Moving into a newly renovated house should be an event to look forward to. But for one homeowner, it was the start of her nightmare.

“I couldn’t breathe properly in the bedroom, and my kids complained about the smell,” recounts Cindy Seow, who had splurged on a home makeover. “Each time my husband opened the cabinet doors, we were stung by the fumes and quickly had to shut them.”

That “new house smell”, as it’s often known, hides an insidious health threat: formaldehyde. Commonly used in wood furnishings, as well as to finish laminates, the carcinogenic chemical can cause poisoning and other health repercussions with long-term inhalation.

“I was looking forward to coming back to a newly renovated home to seek solace and comfort, but it was one of the worst experiences that my entire family had to endure,” says Seow. She adds that while she had flagged this to her interior designer, she was told the smell of formaldehyde would simply dissipate on its own. “He quickly dismissed it, saying it was ‘nothing serious’ and to ‘give it some time … just leave the cabinet doors open’.”

But even after a week of doing so, Seow’s eyes continued to sting. Her family had to spend yet another week at her sister’s place before they could safely move in.

Stepping in

Recent reports have flagged the issue of exposure to formaldehyde in newly built or renovated homes, with some owners’ children and even pets also falling sick.

In January 2023, following the submission of numerous reports to the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu announced that the government would be looking into the use of formaldehyde in homes. A year later, it was announced that Singapore would ban the addition of formaldehyde in paints used for building interiors starting in 2026.

“NEA [the National Environment Agency] is actively reviewing potential regulatory requirements for formaldehyde in other interior building products,” said Fu in a written reply to a parliamentary question in April. “NEA is also studying the emission levels and health impact of other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from interior building products.”

VOCs are chemicals used and produced to manufacture paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants. Besides formaldehyde, this class of chemicals also includes toluene and acetone, which may be found in everything from adhesives to sealants.

How for now?

But, as they say, the show must go on. For now, there may still be products on the market that contain formaldehyde, which means the risk of exposure remains. So the question remains: How can homeowners avoid this nasty substance?

Simply asking about the materials to be used in your home is one quick way, advises Ebenezer Yoon, creative director of MynMyn Studio.

“Before you start your renovation, you can ask if your interior designer uses eco-friendly, non-formaldehyde adhesives, varnish, and paints,” he says, citing Nippon’s Vinilex paint and Ecoply plywood as two options that are low in VOCs.

Yoon notes that such materials tend to cost more than their regular counterparts. Still, he points out, health is wealth. “They may be pricier, but if you treasure your health, the cost should not be questioned.”

YWA Studio’s founder and principal designer, Tan Yue Wei, concurs. “It would be wise to do some research to consider the cost versus the benefits,” he says. “Just be prepared that you will cough up more money for a formaldehyde-free renovation.”

Tan adds that speaking up early on in the renovation process is important, so that expectations are clearly and explicitly laid out. “Inform your designer that you strictly do not want formaldehyde-based products in glue, resins, paint and coatings,” he says, adding that this should be stated in any contracts signed.

Picking well

Renovations are one thing, but formaldehyde and other VOCs can be found in furniture as well. Adding to the challenge of picking out the best designs for our homes, having to look out for safe pieces can add another layer of complexity.

While Singapore is still in the early stages of limiting formaldehyde use, the European Union has implemented strict regulations to safeguard human health and minimise formaldehyde emissions in furniture. New rules, which will come into effect in mid-2026, set a maximum of 0.062 milligrams per cubic metre for furniture and wood-based products.

Generally, furniture that is made with environmentally sustainable practices will not include VOCs. Higher-quality construction can also be an indicator to look out for. For example, pieces that use solid wood instead of particle board, or pieces that use joinery instead of glue, tend to involve fewer chemicals in their production.

But that’s not to say that all particleboard or glued furniture will contain formaldehyde. Certifications can play a part in helping consumers identify pieces that are lower in VOCs.

Locally, Yoon points to the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) as one marker that consumers can use when picking out products. The certification, administered by the Singapore Environment Council, is an indicator of products with a low environmental impact.

The SGLS covers furnishings, building supplies and packaging, among others. To be certified, products must meet specific requirements; this includes having lowered toxicity and hazardous materials. For a longer-term view, the certification considers the impacts of each material at every stage of its lifecycle, from its extraction and use to disposal.

When it comes to building materials specifically, there is the Singapore Green Building Product Certification Scheme, administered by the Singapore Green Building Council. The UL Greenguard, meanwhile, focuses more deeply on VOCs in particular, with a scope of some 360 chemicals in its tests.

For some homeowners, the realisation that formaldehyde has seeped in comes all too late: the floorings have already been laid, and the fumes have already started to leach out. In such situations, the solution depends on how severe things are.

With adequate ventilation and by using home air purifiers before moving in, mild cases can be well managed. However, when the concentration of formaldehyde in the home is far too high, such as in homeowner Seow’s case, professional help is available to remove the chemical. Such services typically involve breaking it down with a mist of treatment formula.

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