National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.Formaldehyde levels in homes and work settings can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Environmental Protection Agency recommends the use of “exterior-grade” pressed-wood products to limit formaldehyde exposure in the home. 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. Which cancers are associated with exposure to formaldehyde? Another potential source of exposure to formaldehyde is the use of unvented fuel-burning appliances, such as gas stoves, wood-burning stoves, and kerosene heaters. The general public may be exposed to formaldehyde by breathing contaminated air from sources such as pressed-wood products, tobacco smoke, and automobile tailpipe emissions. Workers who produce formaldehyde or products that contain formaldehyde-as well as laboratory technicians, certain health care professionals, and mortuary employees-may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than people in the general population. People are exposed primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin. It is also a combustion product found in tobacco smoke. It is produced during the decay of plant material in the soil and during normal chemical processes in most living organisms. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in the environment. In addition, it is commonly used as a fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories. What is formaldehyde?įormaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling, flammable chemical that is produced industrially and used in building materials such as particleboard, plywood, and other pressed-wood products. Formaldehyde is commonly used as a preservative.

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