Dutch health service calls for UF foam insulation ban after homes deemed unsafe
Dutch public health officials are calling for an immediate ban on UF foam insulation after investigations found dangerous levels of formaldehyde in homes across the Netherlands, forcing some residents to leave immediately and rendering others uninhabitable for years, according to findings broadcast by Zembla.
The Municipal Health Services, known as the GGD, documented health complaints at at least seven locations where UF foam—distinct from polyurethane spray foam—had been injected into cavity walls. The material contains formaldehyde, classified as a substance of very high concern because it is carcinogenic and can damage DNA. At multiple sites, measured concentrations were so high that GGD officials advised residents to leave their homes immediately.
Affected residents include tenants in Elst, Dalfsen, Dedemsvaart, Capelle aan de IJssel and Purmerend, as well as private homeowners in Oostzaan and Nieuwegein. In some cases, harmful emissions penetrated through walls into living spaces. Two apartment complexes in Dalfsen have stood empty for three years because formaldehyde levels remain too high. Elsewhere, residents were confined for months to only a few rooms because the rest of their homes were unsafe.
Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can cause shortness of breath, headaches and eczema. Long-term exposure is carcinogenic. “As far as the GGD is concerned, we should ban it now,” said Jeroen de Hartog, an environmental epidemiologist with GGD Utrecht, speaking on Zembla. He said the GGD has mapped a growing number of health complaints.
Ad Ragas, a professor of chemical risk analysis at Radboud University, also called for an immediate ban. Formaldehyde causes throat and nasal cancer and leukemia, he said, and is genotoxic, meaning it can damage DNA. “There is no dose that is absolutely safe,” Ragas said. “I would never in my life have my house insulated with UF foam.”
Zembla also examined why UF foam remains in use despite formaldehyde’s risks being known for decades. Internal documents from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport reportedly show senior civil servants considered banning the insulation as early as 1980 because of cancer risks. The Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning objected at the time, citing the high costs of replacing formaldehyde-containing building materials, including UF foam and particleboard. Unlike Canada, the Netherlands did not impose a ban.
UF foam was first used more than 50 years ago and was linked to health complaints even then, according to the investigation. Its use has increased in recent years as the government encourages retrofitting older homes for energy efficiency. The foam can be injected from outside into existing cavity walls, even when remnants of older insulation are present.
The Ministry of Housing and Spatial Planning told Zembla it is aware of both the current and historical problems and is awaiting the results of an ongoing GGD investigation.
The GGD advises residents who suspect UF foam in their homes to ventilate well. Those without health complaints do not need to act immediately, but anyone experiencing symptoms should contact the GGD, which can assess whether UF foam may be the cause.
