Part of our Chemicals of Concern series.
Why the chemical is considered of concern:
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—the United Nations authoritative research body on cancer—has classified as a “known carcinogen”, (i.e., a substance that causes cancer.) Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk of cancer among people regularly exposed to formaldehyde in the workplace. In addition, studies in rats have found that exposure to formaldehyde causes nasal cancer. IARC concluded in 2009 that formaldehyde causes leukemia in people.
The mildest symptom of over-exposure, especially for those with sensitive skin, is skin irritation. If breathed-in in small amounts, formaldehyde can cause burning and watering eyes. As levels increase, it can cause burning of the nose and throat, coughing, and difficulty in breathing.
Where it is most commonly found:
Because formaldehyde can be used for many purposes and is inexpensive, it’s a popular chemical that’s found in many everyday household products and building materials, and also has several industrial uses. Most of the settings in which formaldehyde is used (PDF) are outside our individual control or occur without our ability to know.
Plywood, particle board, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and other pressed/composite wood products that are commonly used to make furniture, cabinets, wall paneling, shelves, and counter tops are among the most common formaldehyde containing products to which consumers are exposed. Fortunately, President Obama signed into law last year a measure that sets stringent national air emission standards for formaldehyde in domestic and imported composite wood products. EPA is required to implement final regulations under this law by January 1, 2013. Although this law will help reduce formaldehyde emissions, it does not eliminate them and allows exemptions for many different types of building products.
There are still a number of other common household products that contain formaldehyde and fall outside of the upcoming policy. For example, carpeting, padding, and the adhesives used to install them also contain formaldehyde. Carpet is especially problematic as it is a sink for formaldehyde exposure. This is bad news for babies crawling on the floor! Recent news also revealed that formaldehyde is the secret to non-wrinkle clothing and easy care garments. And some household cleaners also contain this carcinogen.
Better regulation (i.e., TSCA reform) is the only systematic way to reduce the number of products containing formaldehyde and the chemical’s industrial uses on a large scale. We also need policies and regulations that require greater disclosure – both to EPA and to the public – as to how and where chemicals are used. Doing so would give EPA the complete picture it needs to understand where, how much, and how often consumers are exposed to chemicals like formaldehyde. Without such information, EPA cannot effectively impose restrictions when necessary to protect public health and the environment from chemical risks.
Formaldehyde is also a common ingredient in health and beauty products. Regulation of the chemical in these kinds of goods falls under FDA jurisdiction. Another piece of yet to be passed legislation – The Safer Cosmetics Act – works to address this use of formaldehyde.
Alternatives, substitute products/goods and other things you can do:
The most inexpensive and available furniture on the market today tends to be made of lower-grade wood products containing formaldehyde, although the situation should improve over time due to the passage of legislation in 2010 controlling these uses. The best option is to seek out solid wood options or “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products, which have lower emissions. And choose bare floors and area rugs over wall-to-wall carpeting.
If formaldehyde is prevalent in an indoor space because of building or other materials that can’t be easily removed, increasing air flow in the affected area, for example, by opening windows and doors, can help reduce formaldehyde concentrations in the air.
You can bake your house before moving in to help release some of the formaldehyde. You do this by turning up the heat as high as it will go and leave it that way for around 5 days (stay somewhere else while doing this). Then open all the windows for a couple of days to air out the house. It's even more effective if you can air it out on a windy day. In new houses you can really notice a big difference. When I did mine I was only able to bake it for 3 days, but even that was enough to get rid of a lot of the "new house smell."
Another thing to be careful of in personal care ingredients are formaldehyde donors. Many products have formaldehyde donors in them, but you won't find them on the ingredient list because they aren't ingredients that have been added. They are by products of the manufacturing process. The most common one is 1,4 dioxane. The Organic Consumers Union has a lot of great info on this and a list of products that contain it.
AFM Safecoat Carpet Seal is a product I have used in both of the newly carpeted homes I have moved into over the past 10 years. It's pretty easy to apply and makes huge reduction in the carpet smell – and resulting headaches.
An article from McClatchy News this week identifies some sources of formaldehyde that you can readily target. The article focuses more on items that fall under the Safer Cosmetics Act. http://www.latimes.com/classified/realestate/sns-home-dangerous-chemicals-products,0,1796421.story
You can test your home for levels for around $125 by purchasing/hanging air collection tubes and sending for lab analysis. There is no reason to 'guess' at your health risks or leave your physician without a detailed exposure history. The signs of formaldehyde poisoning are pretty specific and you can look around you at many possible sources. If the sources appear good candidates, you can verify that with lab tests.
SKC labs sells the equipment needed and you can select from among a range of labs for the analsysis (no financial interest).
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I was medically retired due to long time chemical exposure in the workplace-hospital NON-laboratory///formaldehyde was only one of the chemicals.. One would hope that that symptoms go away, once individual is no longer exposed…NOT SO-damage is done for life…
I to am injured by FORMALDEHYDE …before that dreadful day I purchased this handicapped van I was healthy and now my whole family is sick and I even lost mom recently to it. I can relate to you Diane Caso about it doesnt go away ever…he lingers in your tissues until your death. It adhears to the inside of your body everywhere and I am speaking first hand on this. I took care of my mom for the last 5 yrs since our exposure and drove her to and from the doctors and specialist and drove back and forth while she was in the hospital. But this last time her body could no longer fight and it just gave in. Her quality of life was gone and I knew I had to make that horrible decision to let her go. She is suffering no more… happy we hope with her love of her life of 65 yrs in heaven.
As for the legal limits of exposures is : 0.075 ppm which means pounds per min. I can tell you that all the testing for the past 5 yrs has been way over that reading. We rode in the handicapped custom van from May 2nd, 2006 till we started smelling the pungent smells and not knowing what it was and our handicapped son refusing to get into the van again…we knew something was really wrong but what??? We did not know what FORMALDEHYDE was back that then except when we learned of the exposure got upset becuase it is literally "embalming fluids" for perserving the body. Should never have been in the type of vehicle. Why would the EPA and Manufactors use this in a vehicle that most people are already vulnerable and immune systems damaged. But at usally the big manufactors make the big bucks and sell these expensive custom vans to innocent people with toxic poison in it. The EPA refused to help since it was not a house, trailer where you actually live in. The manufactor's and custom co stated " well if you lived up north it would not bother you …the smell and it would off gas and the smell would be gone? Well in the past several yrs up North has been hotter than Florida where we live and purchased it.
So anyone who thinks you have a pungent smell in your home or vehicle please do not think twice but get it tested by a industrial hygentist licensed or purchase badges at : chemical sensor Inc online ….they are about 40.00 including S/h and test results. We have used them for the past 5 yrs to help us find the and identiy this toxic poison and warn us not to ever enter the van again for safety reasons.
Hope this scares everyone enough to get your product tested if you think or smell pungent smells becuase it is already to late if you smell the pungent odor. You already exposed at higher levels than allowed.
any one want to talk send me email at :disabledsfcvet@aol.com and in subject put formaldehyde exposure story. So I will not delete it accidentially. I would love to help anyone to warn them about the dangers since the government wont.
A few years ago I'd have to pay someone for this ifnoramtoin.
My sensitivity to formaldehyde started over 20 years ago when I would run bills all day at work on carbonless paper, followed by deep aching all over and then a rash on my neck and upper body. It has progressed over the years due to exposures to particle board, new carpets, new furniture, etc, to where I now go into anaphylactic shock and head to the hospital. Unfortunately, the main manufacturer and main supporter of the formaldehyde industry is Koch Energy. They have billions and I just have a fight for my very life.
So sorry for your situations. No less, thank you for understanding the importance of sharing your stories and how they help others realize that our weak chemical regulation laws result in very big problems for everyday people.
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