Hey Mr. Green,

I'm shopping for a bed for my 4-year-old. Many contain both solid and composite wood. How concerned should I be about composite wood giving off carcinogenic fumes? Some manufacturers describe their composite wood as low-emission. Is that a better choice, or should I just find something made only from solid wood? —Tom in New York City

Composite wood may contain formaldehyde, which irritates the nose, throat, and skin and may trigger asthma. At high levels it’s a known carcinogen. Because of these concerns, formaldehyde emissions from many products have been reduced more than 80 percent from earlier levels. Enough concern remains that in 2010 Congress passed and President Obama signed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite-Wood Products Act. It requires the EPA to put stricter limits on formaldehyde content and develop a strong monitoring policy to make sure companies are complying with the rules. However, the wheels of government turn slowly, and as of this writing the EPA has yet to finalize the regulations.

So if you want to be absolutely safe about furniture that contains hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard, or particleboard, look for products that contain plywood and composites that meet the Ultra-Low Emission Formaldehyde (ULEF) or No Added Formaldehyde (NAF) requirements of the California Air Resources Board. The agency provides a list of companies that have such products here. 

 In any event, I do have a reason for preferring ordinary wood (especially if it’s sustainably harvested and certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council). As I wander  around town, I often stumble over cheap particle board furniture that has fallen apart and been dumped. A bed made of real wood could be used someday by your child’s own angelic son or daughter.