Furniture environmental protection worry about "poisonous" furniture raging
July 22 11:11:51, 2025
The recent revelation that furniture contains excessive formaldehyde and is difficult to hold accountable has sparked widespread concern among citizens. Complaints have flooded in, with many reporting issues related to indoor air pollution. "It's been three years since we renovated the house, but we still haven't been able to move in," said one frustrated homeowner. "It's unbearable. I bought two sets of furniture and returned them both. Now I even sleep on the floor." Another resident added, "The iron door was meant to keep thieves out, but it also brought in dangerous pollutants."
With so many concerns raised by the public, I visited several home stores over the past few days and found that the state-mandated "Furniture Instructions" were often ignored or unclear. Many consumers have no way of knowing the environmental quality or toxic content of the furniture they purchase. During interviews, some furniture sellers admitted, "Formaldehyde is everywhere in furniture these days—some exceed standards, others just don’t go too far."
For Ms. Wang, a mother of a young child, her new home has become more of a burden than a comfort. After spending hundreds of thousands of yuan on a second-hand apartment to be closer to her granddaughter’s school, she and her family moved in only to experience severe health issues within days. They quickly left and now live in a rented room outside. "It’s been three years, and the smell is still strong. I really can’t take it anymore," she said.
Over the past three years, Ms. Wang tried everything to reduce the pollution—ventilating daily for the first year, sealing windows during the day and ventilating at night for the second, and even hiring two testing agencies in the third year. She spent thousands of dollars, but the smell remained. Initially, she blamed the furniture, but tests showed it was within acceptable limits. She then focused on the doors and door frames, removing them for destructive testing. The results still showed noè¶…æ ‡ (excess). Now, all that remains are the walls and floors. “I guess I’ll have to use trial and error to find the source,†she sighed.
Like Ms. Wang, many people have been forced to leave their homes due to harmful furniture. According to reports from various residents, children’s furniture, such as desks, computer tables, beds, and anti-theft doors, have become the top sources of complaints.
Ms. Cheng shared her own story: when her son was 6, she bought a set of children’s furniture for 3800 yuan, including a bunk bed, tables, and a computer desk. “I chose solid wood to avoid any poisoning,†she said. But soon after, her son began showing symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and skin rashes. Experts noted that children are more sensitive to formaldehyde, making them more vulnerable to its effects.
As more stories emerge, the issue of unsafe furniture continues to raise serious concerns about consumer safety and product transparency.