FORMALDEHYDE EMISSION FROM MALAYSIAN WOODBASED PANELS

Abstract

Regulations regarding formaldehyde emission from wood-based panels are strictly enforced in Europe and the United States of America. Malaysia, as an exporter of wood-based panels, has not imposed such regulations yet; there is neither a national standard for the determination of formaldehyde emission from wood based panels nor a permissible limit of formaldehyde emission from them. We examined the formaldehyde emissions of plywood and particleboards from 11 wood-based panel mills in Peninsular Malaysia. The emission levels of these woodbased panels exceeded the permissible formaldehyde levels stipulated in the industrialised countries. Various methods for the determination of formaldehyde emission from wood-based panels are also introduced.