MDF, or Medium Density Fiberboard, MDF furniture is generally considered safe; however there are several things you should be aware of. MDF is made from wood fibers that are glued under heat and pressure. It can be found in cabinets, wallboard, and speakers. You can purchase it yourself and this is where some of the real dangers arise.
The major concern when dealing with MDF furniture is in the resin used to bind the fibers. Urea formaldehyde is the primary binder used when manufacturing MDF furniture. Formaldehyde will leak from the surface for the life of the board if it’s not properly sealed. Some MDF furniture will use even stronger glues like phenol formaldehyde.
