Our Newsletter asks what we care about - profits or health - when the Environmental Protection Agency struggles with regulation.

1. Where do our priorities lie?
The New York Times recently reported on ‘the uphill
battle to better regulate formaldehyde’ in the context
of excessive use of formaldehyde in the furniture and
flooring industry. The US Environmental Protection
Agency began its investigations in response to the
burning eyes, throats and respiratory problems suffered
by recipients of emergency accommodation after
Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, 10 years later, vested
interests and concerns about over-regulation and
increased costs are likely to water down the proposals
to such an extent that the final regulations may end up
meaningless.
Of course the unpleasant effects of formaldehyde-
saturated wood products on consumers are bad
enough, but one can’t help but wonder what on earth
the factories must be like for this much formaldehyde
to be still present in the finished products. Any
embalmer would probably be horrified at what goes on
in some of these firms, especially those manufacturers
located in developing economies using child labour.
One has to ask: Is a low price really that important?
But one also has to ask: Is formaldehyde really that
important either? Those in the funeral industry are, of
course, completely used to formaldehyde being part of
business life and treat it with considerable caution,
using protective gear, extractions systems and so on. In
the majority of cases, embalming can be achieved using
alternative, safer products. Practitioners are able to
choose the best method for the situation at hand, for
the needs of the family and for the skills and equipment
they have, but at least they are making an informed
choice.
It is concerning that factory workers and consumers are
given fewer choices and so little information – after all,
their health really IS important.
Read the NYT article in full here
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