Plywood is an all-purpose building material. It can be found in everything from furniture to cabinets to flooring.
And some types of specially graded ply sheets can even be used for exterior construction.
But plywood versatility isn’t everything when it comes to pet safety. And infused in those sheets of ply are chemicals you may not want anywhere near your pets.
So, in this post, you’ll find out what chemicals go into the manufacture of plywood. You’ll also learn why those chemicals can be harmful to rats.
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What Is Plywood Actually Made Of?
Well, plywood is an engineered material, which means that it isn’t a natural wood.
Instead, plywood is made up of multiple thin wooden plies. And those plies are placed atop one another, at alternating angles.
However, the specific wood used to make plywood can vary widely. Various types of wood, from Douglas Fir to Maple to Birch, have been used to make this material.
Still, one thing all plywood sheets have in common, is the fact that an adhesive is used to make them. And when it comes to a typical plywood sheet, that adhesive will contain formaldehyde resins called ‘phenol-formaldehyde’.
Related Post: Can You Put Danish Oil On Birch Plywood? (What You Really Need To Know)
And Why Is Phenol-Formaldehyde Adhesives So Toxic?
It all boils down to the fact that formaldehyde itself is incredibly dangerous. If it is ingested in large enough amounts, it is poisonous — both to humans and rats.
Even formaldehyde vapor can cause severe respiratory problems. And in liquid form, it can burn our skin.
Does That Mean Plywood Can Release Toxic Fumes?
Solvent-based substances, (such as glues and paint), all go through something called ‘off-gassing’. Off-gassing refers to the fumes released from finishes, glues, and paint, as they dry.
It can take just a few hours for wood glues or paints to dry to the touch. However — as anyone who has painted a room can attest — it can take weeks for the fumes to clear up.
And the same goes for phenol-formaldehyde based glues. It can take up to 24 months for this glue to stop releasing significant amounts of fumes into the air.
Nevertheless, store-bought plywood will have already had time to sit and dry out. Which means that formaldehyde off-gassing shouldn’t be all that severe with this plywood.
But, even if off-gassing isn’t an issue, ingesting any plywood at all can still harm your pets. Why? Well because…
…Treated Plywood Is Full Of Chemicals
Plywood is not rot-resistant. So, more often than not, a sheet of plywood will have been ‘treated’ with rot-resisting chemicals.
And these chemicals are anti-fungal wood preservatives. Their job involves fighting off the bacteria responsible for wood rot.
However, the chemicals infused into treated plywood — such as Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) — are toxic. Certainly much too toxic to risk being ingested by rats.
Now, having said all that, you can still find and purchase untreated plywood.
But, without a wood preserving chemical treatment, untreated plywood will rot away fairly quickly. Especially if moisture or humidity gets into it.
Related Post: How To Dry Pressure Treated Wood (Quickly And Without Warping)
Is There A Formaldehyde-Free Plywood I Can Use Instead?
There are certain specialized formaldehyde-free plywoods you can buy. And they are marked as NAF (No Added Formaldehyde) Plywood.
These plywood sheets are glued together using a natural-alternative adhesive, instead of formaldehyde-based glues.
That’s Great! So, I Can Use NAF Plywood Instead, Right?
Not quite.
Sure, NAF Plywood completely does away with toxic wood glues. But, it replaces them with a soy-based adhesive instead.
Which is great news, until you realize that Soy contains something called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are plant-based compounds, but they can cause hormone imbalances in both humans and rats.
So, if your pet likes to chew on wood — and you suspect they may also chew that plywood — then this is another possible safety risk.
Now, maybe this is all acting with an over-abundance of caution. Maybe avoiding even NAF plywood is simply being a little too careful.
But, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, when it comes to pet safety.
Can Rats Really Chew Through Plywood? Rats can easily chew through plywood. In fact, rats can chew through a range of solid materials, such as plastic, solid wood, and even aluminum.
So Does That Mean Plywood Is Not Safe For Rats?
Well, the safest type of wood you can use is always going to be untreated natural solid wood. What’s more, that wood must come from a tree species that isn’t harmful to rats.
Which means that plywood is not a wholly rat-safe material.
In fact, you can go one step further and avoid all manufactured woods — since they often contain toxic chemical glues.
Related Post: Just What Is Manufactured Wood Anyway?
To Wrap Up, Here Are The 3 Key Takeaways From This Post…
- 1). Plywood is a manufactured wood, often made using formaldehyde-based glues.
- 2). Plywood also tends to be treated with chemical wood preservatives.
- 3). When it comes to the health of our pets, it’s better to be safe than sorry. So, avoid using plywood altogether.
References:
Treated Wood In The Landscape | Home & Garden Information Center
The pros and cons of phytoestrogens | National Library of Medicine
Soy and phytoestrogens | National Library of Medicine
