ABSTRACT
Indoor air pollution is rapidly becoming a major health issue worldwide. Although research efforts are still under way to better define the nature and extent of the health implications for the general population, recent studies have shown significant amounts of harmful pollutants in the indoor environment. A major use is in the fabrication of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins used primarily as adhesives when making plywood, particleboard, and fiberboard. Formaldehyde is also a component of UF foam insulation, injected into sidewalls primarily during the 1970s. Indoor monitoring data on formaldehyde concentrations are variable because of the wide range of products that may be present in homes. One of the most promising techniques for reducing indoor formaldehyde concentrations is to modify the source materials to reduce emission rates. Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that is found everywhere at very low levels. Radon becomes a cause for concern when it is trapped in buildings and concentrations build up.
