LCA Treatment of Human Health exemplified by Formaldehyde within the Furniture Industry

The recent World Health Organisation re-classification of formaldehyde’s carcinogenic status is reviewed and discussed together with the carcinogenesis mechanism. Information on health effects associated with exposure levels is presented and placed in the context of sampled concentrations in different types of buildings. The treatment of human health within LCA is described with the example of the Laminated MDF board product. An LCA comparison of alternatives for finishing MDF board – Lamination, Linoleum, or Powder coating – is presented and discussed, identifying major environmental impacts. The results are discussed in the context of building rating schemes which use prescriptive or proscriptive materialsrelated criteria, compared to outcome and performance criteria. Finally, a recent approach to account for indoor exposure during the use phase within LCA is briefly described and its implications outlined.