Workers exposed to formaldehyde (e.B clothing or furniture manufacturers and laboratory workers) are exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general population. Try these simple tips to reduce your exposure to formaldehyde: Studies of workers exposed to airborne formaldehyde have revealed more cases of cancer than expected. Based on human and animal studies, international authorities have found that there is sufficient evidence that formaldehyde is carcinogenic (carcinogenic) to humans at sufficiently high doses and with long periods of exposure (many years). Safe Work Australia sets the standard for formaldehyde exposure in the workplace through the Occupational Exposure Standards for airborne contaminants: there is no evidence that formaldehyde causes birth defects in humans or that formaldehyde ingested by the mother can be transmitted to the baby through the placenta or into breast milk. The main toxic effects caused by acute exposure to formaldehyde by inhalation are irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and effects on the nasal cavity. Other effects seen when exposed to high levels of formaldehyde in humans include coughing, wheezing, chest pain, and bronchitis. For more information on formaldehyde, please contact SA Health`s scientific services on DLHealthPublicHealthServices@sa.gov.au. The main industrial sources include production facilities that produce or use formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing substances. Mining, the wood and paper industry, and power supply produce the most formaldehyde. Catalytic cracking, coking processes and fuel combustion sources such as boilers, furnaces and engines in manufacturing processes also produce formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is contained in urea-formaldehyde and phenol-formaldehyde resins and copper-coated solutions. The National Pollutant Inventory (NIS) contains data on all sources of formaldehyde emissions in Australia. Consumer products that contain low levels of formaldehyde include: Since exposures from many sources can occur in our daily lives, every effort should be made to minimize unnecessary exposure to formaldehyde for you and your family, if possible, to reduce the risk of health effects and hypersensitivity. Formaldehyde and its derivatives are found in a variety of consumer products, where it is used as a preservative to protect against bacteria and mold deterioration. Product types include: Formaldehyde dissolves easily in water and eventually breaks down. In air, formaldehyde breaks down relatively quickly (within 24 hours) to form formic acid and carbon monoxide. Formaldehyde does not accumulate in plants and animals. Formaldehyde does not persist in the environment for long. When present in air, most of it is broken down into molecular hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
When formaldehyde is present in water, it is quickly converted to glycol. Formaldehyde is not commonly found in soil, although it has been measured in soils near production sites where phenol/formaldehyde resins are used. In pure form, formaldehyde is a gas, but is often used in liquid form after dilution with water. It is a colorless, highly flammable liquid or gas with a pungent odor detectable at 1 part per million (ppm). Formaldehyde mixes with water, acetone, benzene, diethyl ether, chloroform and ethanol. Formaldehyde is slightly persistent in water, with a half-life of 2 to 20 days. About 99% of the formaldehyde emitted ends up in the air and the rest in the water. Formaldehyde can also form as a result of photochemical reactions between other chemicals in already polluted air. These reactions may be responsible for most of the formaldehyde in the air in some areas. Formaldehyde can be present in adhesives, fiberboard, particleboard, furniture, textiles, and some insulation.
Formaldehyde-based resins are used in pressed wood, permanent pressed materials (clothing, manchester, curtains), wallpaper, paints, shopping bags and waxed paper. Detergents, cosmetics and other household chemicals (shampoos, hair conditioners and bubble baths) contain formaldehyde as an antimicrobial agent. Cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products also contain formaldehyde. Indoor formaldehyde concentrations are generally higher than outdoors due to the relatively low ventilation rate indoors. There is also a higher use of products indoors, such as building materials, consumer goods and fabrics that can emit formaldehyde, and other potential sources of formaldehyde, such as burning gas used in cooking and cooling. Opening windows and using fans are the easiest ways to reduce formaldehyde levels in a home. Synonyms: Formalin, Methylene Oxide, Methylaldehyde, Methanal, HCHO, Antaldehyde, Oxomethane, Formalin, Formalin, Formol, Oxymethylene, Morbicide, Veracur, Methylene Glycol, Formalin 40, BFV, Fannoform, Formalith, FYDE, HOCH, Karsan, Lysoform, Superlysoform, Methane 21, Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin. Formaldehyde, in concentrations commonly found in consumer products, can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
These sensory irritations are usually described as itching, pain or burning sensations. At concentrations higher than those associated with sensory irritation, formaldehyde may contribute to small reversible effects on lung function. It is also possible to eat or drink products contaminated with formaldehyde or containing formaldehyde, or to be exposed through skin contact through cosmetics or consumer goods. Formaldehyde is soluble in water and is rapidly metabolized in the body when you breathe, drink or eat. Very small amounts can also be absorbed through your skin. The health effects caused by exposure mainly affect organs in the body that come into contact with formaldehyde, such as the eyes, lungs, mouth and skin. Formaldehyde is also called methanal or formalin, it is produced by oxidation of methanol. It consists of 37% formaldehyde and impurities such as methanol, small amounts of formic acid, aldehydes and ketones. It is used as a denaturant in formaldehyde-agarose gel electrophoresis of RNA.
Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals are used as flame retardants and for wrinkle resistance in textiles and as binders in textile printing. Press resins containing formaldehyde or permanent press have been used in cotton and cotton-polyester fabrics since the mid-1920s to minimize wrinkles when worn and washed. Manchester and clothing containing formaldehyde-releasing chemicals can release moderate amounts of formaldehyde into the air, which can become more noticeable the first time the packaging is removed from new items. Formaldehyde can also be inhaled when wearing new clothing that releases the gas. In 2004, the National Commission for Occupational Health and Safety classified formaldehyde as a potential carcinogen (when inhaled). A carcinogen is a chemical that can cause cancer. Chronic effects in animals can include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behavior. .