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Klobuchar wants new rules for wood
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Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced legislation Friday that would set a national health standard for formaldehyde in wood products.
The bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, would "level the playing field" between foreign producers of composite wood products and domestic producers, who already follow voluntary standards to limit levels of the chemical, Klobuchar's office said.
Formaldehyde is used as an adhesive or solvent in products made of wood particles and resin and is widely used in household furnishings.
It has been listed as a "probable human carcinogen" by the Environmental Protection Agency. In high concentrations, it can cause difficulty breathing and a burning sensation in the eyes and throat, according to Klobuchar's office.
The bill would establish a national emission standard for formaldehyde, matching a standard recently imposed by California environmental officials.
It has been supported by the wood products industry, which has struggled to compete with foreign producers that sell cheaper composite wood products.
The formaldehyde industry's trade group issued a statement saying it supports legislation that would raise uniform standards on imported products but maintains that products containing formaldehyde are safe.
BOB VON STERNBERG
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