On August 5, we bought a new bedroom set for our pre-teen daughter, comprising a bed, a night stand and a dresser with mirror. About 10 days later we installed the dresser - and soon after we noticed an unmistakable odor from the dresser; it most likely was what are termed as VOCs.
Note: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary, room-temperature conditions. Their high vapor pressure results from a low boiling point, which causes large numbers of molecules to evaporate from the liquid or solid form of the compound and enter the surrounding air.
Many VOCs are dangerous to human health.
We believe the composite wood of the new furniture and/or the adhesive used in its fabrication, especially the dresser's, has a relatively high content of urea-formaldehyde resins. When the room heats up during the summer days, the 'odor' becomes more intense. My daughter began suffering from headaches and said she cannot sleep well. One of my sons who stayed in the room watching TV also complained of headaches and lethargy later on.
After the first few days, once we realized the intensity of the supposed toxic fumes emanating from the furniture, we had to move our daughter from her room. During the day we continually have a fan pushing air into the room and an exhaust fan in the window pulling air out - as a means to prevent the toxic VOCs from spreading into our home where 3 minor children reside. More than a month after installation of the dresser, its wood is still off-gassing preventing my daughter from utilizing and enjoying her room - thus causing her acute distress, and consequently to us, her parents, as well.
This is - to us (parents) - a totally unacceptable state of affairs. The correct and gracious thing for Brick would be to endeavour to redress in an appropriate manner this serious wrong they have, in our opinion, pre-meditatively and on their own volition done us - as it is hard to believe they would not have been aware beforehand of the high VOC content of the furniture set in question. We also consider their act of selling 'toxic' furniture tantamount - in our case - tantamount to endangering the welfare of minors.
We are considering contacting the Canadian Consumer Protection Branch and the Better Business Bureau - as well as filing a complaint with concerned city authorities regarding endangering the welfare of minors.
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