We have found that acetaldehyde, a probable human carcinogen, is produced from wood through reaction with ethanol. Alcohols are increasingly being used in houses and buildings for cleaning purposes. Acetaldehyde emission from solid wood has been attributed to ethanol acidification by enzymes such as ethanol dehydrogenase. Heating could inactivate these enzymes. In this study, the effects of heating and ethanol on acetaldehyde emission from solid wood were investigated. Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) green wood was used. Specimens of heartwood and sapwood with dimensions of 20 x 20 x 10 mm were prepared, and then dried at 28, 90, and 150 ºC for different treatment times. After treatment, ethanol was added to half of each specimen. Each specimen was then put in a syringe, and placed in an oven at 30 ºC for 24 h. The air in the syringe was sampled, and the amount of acetaldehyde was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Significant acetaldehyde production was observed only when ethanol was dropped onto the wood. Experiments clarified that specimens dried at higher temperatures and for longer times emitted lower amounts of acetaldehyde.

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