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Formaldehyde Foam Insulation
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation was widely used in the 1970s and early 1980s as a spray-in product to plug gaps around windows and doors and to insulate existing walls. This product was taken off of the residential market in the late 1980s due to health concerns over the toxicity of the insulation in high temperatures. Formaldehyde foam insulation, cured in place, looks something like dried butterscotch-colored styrofoam. This product should not be confused with more modern polyurethane insulation.
Identifying whether your home or the home you're considering buying has formaldehyde foam insulation in place is important so you can take steps to either remove the product or install vapor barriers such as aluminum foil to keep the fumes from the insulation from reaching your living space.