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Formaldehyde poisoning from MDF

My son works in the cabinet making and joinery industry. He is constantly having problems with dust from MDF, which is a medium density board used in kitchens, etc. When he gets the dust on him, he immediately starts to itch, on his hands and face.

Is his problem from the formaldehyde in the MDF touching his skin, or does breathing it in cause extreme skin irritations?

Walter Walraven
- Wellington, New Zealand
2004

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Some people will develop a reaction to particular material over a period of time. Others will be around it for years and still others have problems in one day. A guess, (uneducated) that his problem is compounded by the abrasiveness of the dust. It is very obvious that he needs to seek other employment.

I personally doubt if it is formaldehyde as the levels should be extremely low. You could look up allowable levels on any of the free MSDS sites.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004