by Topher Sanders

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ProPublica spent months investigating how a single underregulated toxic chemical — formaldehyde — creates an inescapable cancer risk for everyone in America. It’s in the air outside, at levels that fail to meet the public health goals set by the Environmental Protection Agency. And it’s in our homes, coming from our couches, our clothes and our babies’ cribs — sometimes at levels that can trigger breathing problems, allergic reactions and asthma.

We modeled pollution data and deployed our own air monitors to measure formaldehyde levels around us. We interviewed more than 50 experts and read thousands of pages of scientific studies and EPA records. During it all, we kept in mind the single question we knew readers would most want answered: How can I reduce my exposure?

The following are some common sources of the chemical and suggestions for reducing your risk, as informed by our reporting.

Be careful when buying new furniture. One of the most significant sources of formaldehyde in the home has traditionally been furniture made with composite wood that uses glues to bind strands, particles, fibers or boards together. The adhesives used in this type of furniture can contain formaldehyde, which goes through a process called off-gassing, where the chemical is released into the air over time. Federal regulators have set limits on how much of the chemical some composite woods can release. But those limits, set more than a decade ago, are still well above the level that EPA scientists recently established to protect people from asthma, allergic reactions and other breathing problems.So, at the very least, you want to look at the item’s packaging for a label that shows it is compliant with the standards set under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

The law covers goods made of hardwood plywood, medium-density fiberboard and particleboard. All products covered by the law must feature some sort of label saying they........

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