Analysis on Level of Formaldehyde Exposure to Phenolic Resin Material and Urea Formaldehyde Resin Material in Housing Renovation

Objectives  To discuss the level of formaldehyde exposure in housing renovation while using phenolic resin material and urea formaldehyde resin material as adhesives.

Methods  Based on the kinds of adhesive materials used, the study was classified into three groups:phenolic resin (group A), mixed urea formaldehyde resin and phenolic resin (group B), and urea formaldehyde resin (group C). The monitoring started from the 15^th day after the renovation being completed and monitored every month for 7 times. The concentration of formaldehyde was determined by spectrophotometry (GB/T 16129-1995).

Results  The Results of group A (0.084±0.040 mg/m³), group B (0.195±0.278 mg/m³) and group C (0.494±0.559 mg/m³) were significantly different by t-test (P < 0.05). The level of formaldehyde in group C was higher on the seventh monitoring day (183 days; 0.118±0.14 mg/m³); the level of formaldehyde in group A and group B came to the national standards at 122 and 60 days after renovation, respectively.

Conclusions  Excessively using urea formaldehyde resin material as adhesives could cause a higher level of formaldehyde exposure.