable for indoor use due to the high levels of the chemical.
Formaldehyde, a component of glues used in wood products, is known to cause skin, eye and respiratory damage and the World Health Organisation says the chemical in high concentrations is a cause of throat and nasal cancers, the report says.
Many retailers sell flat-pack products including IKEA, Bunnings and other major department stores.
The report did not indicate who or where the products were being sold, or if specific store products contained high levels of formaldehyde.
Taken from http://www.streem.com.au/