MDF Toxic For Rabbits!

On another thread MDF(Medium-Density Fiberboard) was mentioned. The manufacturing
of this commonly used wood product involves bonding the wood fibers together with a
formaldehyde resin. Formaldehyde is a known human carcinogen. When one cuts this
product it must be used in an open/ventilated area or a respirator mask must be worn.

Here in the USA it is used in almost all types of construction. Homes are full of it. And
because of the formaldehyde component it produces highly toxic fumes that are respon-
sible for a number of deaths each year. It poses a problem for fire-fighters and EMT
workers. Respirator masks must be worn to protect from the fumes.

MDF has many faces. Common uses are peg board and roofing.(the board under the shingles)
here are are some pictures.




When working with this product, the dust created by cutting it easily inhaled causing
cancer of the nasal sinus cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer, and possibly with leukemia.

Bunnies eating a formaldehyde resin containing product would be very bad indeed.

i never knew that
thanks holly it's amazing they arre allowed to use such products.
firtunately i don't thinkwe have any apart from in our loft.

The guys in b&Q told us about this. We almost chose it for a gerbil tank lid and they said they hate to cut it, when we asked why they told us that it was carcinogenic!

We told them it was for a gerbil tank, so now we have some naff looking chip board, but at least its not going to kill indy if he chews on it!...but now im slightly worried, because the stuff we have looks like the first picture!

marleyNfriends wrote:The guys in b&Q told us about this. We almost chose it for a gerbil tank lid and they said they hate to cut it, when we asked why they told us that it was carcinogenic!

We told them it was for a gerbil tank, so now we have some naff looking chip board, but at least its not going to kill indy if he chews on it!...but now im slightly worried, because the stuff we have looks like the first picture!

Same here Sophia. I made two wooden floor shelves for my chinchilla's cage out of chipboard, but it bares a scary resemblance to the first picture. Ours came from B&Q also

My god I had no idea!! I wonder if my OH knows this.
Luckily we don't have any here. Phew. But I'll be paranoid when OH has to go cutting it since he's a carpenter!

FluffSlave wrote:

marleyNfriends wrote:The guys in b&Q told us about this. We almost chose it for a gerbil tank lid and they said they hate to cut it, when we asked why they told us that it was carcinogenic!

We told them it was for a gerbil tank, so now we have some naff looking chip board, but at least its not going to kill indy if he chews on it!...but now im slightly worried, because the stuff we have looks like the first picture!

Same here Sophia. I made two wooden floor shelves for my chinchilla's cage out of chipboard, but it bares a scary resemblance to the first picture. Ours came from B&Q also

What is the chip board glued together with? It could be the same stuff as the MDF?

Vince the bunny wrote:

FluffSlave wrote:

marleyNfriends wrote:The guys in b&Q told us about this. We almost chose it for a gerbil tank lid and they said they hate to cut it, when we asked why they told us that it was carcinogenic!

We told them it was for a gerbil tank, so now we have some naff looking chip board, but at least its not going to kill indy if he chews on it!...but now im slightly worried, because the stuff we have looks like the first picture!

Same here Sophia. I made two wooden floor shelves for my chinchilla's cage out of chipboard, but it bares a scary resemblance to the first picture. Ours came from B&Q also

What is the chip board glued together with? It could be the same stuff as the MDF?

I'm not sure what the chipboard is glued together with. However, it is a completely flat surface and so they could not chomp on it anyway. My main concern was that it was, like you said, holding the same material as MDF in which case it would be extremely dangerous, but they've been on it for almost a year now without any issues so I'd say it's fairly safe. As well as the fact I'm not sure B&Q would sell the chipboard as readily as they did to us without warning us if it held the same stuff. Just a bit of a worry

Chipboard (or particle board) can also release formaldehyde and generally contains quite a mix of chemicals, but I've never heard the same warnings about it as MDF so whether it tends to release them in the same quantities or not....?

I guess as a principle, it's best to only let your buns chew on untreated wood or that with animal-friendly (or child-safe) coatings.

Oh, that's slightly worrying Sparky. Still, the alternative is to put the plastic shelves back into my chinchilla's cage which they were able to chew on because they had a lip on them and therefore the chins were ingesting plastic. Not the best.

Hmm. The reason we went for chipboard is because the untreated pine would have cost a bomb for the amount we needed... We will have to see, but at the moment I have two very healthy, happy chins who don't seem at all affected and are unable to chomp on it. They live in the spare room with the guinea pigs who are also perfectly healthy, so I doubt any harm has been done.

But it's still good to know for future reference!

Are they actually chewing it? I would imagine that is what would cause it to give off fumes. If it is undisturbed, then once the fumes have dispersed from the cut surfaces, I can't see any reason why any more should then be generated....

Chipboard is not as dangerous as MDF, chipboard mainly uses water-based glues these days. Buns are unlikely to chew chipboard anyway. However,MDF and hardboard are more likely to be chewed and would prove fatal in large quantities. They should be completely avoided at all costs.

No Sparky, the chins aren't chewing on it. It is the flooring in their cage and therefore is a totally flat surface and they can't chew it. My thoughts exactly re: the release of the chemical only through chewing...

I would never give any of my animals anything but untreated and safe wood to chew on. All of their chew toys are completely natural