What are the side effects of formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a harmful substance that everyone knows. Especially for a newly renovated house, people generally do not move in so soon because the formaldehyde content in the new house exceeds the standard. If inhaled by the human body, it can easily cause cancer. In fact, in addition to being harmful to the human body, formaldehyde also has many uses, such as being used in the synthesis of resins, gunpowder, building materials, etc.

1. What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde, commonly known as formalin, is a colorless, irritating gas with a strong odor. Its 35% to 40% aqueous solution is commonly known as formalin.

2. The harm of formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a protoplasmic poison that can combine with protein. After inhaling high concentrations of formaldehyde, severe respiratory irritation and edema, eye stinging, headache, and bronchial asthma may occur. Direct skin contact with formaldehyde can cause dermatitis, pigmentation, and necrosis.

Frequent inhalation of small amounts of formaldehyde can cause chronic poisoning, with symptoms such as mucosal congestion, skin irritation, allergic dermatitis, keratinization and brittle nails, and pain at the nail bed and fingertips. Long-term inhalation by pregnant women may cause newborn malformations or even death. Long-term inhalation by men can cause sperm malformation, death, decreased sexual function, and severe cases can lead to reproductive incapacity. Systemic symptoms include headache, fatigue, poor appetite, palpitations, insomnia, weight loss, and autonomic nervous system disorders.

3. Uses of formaldehyde

Formaldehyde has a wide range of uses. It is used in synthetic resins, surfactants, plastics, rubber, leather, papermaking, dyes, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, photographic films, gunpowder, building materials, as well as in disinfection, fumigation and preservation processes. It can be said that formaldehyde is a versatile player in the chemical industry. Various artificial boards (particle board, fiberboard, plywood, etc.) may contain formaldehyde because of the use of adhesives.

Adhesives are used in the production of new furniture and the decoration and laying of walls and floors. Wherever adhesives are used in large quantities, formaldehyde will always be released. In addition, some chemical fiber carpets and paints also contain a certain amount of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde can also come from a variety of chemical and light industrial products such as cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, disinfectants, preservatives, printing inks, paper, textile fibers, etc.