One question we get often is “Do your floors off-gas, what are the levels of formaldehyde?”   While we know that our floors meet the highest standards of safety, we also know there’s a bit of fear-mongering on the web related to bamboo flooring.  We are also very transparent about the safety of our products, so much so that we have an entire page dedicated to it on our website.

Living in a house with toxic building materials is a scary thought and can understandably worry anyone thinking of putting a certain type of floor in their home because their first thoughts will be for the safety of their family.

However, bamboo flooring has been installed around the world for almost 25 years – in homes, offices, restaurants, schools, hotels and many other environments.  Bamboo floors have always proven to be safe, eco-friendly, beautiful, tough, and affordable.  Perhaps it is this combination of tough-to-beat factors that explains why there are some articles on the web questioning the safety of bamboo flooring with regards to formaldehyde, usually by vested interests of one type or another.

It is an unfortunate truth that we live in a world of alternative facts, where companies will say just about anything to get you to buy their products, and we ourselves have seen some of the silly, baseless articles on the web implying bamboo floors “may be” dangerous and “may be” full of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  These mistruths have been copied and pasted as fact around the web and among ‘experts’ ever since – and have led to bamboo flooring becoming one of the most tested hardwood floors on the planet in terms of toxicity.

Bamboo flooring and what the science actually says

So let’s take a look at what the science actually says about bamboo flooring and its effect (or lack thereof) on human health so that you can make an informed decision on what is best for you and your home.  The facts show that most high-quality bamboo flooring brands have levels of formaldehyde in their floors that are so low that they’re virtually undetectable, at less than .02 parts per million.

What are VOCs and Formaldehyde?

VOCs are chemical compound particles that vaporize naturally over time at room temperature. They can be naturally produced by plants, animals, and microbes, but can also be human-made in the production of items like paints, varnishes, cleaning products, refrigerants, and cigarettes.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring, strong-smelling chemical that has been used in the production of many building materials and household items for decades, while also serving as an industrial-strength disinfectant that can be used to preserve the dead in morgues and medical labs.

Inside the average home, you’ll find some level of formaldehyde in most household items, including:

• paints
• paper
• cavity wall or loft insulation
• varnishes
• glues or other adhesives
• cosmetics
• fertilizer
• medicines
• furniture
• cleaning products (i.e. dishwasher tablets, disinfectant, laundry detergents)
• gas stoves
• wallpaper
• cabinets
• permanent-press fabrics
• fireplaces
• kerosene space heaters

This means that both VOCs and formaldehyde are very useful to our daily lives, so we can’t just stop buying everything that emits formaldehyde.  We just have to be careful with what we buy!

Even humans produce formaldehyde and we wouldn’t want to give up living with other people…. Well, we might, but formaldehyde emissions would be a super weird (and probably illegal) reason to kick out your roommate.

What binding agents are used in bamboo flooring?

Solid strand woven bamboo floors use only phenol-formaldehyde resins, which typically do not result in emissions that are considered hazardous.  Engineered bamboo floors, like all engineered hardwoods, do use trace amounts of urea formaldehyde during manufacturing, but it is generally in very safe quantities, roughly equivalent to the levels used in the production of household and office furniture, and cleaning products.

This means that the vast majority of bamboo floors on sale in America are 100% safe for use in your house. There will always be some rogue sellers, who are more concerned with making a profit than human health, which is why you should always do your research on the company.  We recommend checking that the company meets the CARB Phase 2 indoor air standard, which is the most strict in the world.

Are there formaldehyde-free brands of bamboo flooring?

It’s tough to say that anything on earth is formaldehyde-free because formaldehyde is a naturally occurring element that exists in everything including our breath.  When it comes to flooring, there are products that can be so low in formaldehyde as to meet the “No Added Urea Formaldehyde (NAUF)” standard.  Most of the quality bamboo floors in the US meet this standard.

How can VOCs and formaldehyde affect human health?

It no secret that in large quantities or over a prolonged period of time these things can have an effect on human health, especially if breathed in by someone with a weakened immune system or breathing difficulties, which is the reason why you’re advised to open the windows when painting and avoid smoking around children.

Researchers who specialize in Indoor Environmental Quality report that indoor air can potentially be way more polluted than outdoor air because of things like mold and other pollutants, as well as emissions of VOCs or formaldehyde from furniture or furnishings, which is bad for overall health. This is especially damaging because most Americans spend the vast majority of their indoors (i.e. in the office, at the gym, at home) and very rarely get fresh air that isn’t being re-circulated by an air-con unit.

These VOCs/formaldehyde emissions can cause some serious problems to your health, including, but are not limited to:

• irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat
• skin irritation
• depression and mood changes
• insomnia
• irritability
• attention deficit
• impairment of dexterity, memory, and equilibrium
• increased risk of asthma attacks
• nausea
• headaches
• damage to the central nervous system, including increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)/ Lou Gehrig’s disease
• cancer, including nose, throat, and leukemia

The World Health Organization (WHO) even lists formaldehyde gas as a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) in humans, which rightly makes people concerned about what they’re putting into their homes. This is especially problematic if you or someone you love is in a group that is especially vulnerable to these emissions i.e. children, the elderly, those with difficulties in breathing, or those with compromised immune systems.

However, the majority of serious problems caused by these emissions do not arise from everyday home use and are more likely to affect those who are working around the toxic chemicals all day long, like morticians, lab technicians, and industrial workers who produce products that may emit these chemical compounds.

There is scare evidence to support the idea that coming into contact with these emissions at the low and safe levels found in your home furnishings would risk your health, especially if you take precautions, such as getting time outside in the fresh air and checking that your furniture meets the necessary safety requirements,

It’s like how fast food would cause damaging and sometimes irreversible health problems if you ate it every day, but in small quantities, it can serve an important function without hurting you, as long as you eat right and exercise at other times.

What does the evidence say specifically regarding bamboo floors and human health?

Bamboo flooring has been safely used in homes across the world for over twenty years. In terms of actual scientific data, there is little evidence to support the idea that emissions of VOCs and formaldehyde from bamboo floors are harmful to human (or kitty cat) health. Realistically, the varnishes on your wooden furniture are more likely to be a problem than the floor you’re walking on.

Still, the flooring industry is choosing to err on the side of caution and limit any potential harms by adhering to European E1 standards for indoor air quality at a minimum, which states that these floors should have formaldehyde levels of no more than 0.1 parts per million (ppm). This is the level at which the National Cancer Institute says that emissions can start to affect people at the lower end of the scale (i.e. nausea, irritation to the ear, nose and throat).

Many are going far beyond that by adhering to the California Air Resource Board’s Phase II standard for indoor air quality, which is regarded as the strictest in the world and sets its levels at 0.05ppm.

What else is the industry doing?

The potential risk to human health is not something that the flooring industry is taking lightly, which is why they are taking major precautions to keep their customers safe.  There are now a number of special certificates to mark flooring products for things like lower emissions of formaldehyde and VOCs and improved indoor air quality so that you can be assured that your gorgeous bamboo floors will not expose you or your family to toxic chemicals.

These certificates include:

1. USDA BioPreferred
2. The Resilient Floor Covering Institute’s FloorScore
3. Greenguard Gold

For more information on the certificates, what they cover, and how they are awarded, please click on the links.

The most reputable brands of bamboo flooring are also commissioning independent tests on an annual basis to ensure that their product is still completely safe for use – and posting them on their websites for all to see.

As with all sectors of life, there will be some people who choose to go against these guidelines – and potentially put your health at risk – in order to make a quick buck. That’s why you should vet your supplier to find out what certificates they have been awarded, where they have used VOCs and formaldehyde in the manufacturing process, and what other customers say about them.

Here at Ambient Bamboo, we like to be upfront about these things. That’s why we proudly display that all of our eco-friendly bamboo floors meet the toughest requirements for low emissions and indoor air quality in the world, and even give you access to the full, unedited, independent results reports for the past three years. We have nothing to hide.

We meet (and, in most cases, exceed) seven standards for low emissions, including CARB Phase II, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Air Quality Standards, and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits for both our flooring and our adhesives.

What can I, as a consumer, do to reduce the impact of these emissions on myself and my family?

If you are considering a beautiful bamboo floor, but are still concerned about the risk of formaldehyde or VOCs exposure, then consider these steps to increase the safety of the product you buy, both at time of purchase and over time.

1. Pick a reputable brand: We’ve spoken a lot about how the quality and safety of the bamboo flooring will vary based on the company you buy from, so check them out. Make sure that any safety certificates that they are boasting about are real, have actually been awarded to that company, and reflect positive safety measures.
2. Choose strand woven or traditional bamboo over engineered: In a study by Consumer Reports - which was not specifically looking at bamboo flooring, but rather flooring in general – they found that flooring made from solid wood had lower formaldehyde emissions than engineered ­wood, which they believed was down to the glues used in the production of engineered flooring.
3. Get some fresh air: This means opening the windows every day to let in fresh air and help to circulate any emissions outside, where they will do far less damage to anyone. It also means getting some time in the open air, whether that’s taking the dog for a walk or playing football in the park with your kids. You should also ban anyone from smoking inside your home, as that will add pollutants in the air.
4. Turn down the heat: This is a bit of a double-edged sword because the people most likely to suffer from the effects of these emissions are generally also the ones that feel the cold more. However, there is evidence to support that higher temperatures will increase emissions, so try to keep the heat lower, without making your home cold.

What if I get my bamboo flooring and it smells funny?

If you’ve recently purchased a bamboo floor and you’re worried about it being toxic because it’s giving off a funny smell, don’t panic. There are many reasons why your bamboo floor may have a chemical smell, without it being something to worry about.

It’s likely that the flooring planks were sealed up to be shipped before the varnish smell could dissipate and it just needs time to air out, much like a freshly-painted room. It should really only take a couple of days, and if they haven’t yet been installed, try keeping them in a garage or shed until installation so that you don’t have to smell it. Oh, and wear a facemask if you’re installing it so that the particles resulting from the cutting process aren’t inhaled – just like any other time you’re cutting building materials with a saw.

If the floor has already been installed, keep the room(s) well ventilated (i.e. opening the windows, using oscillating fans) and spend time in other rooms while waiting for the smell to go. If you notice any of the symptoms listed above, like nausea, headaches, or irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, then go outside for a time to see if the symptoms reduce, and contact a medical professional if the symptoms persist.

Benefits to human health

We’ve spoken a lot about the potential dangers to human health posed by emissions from bamboo flooring, so now let’s look at how your beautiful bamboo flooring can actually improve your health.

It reduces allergens, like dust and mites, because the smooth and rigid surface of bamboo flooring doesn’t allow them to hide in cracks or carpet. Thus, the irritants are easily picked up by the vacuum cleaner or soft-bristled broom and disposed of. Take a deep breath.

So don’t let fear-mongering and scare tactics put you off buying an eco-friendly and beautiful bamboo floor that can last for decades to come. Look at the scientific evidence (or lack thereof) surrounding the dangers posed to human health through installing a bamboo floor and decide for yourself. We’re certain that you’ll realize that not only is bamboo flooring safe for human habitation, it’s also a safe investment that will boost the value of your home for years to come.

The post Are Bamboo Floors Safe? Or Are They Toxic or Dangerous? appeared first on The Greener Living Blog.