formaldehyde-gold+class+'09

Formaldehyde toc

Johnny D James Seward

=Abstract=

The Chemical I have been asked to research is Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a colorless, odorless gas. Formaldehyde is Found in cigarette smoke, the environment (during the burning of fuels or household waste), the human body (but very small amounts), plywood, particle board, and other pressed wood products that are commonly used to make furniture, cabinets, wall paneling, shelves, and counter tops, used to kill germs or as a preservative, and is found in some commercial products. It also is found in items such as dyes, textiles, plastics, paper products, fertilizer, and cosmetics. Formaldehyde, by itself or in a combination with other chemicals serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example it is used to add permanent-press qualities to the clothing and draperies as a component of glues and adhesives and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.

Formaldehyde is dangerous when inhaled or it enters the body other than naturally. It also can affect you when it touches your skin. Breathing air that has low levels of formaldehyde in it can cause burning and watering eyes. As the levels increase, it can cause burning of the nose and throat, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Strong mixtures of formaldehyde gas or liquid can cause irritation or a rash if they make contact with the skin. When swallowed, formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Formaldehyde that enters the blood stream can produce effects similar to drinking too much alcohol. Formaldehyde is in many of our household appliances and chemicals at your home, it can be found in building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of un-vented fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, alone or in a Mixture with other chemicals has many purposes in manufactured products. For example it is used to add permanent-press qualities to the clothing and draperies as a component of glues and adhesives and as a preservative in some paints and coating products. It is in rural pastures, Air industry cities (such as Pittsburg) and smog.

I believe that this chemical is not causing any real harm to the environment or human beings. It is mostly found in nature and things created from nature. We don’t have to spend much money looking for and salvaging it if it were to become a necessity. The government see’s no real threat with Formaldehyde and it is widely over looked in America, even though we use products with formaldehyde almost everyday. I believe that the only thing that needs to be done is Begin to educate people more on its affects and how to prevent something bad from happening. If people knew more about it I believe that the small amount of injuries from it would decrease dramatically.

=Background Info= -In homes, the most significant sources of formaldehyde are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins.

-Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops).

-Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.

-Formaldehyde is an important chemical used widely by industry to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes. Thus, it may be present in substantial concentrations both indoors and outdoors.

-Formaldehyde is commonly used as an industrial fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories.

-Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling gas.

Industrial workers who produce formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products, laboratory technicians, health care professionals, and mortuary employees may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general public. Exposure occurs primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin.

-When formaldehyde is present in the air at levels exceeding 0.1 ppm, some individuals may experience health effects such as watery eyes; burning sensations of the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde, while others have no reaction to the same level of exposure.

-Although the short-term health effects of formaldehyde exposure are well known, less is known about its potential long-term health effects.

-The EPA recommends the use of “exterior-grade” pressed wood products to limit formaldehyde exposure in the home. Before purchasing pressed wood products, including building materials, cabinetry, and furniture, buyers should ask about the formaldehyde content of these products. Formaldehyde levels in homes can also be reduced by ensuring adequate ventilation, moderate temperatures, and reduced humidity levels through the use of air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

=Health and Environmental Issues= -Formaldehyde is dangerous when inhaled or it enters the body other than naturally. It also can affect you when it touches your skin.

-Breathing air containing low levels of formaldehyde can cause burning and watering eyes. As levels increase, it can cause burning of the nose and throat, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Strong mixtures of formaldehyde gas or liquid can cause irritation or a rash if they contact the skin. When swallowed, formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Formaldehyde that enters the blood stream can produce effects similar to drinking too much alcohol.

Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, house hold products, and the use of un-vented fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters.

-Formaldehyde, by itself or in a combination with other chemicals serves a number of purposes in manufactured products. For example it is used to add permanent-press qualities to the clothing and draperies as a component of glues and adhesives and as a preservative in some paints and coating products.

=Economic/Political Issues= In our research, there was no clear evidence of economic/political issues involving formaldehyde.

=Synthesis and Production= Industrial workers who produce formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products, laboratory technicians, health care professionals, and mortuary employees may be exposed to higher levels of formaldehyde than the general public.

-Exposure occurs primarily by inhaling formaldehyde gas or vapor from the air or by absorbing liquids containing formaldehyde through the skin.

=Summary.=

Formaldehyde is a strong chemical substance that is found in our everyday use. It can be found in building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of un-vented fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters. Formaldehyde, alone or in a Mixture with other chemicals has many purposes in manufactured products. We have it in many of these household products yet it is an incredibly dangerous toxin. It can very easily kill a child and seriously injure and hurt a full grown adult. If it is not treated or you breath air that has low levels of formaldehyde in it can cause burning and watering eyes. As the levels increase, it can cause burning of the nose and throat, coughing, and difficulty in breathing. Strong mixtures of formaldehyde gas or liquid can cause irritation or a rash if they make contact with the skin. When swallowed, formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Formaldehyde that enters the blood stream can produce effects similar to drinking too much alcohol. We must be more careful with what we use in our houses around children and animals. Formaldehyde is useful because it is cost efficient and can be produced easily. Overall I believe that this chemical is not causing any real harm to the environment or human beings. It is mostly found in nature and things created from nature. We don’t have to spend much money looking for and salvaging it if it were to become a necessity. The government see’s no real threat with Formaldehyde and it is widely over looked in America, even though we use products with formaldehyde almost everyday. I believe that the only thing that needs to be done is Begin to educate people more on its affects and how to prevent something bad from happening. If people knew more about it I believe that the small amount of injuries from it would decrease dramatically.

=A Public Service Announcement=

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