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Formaldehyde exposure can cause burning eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, nausea, and skin irritation. It is found in building materials, personal care products, and cigarette smoke. Allergy testing is recommended, but avoiding exposure is best. Formaldehyde is linked to cancer.
The effects of formaldehyde include a burning sensation in the eyes, nose and throat which may be accompanied by coughing, sneezing, wheezing, nausea and watery eyes. These signs and symptoms are experienced to varying degrees depending on how sensitive a person is to exposure to formaldehyde. Other effects of formaldehyde include skin irritation, vomiting, severe pain in various parts of the body, and the manifestation of signs and symptoms of having consumed enough alcohol to cause intoxication.
The effects of formaldehyde experienced might differ slightly based on the form an individual is exposed to. For example, in its original state, formaldehyde is a colorless gas with an odor strong enough to cause suffocation, but the gas is commonly mixed with an alcohol to produce a liquid form known as formalin. Specific exposure to the gas causes burns to the eyes, nose and throat because the mucous membranes are irritated, and exposure to formalin usually causes vomiting and severe pain.
People experiencing the effects of formaldehyde are generally advised to suspect possible exposure to it, as the substance is found in a wide variety of products. Building materials, especially pressed wood products such as particle board used to make furniture, wall paneling and countertops, may contain formaldehyde. A number of personal care products such as cosmetics, products made from plastic or paper, many fertilizers and chemical dyes such as hair coloring can also cause formaldehyde effects. This is why the instructions on hair dye packages usually recommend doing an allergy test before dyeing your hair. If the user has an allergy to formaldehyde, they may have an allergic reaction to the cosmetic containing it.
Some people don’t believe in conducting formaldehyde allergy testing, but rather in avoiding the toxic substance entirely, whether or not a person is sensitive to it. Lab mice that were exposed to formaldehyde developed cancer, particularly nasal cancer, and studies have shown that anatomists, embalmers and other workers in the funeral industry have a high risk of developing leukemia and lung cancer. Cancer of the nasopharynx is also on the list of effects of formaldehyde.
A knowledge of the sources of formaldehyde exposure or emission is very helpful in reducing the likelihood of formaldehyde effects. Cigarette smoke is poisonous and carcinogenic in part because it contains substances such as formaldehyde and significantly deteriorates indoor air quality. To completely eliminate this source, smoking and secondhand smoke should be avoided indoors or outdoors. People who suspect they may be exposed to formaldehyde at home should contact their local health department or government health agency.
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