Formaldehyde. By: Pedro and Phavady

What is it? Formaldehyde is a colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, flammable, strong-smelling chemical Used in building materials and to produce many household products It is in pressed-wood products, such as:  Particleboard, plywood, and fiberboard; glues and adhesives; permanent-press fabrics; & paper product coatings Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment It is produced in small amounts by most living organisms as part of normal metabolic processes

What happens when it enters the environment? Formaldehyde is normally present in both parts indoor and outdoor air at low levels, usually less than 0.03 parts of formaldehyde per million parts of air.

Why are they needed? During the 1970s, formaldehyde was been used a lot in household products Other potential indoor sources of formaldehyde include:  Stoves  Wood-burning stoves  Kerosene heaters

How can we be exposed to the chemical? When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience adverse effects such as Watery eyes Burning sensations in eyes, nose, & throat Coughing Wheezing Nausea Skin irritation Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde

How does it affect human health? Formaldehyde exposure are well known, less is known about its potential long-term health effects Formaldehyde exposure could cause cancer in humans

Is there a medical test to show whether someone has been exposed to formaldehyde? No At the present time, there are no reliable tests to determine exposure to formaldehyde

What kind of recommendations has the federal government made to protect human health? Federal OSHA Standards from 3 ppm to 1 ppm May standard was amended to 0.75ppm On July 7, 2010, President Obama signed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act into law

Cohort Study A cohort is a group of people who may vary in their exposure to a particular factor, such as formaldehyde, and are followed over time to see whether they develop a disease.

Cohort Study 11,039 textile workers studied by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (NIOSH) found an association between the duration of exposure to formaldehyde and leukemia deaths A cohort study of 14,014 British industry workers found no association between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia deaths

Work Cited