At low levels, breathing in formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. At higher levels, formaldehyde exposure can cause skin rashes, shortness of breath, wheezing and changes in lung function.
Formaldehyde is a highly toxic systemic poison that is absorbed well by inhalation. The vapor is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant and may cause dizziness or suffocation. Contact with formaldehyde solution may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.
This strong smell is caused by a process called “off-gassing” that occurs to the chemical. Formaldehyde, when at room temperature, will convert into a gas that will start to expel from the item in your home. When an item begins to give off formaldehyde, it is released into the air and this is classified as off-gassing.
Formaldehyde irritates the nose, eyes and throat. These irritations can happen at low levels of formaldehyde. Other short-term effects include headache, runny nose, nausea and difficulty breathing. Exposure may cause wheezing, asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms.
Concentrations of 100 ppm are immedi- ately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). Note: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers 20 ppm of formaldehyde to be IDLH. Workers can inhale formaldehyde as a gas or vapor or absorb it through the skin as a liquid.
Most formaldehyde is released by 2 years [Park and Ikeda 2006].
What should I do if I inhale chemical or toxic fumes? If you have inhaled chemical or toxic fumes, you should get into fresh air straight away. Loosen tight clothing and open doors and windows wide. If you are with someone who has inhaled toxic fumes, seek medical attention immediately.
Studies of workers exposed to high levels of formaldehyde, such as industrial workers and embalmers, have found that formaldehyde causes myeloid leukemia and rare cancers, including cancers of the paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, and nasopharynx.
Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, and throat. High levels of exposure may cause some types of cancers. Learn more from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry about the health effects of formaldehyde exposure.
When burning natural gas, kerosene, gasoline, wood, or tobacco, formaldehyde is produced. Automobile exhaust is a common source of formaldehyde in our environment. Tobacco smoking in the home is another source of the chemical in the indoor environment.
Three effective ways of removing formaldehyde from your home are to open a window, use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, or perform a home cookout.
Baking soda reduces odor and gently cleans clothes. To do this, pour some baking soda into the warm water, swirl it around gently to mix the ingredients, and submerge your clothes in the mixture for at least 8 hours to remove formaldehyde. Rinse in cold water then air dry.
Exposure to formaldehyde via inhalation is known to impair memory (Bach et al. 1990; Kilburn et al. 1987) and cognitive functions (Kilburn et al. 1985; Perna et al.
Levels of formaldehyde measured in indoor air range from 0.02–4 parts per million (ppm).
Formaldehyde is widely used in composite wood products that have resins containing formaldehyde, and is in building materials and insulation, glues, permanent press fabrics, paints, lacquers, and other coatings.
Trace amounts of formaldehyde can be found in our products as it is a naturally occurring substance, however, we do not add formaldehyde to our range. As a precautionary measure, IKEA has phased out several chemicals that could potentially be harmful, often ahead of legislation.
It is found in cosmetics, cleaning products, air fresheners, glues, paints, hair straighteners, and detergents as well as certain pressed-wood construction products like cabinets, furnishings, plywood or particleboard and laminate flooring. Certain permanent press fabrics may also contain formaldehyde [3] [2] [1].
Inhalation of formaldehyde can lead to irritation of the nose, mouth and throat. In severe cases, respiratory distress and swelling of the larynx and lungs may occur. Ingestion of formaldehyde can cause burns and ulcers in the stomach or intestines in the early stages after ingestion.
Most people recover completely from accidental exposure to gases. The most serious complications are lung infection or severe damage that causes scarring of the small airways (bronchiolitis obliterans). Some studies have shown long-term impairment of the lung function years after episodes of exposure to gases.
A majority of the patients with mild to moderate irritant exposure have a self-limited course with full recovery seen within 48 to 72 hours.
Wheezing: Noisy breathing or wheezing is a sign that something unusual is blocking your lungs' airways or making them too narrow. Coughing up blood: If you are coughing up blood, it may be coming from your lungs or upper respiratory tract. Wherever it's coming from, it signals a health problem.
Usually, the levels decrease and odors are gone within a few days. Another way to reduce exposure is to apply a barrier between formaldehyde containing surfaces and the indoor air.
Once in your body, formaldehyde is rapidly broken down into other chemicals. Most of these other chemicals quickly leave your body in the urine. Formaldehyde can also be converted to carbon dioxide and breathed out of the body.