If you can get them at Ikea I wouldn't worry as they follow the European standards for off-gassing, which is much higher than ours.

How long have you had this smell? Did it just start or have you had this smell since Mid March after completed renovation? Is there a gas intake to heat water? Is there a problem with garbage disposal? Is the smell plastic, chemical or rotten food like? Does it smell like rotten eggs? I ask this odd question because of a program on NPR about drywall from China having sulfer. Sulfer destroys copper. It also emits a horrific rotten egg smell. Some drywall from China has sulfer in it's makeup causing serious illness in children. Here are some articles. ~boxerpups http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101037056 http://edition.cnn.com/2009/US/03/24/chinese.drywall/ By Jason Hanna CNN (CNN) -- Strontium sulfide, a material that can emit corrosive gases in moist air, was found at trace levels in testing of Chinese-made drywall, the Florida Department of Health said.The drywall samples gave off a sulfurous odor when heated, and in at least one case, sulfide gases corroded copper coils in an air conditioner of a Florida home containing Chinese drywall, said the department, which commissioned the study. But more testing is needed to determine whether strontium sulfide was causing the odor and contributing to the corrosion, the department said. And more tests are required to determine whether the drywall poses a threat to human health -- a process that probably will take at least several months, state toxicologist Dr. David Krause told reporters Monday. "It's very hard to predict when we'll have the answers [relating to possible health hazards]. ... We're moving as quickly as possible," Krause said. Concerns about Chinese-made drywall, which is suspected by some homeowners of ruining appliances and causing health problems, emerged in Florida last year but have transcended state lines, with class-action lawsuits alleging it has caused problems in at least three states: Florida, Louisiana and Alabama. The Florida Department of Health has received about 150 complaints, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says it is investigating the Florida allegations. Homeowners' lawsuits against certain manufacturers and suppliers contend the drywall has caused them to suffer health problems such as headaches and sore throats, and left them facing huge repair expenses. The drywall is alleged to emit sulfur-based gases that smell of rotten eggs and corrode piping and wiring, causing electronics and appliances to fail. The Florida Department of Health said complaints there generally involve homes built between 2004 and 2007, around the time a building boom and post-hurricane reconstruction caused a U.S. drywall shortage and spurred builders to use imports. (there is more to this story at the link.) Here is a link that might be useful: Drywall has material that can emit corrosive gas

Our cabinets are being built by a small local company in california that does "semi-custom" cabinetry. I requested formaldehyde-free materials, and while most of their products are of standard mdf or plywood construction, they do offer formaldehyde-free plywood construction (with low-voc finish) as an option - costs a bit extra though. I wonder if many other cabinet companies offer this as an option as well, even if they don't market themselves as "green"? I would call some of the local cabinetmakers in your area and just ask them if they offer a formaldehyde free option. Would be interesting.

I think your goal is unachievable if you are planning to implement any modern technologies in your house. All the filters include plastic parts, all the AC systems are favourite homes for dangerous bacteria, etc. Your perfect home would be a simple house with wooden/clay/stone walls and floors, large windows, natural ventilation and minimalist decor. You can implement some of these major features in your house, but I would not recommend waisting your time on small issues (for example, special eco-firendly grout or glue) if you cannot replace isolation of your walls with straw or moss or buy lead-free nails to keep your walls and roof from collapsing. Make a list of the most important objects and surfaces in your house, select high-quality natural materials, make sure they are installed properly, forget about everything else and enjoy your beautiful home.