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Indoor Air in Homes Often Contaminated with Formaldehyde
Indoor Air in Homes Often Contaminated with Formaldehyde from Building Materials
Source: Natural News Author: Mike Adams
Many consumers may not be aware that formaldehyde, a toxin and carcinogen commonly used in the embalming
process, is also one of the most common ingredients in many materials that make up a normal home. As a result,
many household items -- from furniture to bed sheets -- emit formaldehyde fumes that are harmful to the health
of families and children.
Formaldehyde may be best known for its use as a tissue preservative, such as in the preservation of animals for
dissection in schools. It is the chemical's very toxic nature that makes it such an effective preservative: it quickly
kills bacteria or fungi that might otherwise begin the process of decomposition. But formaldehyde is also an
ingredient in a wide variety of resins used to make permanent adhesives for plywood and carpeting, causing it to
be present in furniture and building materials (particularly those made with pressed wood products) and certain
molded plastics.
Formaldehyde resins are used to make textiles crease-resistant and can be found in everything from curtains to
sheets and clothing. These resins are also used in dishwashing liquids, fabric softeners, carpet cleaners, glues,
cardboard and paper products (including wallpaper) and certain latex paints. They are also used in products
intended to be used on the body, such as cosmetics (including nail polish and nail hardener) and paper products
(facial tissues, napkins and paper towels).
All of these products outgas small quantities of formaldehyde, as do certain insulating foams that are no longer
in use in new home construction but that may be present in older homes. Burning of most materials also releases
formaldehyde, so fireplaces, wood stoves and smoking can also be a source of indoor formaldehyde.
All Buildings Are Contaminated with Formaldehyde
According to Canada's health agency, Health Canada, all buildings in Canada (and presumably the industrialized
world) contain low levels of formaldehyde. The agency conducted a study in 2002 and 2003 to measure levels of
the contaminant in homes in Ottawa and Prince Edward Island, and found them to vary between 2 and 81 parts
per billion (ppb).
Formaldehyde is highly toxic in high concentrations -- such as those that might result from a workplace accident
-- and carcinogenic in smaller doses. Even in doses below those considered safe for cancer risk, the chemical is
still a potent irritant and allergen that can lead to serious health problems.
In toxic concentrations (25,000 ppb or higher), formaldehyde can severely irritate the upper respiratory tract,
potentially leading to a swelling or fluid accumulation in the lungs known as pulmonary edema. These symptoms
may not manifest until hours after exposure, but can be potentially fatal due to oxygen deprivation. This is not a
hazard in normal household exposure, but can be a risk for workers in factories or other workplaces that use
formaldehyde.
Cancer and Asthma
Formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer of the nasal tract in humans and laboratory animals and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the substance as a carcinogen (although the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stops short of this, saying only that such an effect is "probable").
According to Health Canada, carcinogenic effects have been detected only at concentrations of thousands of
parts per billion, but the International Labor Organization has set 300 ppb as the maximum safe exposure at any
given time.
Even at the low concentrations found in the average home, formaldehyde can cause potentially serious
symptoms. At concentrations above 50 ppb, formaldehyde can irritate the ear, nose and throat. Exposure to
such concentrations over time increases the risk of developing asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing and
coughing. At concentrations above 100 ppb, formaldehyde exposure can cause watery eyes, headaches, a
burning throat and difficulty breathing, even triggering an asthma attack.
Although there is some controversy about what levels of formaldehyde are most likely to produce serious health
symptoms and most homes have concentrations far below the danger threshold, Health Canada still
recommends that people reduce their formaldehyde exposure. The EPA has set 16 ppb as the maximum
allowable concentration in building to be constructed for the agency.
Health Canada recommends that those wishing to limit their formaldehyde exposure prohibit any smoking in their
home, and that they keep all wood-burning appliances well maintained. Fireplaces and wood stoves should be
inspected regularly to make sure that no smoke is leaking into the house. Consumers should avoid running any
kind of engine near their home, even in a garage or workshop that is attached to the house. Exhaust from
automobiles, lawnmowers and other combustion engines contains not only formaldehyde, but other toxic
chemicals as well.
Good ventilation will help keep the air in a home safer, particularly if any formaldehyde-containing products are
in use. Keeping the humidity low will slow the rate at which such products expel the chemical.
Consumers who decide to buy items made out of fiberboard or particleboard should choose those that are
coated with plastic laminate on all sides, or should seal off any still-open sides to prevent formaldehyde from
seeping out. The agency recommends shopping for products made without formaldehyde-containing glues.
(That's my recommendation as well: Don't buy particleboard furniture at all!)
Finally, all crease-free (permanent press) fabrics, including sheets and clothing, should be washed and aired out
before the first use -- or ideally, even before bringing them into the house.
Although formaldehyde gas is colorless, it has a sharp and distinctive odor at high concentrations. Lower
concentrations, however, are unlikely to be obviously noticeable. Those concerned about formaldehyde
concentrations in their home, school or workplace can buy home testing kits online or from certain distributors.
Formaldehyde in Diet Soda
Now that you've learned about all the health risks associated with formaldehyde, would you be surprised to learn
that millions of consumers are actually drinking it? It's true: Formaldehyde is one of the chemical byproducts of
aspartame breakdown in soft drinks. When diet sodas are stored at higher temperature (generally over 95
degrees F), the chemical sweetener aspartame begins to break down, forming small amounts of formaldehyde
right in the soda can. When this chemical is swallowed by consumers, it becomes a potent neurotoxin.
This explains why aspartame is currently responsible for 75% of all consumer complaints to the FDA. It also
explains why diet sodas are linked to seizures, blindness, fuzzy vision, headaches and other neurological
disorders.
Want to be healthy? Don't drink formaldehyde. And don't inhale it, either.
Source: Natural News Author: Mike Adams
Many consumers may not be aware that formaldehyde, a toxin and carcinogen commonly used in the embalming
process, is also one of the most common ingredients in many materials that make up a normal home. As a result,
many household items -- from furniture to bed sheets -- emit formaldehyde fumes that are harmful to the health
of families and children.
Formaldehyde may be best known for its use as a tissue preservative, such as in the preservation of animals for
dissection in schools. It is the chemical's very toxic nature that makes it such an effective preservative: it quickly
kills bacteria or fungi that might otherwise begin the process of decomposition. But formaldehyde is also an
ingredient in a wide variety of resins used to make permanent adhesives for plywood and carpeting, causing it to
be present in furniture and building materials (particularly those made with pressed wood products) and certain
molded plastics.
Formaldehyde resins are used to make textiles crease-resistant and can be found in everything from curtains to
sheets and clothing. These resins are also used in dishwashing liquids, fabric softeners, carpet cleaners, glues,
cardboard and paper products (including wallpaper) and certain latex paints. They are also used in products
intended to be used on the body, such as cosmetics (including nail polish and nail hardener) and paper products
(facial tissues, napkins and paper towels).
All of these products outgas small quantities of formaldehyde, as do certain insulating foams that are no longer
in use in new home construction but that may be present in older homes. Burning of most materials also releases
formaldehyde, so fireplaces, wood stoves and smoking can also be a source of indoor formaldehyde.
All Buildings Are Contaminated with Formaldehyde
According to Canada's health agency, Health Canada, all buildings in Canada (and presumably the industrialized
world) contain low levels of formaldehyde. The agency conducted a study in 2002 and 2003 to measure levels of
the contaminant in homes in Ottawa and Prince Edward Island, and found them to vary between 2 and 81 parts
per billion (ppb).
Formaldehyde is highly toxic in high concentrations -- such as those that might result from a workplace accident
-- and carcinogenic in smaller doses. Even in doses below those considered safe for cancer risk, the chemical is
still a potent irritant and allergen that can lead to serious health problems.
In toxic concentrations (25,000 ppb or higher), formaldehyde can severely irritate the upper respiratory tract,
potentially leading to a swelling or fluid accumulation in the lungs known as pulmonary edema. These symptoms
may not manifest until hours after exposure, but can be potentially fatal due to oxygen deprivation. This is not a
hazard in normal household exposure, but can be a risk for workers in factories or other workplaces that use
formaldehyde.
Cancer and Asthma
Formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer of the nasal tract in humans and laboratory animals and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the substance as a carcinogen (although the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stops short of this, saying only that such an effect is "probable").
According to Health Canada, carcinogenic effects have been detected only at concentrations of thousands of
parts per billion, but the International Labor Organization has set 300 ppb as the maximum safe exposure at any
given time.
Even at the low concentrations found in the average home, formaldehyde can cause potentially serious
symptoms. At concentrations above 50 ppb, formaldehyde can irritate the ear, nose and throat. Exposure to
such concentrations over time increases the risk of developing asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing and
coughing. At concentrations above 100 ppb, formaldehyde exposure can cause watery eyes, headaches, a
burning throat and difficulty breathing, even triggering an asthma attack.
Although there is some controversy about what levels of formaldehyde are most likely to produce serious health
symptoms and most homes have concentrations far below the danger threshold, Health Canada still
recommends that people reduce their formaldehyde exposure. The EPA has set 16 ppb as the maximum
allowable concentration in building to be constructed for the agency.
Health Canada recommends that those wishing to limit their formaldehyde exposure prohibit any smoking in their
home, and that they keep all wood-burning appliances well maintained. Fireplaces and wood stoves should be
inspected regularly to make sure that no smoke is leaking into the house. Consumers should avoid running any
kind of engine near their home, even in a garage or workshop that is attached to the house. Exhaust from
automobiles, lawnmowers and other combustion engines contains not only formaldehyde, but other toxic
chemicals as well.
Good ventilation will help keep the air in a home safer, particularly if any formaldehyde-containing products are
in use. Keeping the humidity low will slow the rate at which such products expel the chemical.
Consumers who decide to buy items made out of fiberboard or particleboard should choose those that are
coated with plastic laminate on all sides, or should seal off any still-open sides to prevent formaldehyde from
seeping out. The agency recommends shopping for products made without formaldehyde-containing glues.
(That's my recommendation as well: Don't buy particleboard furniture at all!)
Finally, all crease-free (permanent press) fabrics, including sheets and clothing, should be washed and aired out
before the first use -- or ideally, even before bringing them into the house.
Although formaldehyde gas is colorless, it has a sharp and distinctive odor at high concentrations. Lower
concentrations, however, are unlikely to be obviously noticeable. Those concerned about formaldehyde
concentrations in their home, school or workplace can buy home testing kits online or from certain distributors.
Formaldehyde in Diet Soda
Now that you've learned about all the health risks associated with formaldehyde, would you be surprised to learn
that millions of consumers are actually drinking it? It's true: Formaldehyde is one of the chemical byproducts of
aspartame breakdown in soft drinks. When diet sodas are stored at higher temperature (generally over 95
degrees F), the chemical sweetener aspartame begins to break down, forming small amounts of formaldehyde
right in the soda can. When this chemical is swallowed by consumers, it becomes a potent neurotoxin.
This explains why aspartame is currently responsible for 75% of all consumer complaints to the FDA. It also
explains why diet sodas are linked to seizures, blindness, fuzzy vision, headaches and other neurological
disorders.
Want to be healthy? Don't drink formaldehyde. And don't inhale it, either.