Formaldehyde in your Environment: what, where, why and how

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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
Modern society has become so technologically
developed that it is hard to keep track of all
the chemicals that we are exposed to during our
daily lives. In some cases, products will present
labeling and regulations that keep us from
bringing toxic and harmful chemicals to our
homes. However, in most cases, we have little
knowledge or control over what kind of chemicals
enter our houses and compromise the indoor air
quality. One of these sneakier chemicals is
formaldehyde, a compound commonly used for the
production of resins and coatings. With an
annual production of 30 million tons, it is
extremely important to understand how this
compound is found and reacts in our indoor
environment.
What is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a chemical
compound that naturally occurs as a gas but
because of its chemical properties it can be
dissolved in water and transformed into gels,
glues, resins, and coatings that are part of the
composition of many household materials.
Formaldehyde is also highly volatile, which
means that it is easily transformed into its
gaseous form, spreading out through the
environment and migrating between different
rooms in buildings through air ducts and
ventilation systems.
This property is found in several other harmful
chemicals forming the group of volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) which are commonly associated
with the sick building syndrome (SBS).
Because it is a common product of combustion
processes it is found naturally in our own
bodies being detected in the bloodstreams of
humans. However, this means it is also produced
in processes of indoor combustion, being emitted
by stoves, candles and incents. But since
formaldehyde can be transformed from its gaseous
forms into liquids and other polymers it can
also be found in an extensive list of materials.
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
Some of the most common sources of formaldehyde
in the household are

• Air fresheners
• Cleaning products that have terpenes
• Paper towels Cigarettes
• Anti-shrink, anti-wrinkle clothes Polyester
  bedsheets
• Pillows

• Furniture or curtains that are
• crease-resistant, stretch-proof, water repellent
  and water-proofed
• Skin care creams
• Nail polish and nail polish remover Hair
  straighteners
• Toothpastes
• Furniture made of manufactured wood

To certify you are not bringing formaldehyde into
your household check the composition of the
products purchased for formaldehyde or methanal,
formalin, methyl aldehyde, methylene glycol,
methylene oxide, formalin, formol, and carbonyl
hydride, which are all commercial names used for
formaldehyde.
How does formaldehyde behave throughout
time? Because of its natural tendency to dissolve
as a gas, formaldehyde tends to be released from
the materials through time and disperse through
the air. This could be a positive aspect
considering that as time passes, the
concentration of formaldehyde in the household
tends to decay.
Therefore, one of the most important
recommendations to improve the indoor air
quality is to ensure proper ventilation of the
area. By creating an environment that has a
constant renewal of indoor air, the rates in
which formaldehyde concentration decays is
faster resulting in a healthier environment.
However, since formaldehyde is normally a
heavier gas than natural air, it also has the
tendency to sink in the environments and deposit
on carpets, tables, and other surfaces.
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Why is formaldehyde exposure important?
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
formaldehyde has been reported to lead to the
death of human adults. Ingesting lower amounts
may still cause corrosive injury to the
gastrointestinal, nausea, vomiting, pain and
perforation. Depression, coma, renal failure and
respiratory distress have also been reported as
common side effects of ingestion of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde has been recognized as a
carcinogenic (promotes the development of cancer
in healthy human cells) by several different
health agencies and has also been associated
with nasopharynx, leukemia and paranasal sinus
(1). At low concentrations, formaldehyde can
cause significant damage to the human body even
impairing the development of babies when mothers
are exposed to the chemical. Minor effects of
exposure involve skin, eye, nose and irritation
and in some cases headaches. Because of its
strong odor, formaldehyde can be quickly
detected in the environment after reaching
concentrations of at least 1 ppm. On the other
hand, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) recommends that for an
average 8-hour day exposure, the permissible
concentration of formaldehyde must be below 0.75
ppm. In this case, if your working environment
starts presenting typical odor of formaldehyde
it also means that the environment is exceeding
the threshold concentration considered safe.

• Chronic exposure to formaldehyde is quite common
  due to the fact that it is present in several
  different household materials.
• Additionally, its particular property and ability
  to sink into the indoor environment also
  enables common chronic exposure which presents
  carcinogenic and developmental effects. Cases of
  nasal tumors and nasal cancers have been
  positively linked to the inhalation of
  formaldehyde. Moreover, chromosomal aberrations
  have also been seen in humans that present
  chronic exposure to formaldehyde affecting
  gestation and fetus development.

In time, these continuous exposures create what
has been called the sick building syndrome
(SBS) which has been considered a pathology that
afflicts occupants of a certain building in a
generalized manner. SBS is marked by the
incidence of headache, fatigue, irritation of
nose, throat and eyes and itchiness that becomes
aggravated or has its onset when the individual
enters the building. Most of the studies on SBS
have been carried out in office buildings as a
result of association and organized movements
towards targeting a healthier workspace. However,
infrastructures as schools and housing complexes
are as important and as influential in our
overall health. Thus, monitoring the overall
health of occupants in buildings should be a
common practice to detect and address SBS.
Exposure can occur by inhalation, skin/eye
contact or ingestion. Inhalation, which is the
most common source of exposure, leads to
headaches, rhinitis, dyspnea and in cases of
higher doses can cause burning, lacrimation,
pulmonary edema or even pneumonia. Skin and eye
contact, which normally occur through
interaction with products that have high levels
of formaldehyde in their composition, can cause
irritation with allergic dermatitis and
irritation. At higher concentrations, exposure
to the eyes may lead to corneal opacification
and blindness. Finally, the ingestion of products
that present formaldehyde is extremely
dangerous. Ingesting as little as 30 mL (1 oz.) of
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How can exposure to formaldehyde be reduced?
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
Since formaldehyde is present in so many
different forms and products used daily, keeping
a close eye on the amount of formaldehyde
present in closed environments can be quite
challenging. However, the American Cancer Society
presents some recommendations to reduce your
exposure to formaldehyde
Promote adequate indoor ventilation renewing
the indoor air periodically, alongside ensuring
constant and adequate airflow helps promote
better indoor air quality. Because formaldehyde
is highly volatile, its concentration slowly
decays through a time when ventilation is
improved.
Do not allow indoor smoking cigarettes present
several different chemical compounds that are
positively linked with cancers and other SBS
symptoms. Indoor smoking enhances the exposure
of secondary smokers to these chemical and
because of the sinking property of most of these
toxic compounds, the concentration of
formaldehyde and other chemicals can increase
rapidly. By not allowing the release of these
VOCs in the indoor environment, concentrations
of formaldehyde and other chemicals will also
be reduced.
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Lower humidity in a closed environment humidity
is a key element to increase the presence of
molds and other organisms that release
formaldehyde in their natural combustion
processes. By reducing humidity and limiting the
dissemination of these organisms, the
concentration of formaldehyde inserted in the
environment will also decay.
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how

• Allow for product off-gassing since
  formaldehyde is present in several household
  products such as furniture, it is recommended
  that a resting period is applied immediately
  after the unwrapping of the product. Ideally,
  the product is left to rest in a ventilated area
  allowing for the release of formaldehyde
  immediately and a decrease in its original
  concentration.

• Wash new clothes before wearing them several
  new clothing products present formaldehyde in
  their composition for commercial purposes. In
  this sense, similar to the procedure applied
  with furniture, it is important to remove the
  initial concentration of formaldehyde from these
  products. In this case, washing the clothes can
  drastically reduce the concentration present on
  them. It is also recommended to carry out a
  similar procedure with bed linens, towels, and
  other fabric that present formaldehyde in their
  composition.

How can IAQ help? Clearly, keeping an eye on the
chemical composition of your indoor environment
is of crucial importance to ensure healthy
indoor air quality. However, since these
compounds might not be easily detected it is
important to proceed with seasonal assessments of
your office building, school and household to
verify the level of chemicals present. In this
case, Indoor Air Quality can provide adequate,
reliable and high-quality assistance analyzing
the overall air quality of your indoor
environment and providing effective solutions.
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Formaldehyde in your Environment what, where,
why and how
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formaldehyde-environment-what-where-why-how/
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