Question
Do state government agencies test for VOCs in furniture finish?
We bought dressers from Oaktree Furniture made by Yutzy. After 6 months, the finish smell is still strong and offensive. It actually makes me sick to my stomach. I cannot take living with this any more and I cannot in good conscience sell it. The store will not refund our money. I really do not know what to do.
Answer
To my knowledge, no state government agencies test for VOCs in furniture.
Some states require a written warning attached to certain building materials made with urea-formaldehyde.
If you are having symptoms like eye and throat irritation and dizziness and nausea, you may want to purchase a passive formaldehyde monitor for your home, about $80-$110. You leave it in the house for a recommended amount of time and then send it back to the lab for results.
- Other options are to find a local testing agency and have them come in to test and see how bad the problem is,
- Or simply get rid of the furniture to remove the problem from your house.
A quick search about Yutzy indicates that their finishes are all coconut-oil based.
For more information:
Read "Do I need an indoor air quality test? How much will it cost?" a Q&A answered by Evan Little.
Also, read "Is there a way to test the air in my home?" a Q&A answered by Cynthia Phakos.
