Formaldehyde (aka methanal, methylene oxide, oxymethylene, methylaldehyde, oxomethane) is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature. It includes a sharp, distinct odor which may cause a burning sensation to the eyes, nose, and lungs. Formaldehyde can react with numerous other chemicals, and at very good temperatures, it’ll break up into a mix of wood alcohol and carbon monoxide. Whilst it is harmless when it is naturally stated in really small amounts in our bodies, it may also be within the air that individuals breathe at home and at the job (ie smog, car exhaust, tobacco, gas cookers, open fireplaces, fertilizers, latex, leather, paper, plywood, and in manufactured wood products), in the food we eat (ie preservatives), and in certain products that individuals put on our skin (ie antiseptics, medicines, cosmetics, dish-washing liquids, fabric softeners, shoe-care agents, carpet cleaners, glues and adhesives, lacquers, paper, plastics, and some kinds of wood products). When formaldehyde is combined with methanol and buffers, it generates embalming fluid and it may also be used to preserve tissue specimens.

All the formaldehyde that you’re confronted with in the environmental surroundings is in the air. This usually breaks down through the day to make formic acid and carbon monoxide. This doesn’t seem to develop in plants, animals or water. However, you are confronted with small levels of formaldehyde in the air. This is especially true if you live in heavily populated suburban areas. Surprisingly though, there’s usually more formaldehyde present indoors than outdoors. This is because formaldehyde is released in to the air from many home products that you breathe in. The products include latex paint, fingernail hardener, and fingernail polish, antiseptics, medicines, dish-washing liquids, fabric softeners, shoe-care agents, carpet cleaners, glues, adhesives, and lacquers. Formaldehyde can also be within plywood and particle board, in addition to furniture and cabinets created from them, fiberglass products, new carpets, decorative laminates, and some permanent press fabrics, and some paper products (ie grocery bags and paper towels). Since these products contain formaldehyde, it’s also possible to be exposed during your skin by touching or to arrive direct experience of them. You may also come in contact with small levels of formaldehyde in the food you eat. Other home products that contain and emit formaldehyde include: household cleaners, carpet cleaners, disinfectants, cosmetics, medicines, fabric softeners, glues, lacquers, and antiseptics. You may also breathe formaldehyde if you utilize unvented gas or kerosene heaters indoors or in the event that you or someone else smokes tobacco indoors. It can also be interesting to notice that the total amount of formaldehyde in mobile homes and apartments is normally greater than it’s in conventional homes because of their lower air turnover.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 1,329,332 individuals in the United States experienced the prospect of occupational contact with formaldehyde. This is especially true if you’re a health care provider, 裝修後清潔 nurse, dentist, veterinarian, pathologist, embalmer, a worker in the clothing industry or in a furniture factory, a worker in a chemical plant, or if you’re a teacher or perhaps a student who handles preserved specimens in a laboratory.

There are many ways in which formaldehyde can enter the body, These generally include breathing it in, drinking or eating it, or having it enter into contact along with your skin. Formaldehyde is quickly absorbed from the nose and the upper part of your lungs. It can also be very quickly absorbed whenever it’s eaten or drank. Once absorbed, virtually every tissue within your body can very quickly break up formaldehyde in to a non-toxic chemical called formate, that will be excreted in the urine. Formaldehyde may also be changed into co2 and breathed from the body. Sometimes formaldehyde is even broken down so the body can put it to use to create larger molecules which are needed in your tissues. However, formaldehyde is never stored in fat.

Students are frequently confronted with formaldehyde through breathing it or by wearing some kinds of new clothes or cosmetics. Studies demonstrate that breathing formaldehyde in will result in nose and eye irritation (ie burning feeling, itchy, tearing, and sore throat) in children. It’s possible that the irritation occurs at lower concentrations in children than in adults. However, the good news (if there’s any to be found), is that formaldehyde will NOT cause birth defects in humans nor can it be within breast milk.

Whenever you enter into experience of formaldehyde you will usually have skin irritation. Obviously, some people are far more sensitive to the results of formaldehyde than other folks are (ie people with asthma are far more sensitive). The most frequent symptoms include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, alongside increased tearing. Other symptoms that occur with large levels of formaldehyde intake include severe pain, vomiting, coma, and possible death. Studies demonstrate that contact with large levels of formaldehyde also causes nose and throat cancer.

This provides a hardcore case for desiring to lower our contact with formaldehyde. Some ways in which to achieve this is by opening windows or using a fan to bring oxygen into your home. You should also try to eliminate as much formaldehyde sources as you can from your home. Including not smoking indoors (or not smoking at all) and not using unvented portable kerosene heaters. Obviously, formaldehyde can also be within small amounts in lots of consumer products. To reduce your contact with formaldehyde when using these products you should attempt to utilize them near a way to obtain fresh air. If this isn’t possible, then you definitely should at least make sure that you have a lot of ventilation when you’re using them. If you choose to buy a product that is made out of plywood or particle board, expose it to a lot of oxygen or make sure that it’s covered with plastic laminate or coated on all sides. When purchasing permanent press fabrics you should wash these new clothes when you wear them.