Formaldehyde is always present in our daily lives and is seriously harmful to our health. So where can we find formaldehyde in our daily lives? How harmful is formaldehyde to the human body? Let's take a look together!
What is formaldehyde
Formaldehyde, chemical formula HCHO or CH2O, molecular weight 30.03, also known as methanal. It is colorless and has a stimulating effect on the eyes and nose.
Where does "formaldehyde" appear
1. Construction materials
In the field of construction materials, if adhesives, coatings, paints and other materials are used for home decoration, they inevitably contain formaldehyde. Various artificial board materials such as plywood, particle board, MDF board, etc. all contain formaldehyde.
2. Chemical industry
Plastic products, dyes, paints, adhesives and other chemical products all contain formaldehyde.
In daily life, we can find many items that contain formaldehyde, such as plastic bottles, suitcases, glue, paints, etc. It is impossible to avoid them!
3. Textile industry
In the production process of textiles, formaldehyde is added to make the printing and dyeing more durable.
When people use it, formaldehyde will irritate the respiratory tract and skin mucous membranes.
Therefore, after purchasing textiles such as clothes, bed sheets, duvet covers, curtains, etc., they must be washed first!
4. Food industry
Formalin, which is used for soaking biological specimens in the field of scientific research, is actually a 35%-40% aqueous solution of formaldehyde.
Because formalin has a preservative function, some unscrupulous businesses in daily life add formalin to food (such as chicken feet, pig trotters, etc.) to make the preservative function more durable.
Harmfulness of formaldehyde
Cancer is the most feared disease by humans, and formaldehyde happens to be the "accomplice" of cancer!
If the concentration of formaldehyde released is high, it will have a stimulating effect on the human body's mucous membranes, skin, and respiratory tract, causing various discomforts such as allergies and chest tightness.
If one is exposed to an environment where the formaldehyde exceeds the standard for a long time, formaldehyde will slowly seep into the body, endangering the major systems of the body, and in severe cases, it may even cause liver toxicity, leukemia, cancer, etc.!
