Formaldehyde is a flammable, colorless, volatile compound with a pungent odor. Formaldehyde has a wide range of uses, such as furniture, building materials, resins, cosmetics, medical antimicrobial agents, disinfectants, and tissue specimen preservatives. However, it is carcinogenic to humans and has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).

Ways to contact formaldehyde in life

Formaldehyde is a very representative indoor organic pollutant that can exist for a long time in indoor spaces. Therefore, newly built houses or furniture may cause us to be exposed to formaldehyde. It is also a combustion product found in tobacco smoke, and it is also harmful to the human body when using gas stoves, wood stoves, and kerosene heaters in a closed environment. In addition, another major source of formaldehyde exposure is cosmetics (78%). Hidden formaldehyde has been detected in cosmetics before, that is, formaldehyde in products that do not contain formaldehyde releasers. Medical or researchers who have long-term contact with laboratory tissue specimens also have a certain exposure risk.

Consequences of Formaldehyde Exposure

Irritation

Formaldehyde can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, even at low levels for short periods of time. Longer exposures or higher doses can cause coughing or choking. Severe exposures can cause throat swelling or death from chemical burns to the lungs.

DNA Damage

Humans can be exposed to exogenous formaldehyde, but formaldehyde is also a byproduct of cellular metabolism. Because formaldehyde can react with DNA, it is considered the primary endogenous source of DNA damage.

Contact Allergy Dermatitis

Formaldehyde is an important contact sensitizer. Contact allergies to both formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents remain common. In addition, contact allergies to formaldehyde-releasing agents almost always occur simultaneously with another formaldehyde-releasing agent. Formaldehyde is commonly found in personal products used by those with formaldehyde allergies. Free formaldehyde levels of 200-300 p.p.m. in cosmetics have been shown to induce dermatitis with short-term use on normal skin.

Carcinogenicity

Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that formaldehyde can cause myeloid leukemia and rare cancers, including sinus cancer, nasal cancer, and nasopharyngeal cancer.

References:

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