Question from Junia
Hi Debra, I have a solid pine baby cot, but I read that pine wood emits Acetaldehyde. Do you know anything about this?
Debra’s Answer
Yes, pine can emit acetaldehyde, but the amount of acetabldehyde varies greatly from freshly cut pine, to pine that has been dried, and pine that has aged. Levels of emissions drop greatly which lumber is dried–so much is released during the drying process that it is considered an environmental air pollutant.
So the older the pine, the less it would emit.
Pine has been used to make furniture, flooring, and wall paneling for centuries. Whatever amount of naturally-occuring chemicals pine wood might emit are much less than manufacturered plywood and particleboard.
I personally use a lot of pine for building bookshelves and have a lot of pine furniture. Over time, the “wood” smell dissipates.
That said, many people are sensitive to the smell of pine, and it may be these naturally-occuring chemicals they are reacting to.
Babies are the most susceptible to the harmful effects of chemicals. If you have any question about emissions, consider a crib made of a wood that is less fragrant, like oak.
