The dangers of formaldehyde for health range from irritation to cancer

Formalin is a chemical that is widely used in many industries and household products. Yes, in concentrations of less than one percent, these chemicals are commonly used as a mixture of various products, such as paints, adhesives, cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, wood products, disinfectants, antiseptics, and cigarettes. Although commonly found in household and industrial products, this chemical one also brings bad health hazards. Check out the various dangers of formaldehyde for health below.

Formalin is a dangerous chemical

Formalin is a chemical solution that is colorless, has a strong odor, and contains about 37 percent formaldehyde in water.

This chemical is often used as a disinfectant (to kill bacteria and germs) and as a preservative for cadavers. Formaldehyde is also used in explosives, fertilizer manufacture, glass mirrors, perfume, paints, cosmetics, nail hardeners, glues, dishwashing liquid, candles, and cigarettes. In addition, this chemical is also commonly used in wooden household furniture.

The use of these chemicals for industrial needs is not actually prohibited. However, every worker involved in the transportation and processing of this material must be extra careful considering the risks associated with this material are quite large.

Formalin has many other names, some of which are like formol, morbicid, methanal, formic aldehyde, methylene aldehyde, carcin, oxomethane, methyl oxide, oxymethylene, tetraoxymethylene, formoform, paraforin, polyoxymethylene glycols, superlysoform, methylene glycol, tetraoxymethylene, formalith, and trioxane.

How can a person be exposed to this chemical?

A person can be exposed to this substance when inhaling or touching it. The people most at risk of exposure to high levels of this substance are workers in factories that manufacture products containing formaldehyde, laboratory technicians, health workers, and mortuary employees.

In addition, you may also be exposed to this chemical substance from household furniture at home. In fact, there are many household products that contain this chemical, from household items to your cosmetics and personal care products.

Apart from being inhaled through the air, a person can also be exposed to these substances from the food and drink they consume. In fact, this chemical substance is prohibited from being used as a food preservative. Some examples of products that often contain formaldehyde include fresh fish, chicken, wet noodles, and tofu that are circulating in the market. Even so, not all food products contain this chemical.

To determine whether a food product contains hazardous chemicals or not, laboratory tests are needed. However, in general you should be careful if you come across fresh food products that last for several days and do not spoil.

What are the dangers of formaldehyde for health?

Formaldehyde is a water-soluble chemical that is processed very quickly by the body when you inhale it or ingest it. Even very small amounts of exposure can be absorbed through your skin. Here are some of the dangers of formaldehyde for health that you need to be aware of:

Respiratory tract

Inhalation of air contaminated with these hazardous chemicals can irritate your respiratory tract. As a result, you may experience a variety of symptoms, such as coughing, sore throat, chest pain, and wheezing. If you have a previous history of asthma and bronchitis, you are more likely to experience a relapse when you inhale this compound.

Short-term exposure to these compounds which are acquired through the air can also cause irritation of the eye sockets, nose and throat. Meanwhile, prolonged or chronic exposure can cause severe injury to the lungs.

Digestive system

Formalin is a chemical that is often used to preserve food. In fact, this one compound is very dangerous for health. Yes, consuming foods that contain this chemical in the long term can damage your digestive tract. This can cause severe stomach pain, diarrhea, as well as inflammation in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.

This chemical can also cause bleeding in the stomach or intestines, damage to the liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys. In severe cases, this chemical can also lead to coma and death.

Skin

Short-term exposure to the skin can cause itching, irritation, and sunburn. In people who are allergic to formaldehyde, low exposure for even a short period of time can trigger severe skin irritation characterized by the appearance of rashes, dry skin, and dermatitis. If not treated promptly, this condition can lead to scarring.

Cancer

Long-term formaldehyde exposure is associated with an increased risk of cancer. Based on research conducted on humans and animals, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that this chemical one can trigger cancer. In high enough doses and with long exposure periods (years), formalin is carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in humans. Even so, until now there has been no research that proves the exact levels of formaldehyde that can trigger cancer.

The health hazards of formaldehyde may not be felt directly. But over time, these chemicals can cause serious and life-threatening health hazards.

How to reduce daily formaldehyde exposure?

As already explained, formaldehyde is found in many household products. You may not be able to completely avoid exposure to this chemical. Even so, there are several ways you can reduce your exposure to formaldehyde at home, namely:

Ensure that your home has good air ventilation so that air can come and go smoothly.
Maintain the humidity level in your home by using humidifier or AC.
Avoid smoking inside the house.
Always wash your hands thoroughly after using cleaning products or insecticides.
Choose fresh food products. Avoid choosing foods that are striking in color, have a chewy texture, are not easily crushed, and are not easily rotten.
Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
Cook your food in a good way and it is cooked perfectly.