There are many negative health effects associated with Urea
formaldehyde, which is found in pressed board, a common building material. Using the National Library’s ToxNet resources,
airborne exposure to Urea formaldehyde was associated with upper respiratory
tract irritation, lower airway irritation, and pulmonary edema. It was also
found that Urea formaldehyde can cause cancer of the nasopharynx and leukemia.
One investigation of reproductive function among female workers and exposure to
formaldehyde revealed increased risk of inflammatory disease of the
reproductive tract, sterility, anemia, and low birth weights among offspring. Another
chemical, bleach, which is a common home-cleaning product, was found to be
associated with non-allergic onset asthma, elevated neutrophil counts and
lower-airway symptoms in women. One study found that women who used bleach as
frequently as once per week, were more likely to have current asthma as
compared to non-users. It is clear that both of these chemicals impact health
negatively, and that increased exposure is associated with increased risk of contracting a disease just from
breathing in the chemical and being near it.
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Hi Marisa,
ReplyDeleteIt is shocking the amount of toxicity we are exposed to through common products. I am so sensitive to the smell of bleach, that I can smell it hours after it has been used. Usually the smell is so intense that I get sick. If I didn't live with other people that use it, I would probably never buy it. Reading your post I thought about the health impact that these products have and maybe inform the people living in my home who use bleach all the time of the different risks they are putting their lives at.
Great post!
Kera
Hi Marisa,
ReplyDeleteI think ToxNet is a great site to investigate products and their ingredients. I also read that study on the effect of bleach on women who use it as a cleaning product every day. So interesting how it leads to asthma! Thanks for sharing!
Carmen
Hello Marisa,
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see how this information is available and yet the products and chemical exposures are still present for humans to use. I think it will continue to be like this because people are unaware of the negative consequences from the use of their products. In addition, I think it also has to do with people's customs -- for example, I see bleach more as a disinfectant than a product that can cause asthma. Thus, I think it is also important to change the outlook on these products. Great thoughts!