Was talking to my workmate today and mentioned that I'd used MDF (medium density fibreboard) for the bed in my van and he immediately recalled seeing two people getting a grilling on site, for cutting up a sheet of MDF in the middle of a workshop. Apparently its on par of danger with asbestos.

After a brief search on the interweb it appears that the bosses fears may not be entirley unfounded. if the interweb is to be believed, they use Urea formaldehyde in the resin they glue it together with. This wonderful substance is great for preserving organic material, and is also apparently carcinogenic.

The immediate problem (like asbestos) comes when you cut/break it releasing fibres into the air. The other problem is that it continually releases formaldehyde as the resin degrades slowly, the whole process is made worse by a hot, enclosed environment (like a hot van)

SOooooo, anyone know of some form of sheeting with great strength/stiffness to weight properties, sorta like MDF but not MDF? (just so you know, they use those same formaldehyde resins to glue plywood together, so thats out too) Or am I just being a wuss?

Chemtrails...... Nibiru is coming......... BLAH