We don't have an IKEA kitchen and I have heard mixed reports about them, one thing I do like about IKEA that they are reducing their use of toxic chemicals in their products. They don't use formaldehyde in their kitchen cabinets.
Formaldehyde off-gassing is a huge indoor air quality issue. It is a suspected carcinogen and has been linked to learning disorders in children. The biggest formaldehyde offender is particleboard and paints & finishes. It is currently used in thousands of products as an adhesive, bonding agent and solvent. In order to reduce emissions in the home specify a formaldehyde free MDF or plywood as well as low VOC paints & finishes. Unfortunately they can be a bit more expensive. If your budget does not allow for formaldehyde free MDF or plywood then the best ways to lower the level of formaldehyde in your home is to:
* Allow products to off-gas: Before bringing any formaldehyde-containing products into your home, allow them to off-gas outside the home. Leave the new products in your garage or ask the manufacturer to leave the product unsealed in the warehouse for a few days.
* Ventilate: By increasing ventilation you can lower the concentration of formaldehyde. This may be accomplished by opening windows or bringing in fresh air through a central ventilation system. Fans can be used to circulate the fresh air.
* Control the climate: Formaldehyde is water soluble and reacts to temperature changes. This means that as the temperature and humidity go up so does the amount of formaldehyde released from a product. By keeping the temperature and humidity low, you can decrease the amount of formaldehyde off-gassing into the air.