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Posted By Rich Hall
does anyone know if mdf board is a potential carcinagenic material or not?? i have heard a rumour that it is.
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Rich
It's not a rumour!
Hardwood dust is acknowledged as a carcinogen in the UK; softwood dust is acknowledged as a carcinogen by IARC but not in the UK, yet. MDF is usually bound with urea formaldehyde or phenol formaldehyde resins which decompose if the material is cut or shaped with blunt tools. Formaldehyde is carcinogenic.
Paul
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Posted By Heather Aston
It's also one that's been over-hyped in the media for some time. See here http://www.safety.ed.ac....tes/hygiene_update5.html
Apparently the HSE study did report that there was no significant risk of cancer seen in the woodworking industry today with the controls that are normally provided.
Heather
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Posted By Rich Hall
control = dustmask/ hankercheif over mouth?
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Posted By Heather Aston
No. Read the HSE's free leaflets on control of wood dust. http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/woodindx.htm
Control= local exhaust extraction (and possibly on occasion dust mask)
Handkerchief is for blowing nose on, not for PPE
Heather
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Posted By Liam Mc Conalogue
I would advise to minimise the use of ALL hardwoods.
MDF is banned in quite a no. of countries so I would take heed. But if it has to be used consult with the MSDS and your associated RA.
The need for suitable and sufficient R/PPE is paramount to avoid any possible carcinogens.
Liam
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Posted By Fran Holt
Hi Rich,
When i was a young girl in the 90's i used to work in a MDF moulding factory, we didnt wear PPE and the dust flew everywhere. I queried whether the extractors worked properly but i dont think anyone did anything. There was a rumour that the local H&S inspector was on a backhander to keep quiet.
In fact we used to have dust throwing fights, oh what fun it was!
I have a nastythick cough now and i wheeze a bit , i wonder if it was to do with too much fun with MDF?
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Posted By Rich Hall
surely a wind up fran. If it is true then you may be ok in the long term as MDf illness is only a temporary allergy as opposed to the more prevelent asbestos related lung issues.
LEV can usually extract it ok, but asbestos cannot be extracted.
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Posted By Merv Newman
I don't have the references any more, but I got involved in the formaldehyde controversy somewhere around 1980/1.
Rats exposed to very high levels of formaldehyde in the atmosphere developed cancers in the nasal mucosa.
The levels were much higher than any human could possibly tolerate without becoming seriously ill.
There was a lot of discussion on whether or not the extreme irritant nature of formaldehyde was repeatedly destroying nasal tissue, leading to high cell replacement/replication rates which facilitated the development of cancerous cells. Humans, it was argued, would not tolerate the high concentrations involved and thus their exposures would not be so prolonged.
The industry lobbies lost out on this one.
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Posted By Fran Holt
hi rich,
Thanks for the advice. I am totally serious though it was a dusty job indeed. Glad i will be ok, maybe smoking doesnt help the cough eh!!
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Posted By Fran Holt
forgot to say rich. I am sure you are well aware the key to working with asbestos is not to make any dust
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Posted By Barry Cooper
I was asked to undertake a risk assessment for the cutting of MDF using a power saw.
After hours of research, several reports came to the conclusion that the risk was low provided that extraction and good ventilation is provided.
The reports also said that formaldehyde is generated close to the cutting area and will dissipate very quickly.
Some reports state that plywood can also give off formaldehyde when being cut, as it to is manufactured using similar resins to MDF
My risk assessment resulted in a Medium risk provided LEV is installed, even with portable power cutting tools
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