What is formaldehyde gas? Symptoms of poisoning, treatment & prevention

Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a gaseous organic compound with a pungent odor and negative effects on human health. Symptoms of Formaldehyde poisoning include: Watery eyes, itchy eyes, cough, sore throat, nausea, abdominal cramps, dilated pupils, impaired mobility, trembling hands and feet, heart Rapid heartbeat, decreased blood pressure, coma, loss of consciousness.

When you suspect poisoning by Formaldehyde, take the following steps:

• Step 1: Open windows and doors for ventilation.
• Step 2: Move the poisoned person out of the area with Formaldehyde.
• Step 3: If the patient's condition worsens, they should be taken immediately to the nearest medical facility.

When Formaldehyde appears around us, it cannot be eliminated, but it can be prevented by buying products that have controlled Formaldehyde concentrations, creating an airy living environment, etc.

Let's learn more about Formaldehyde gas to master the necessary knowledge to create a healthier living environment for yourself and future generations.

What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the chemical formula . CH2O. Under normal conditions, they are gases with a pungent odor, colorless and flammable. This gas is very soluble in water.

What are the symptoms of Formaldehyde poisoning?

Symptoms of Formaldehyde poisoning will depend on the time and amount of Formaldehyde exposed. Here are some common symptoms:

Low

• Watery eyes, itchy eyes, cough, sore throat
• Skin irritation: itching, red rash, dry, peeling skin
• Nausea, vomiting
• Difficulty breathing, wheezing

Severity level

• Nausea, pain and stiffness in the abdominal cavity
• Pupils dilate, mobility is impaired, limbs tremble
• Heart beats fast, blood pressure drops
• Coma, loss of consciousness

How to handle suspected Formaldehyde poisoning

When the above symptoms appear, it is necessary to eliminate the source of Formaldehyde by:

• Open windows and doors for ventilation.
• Move the poisoned person out of the area with Formaldehyde.

If Formaldehyde gets on your skin or eyes, rinse immediately with water repeatedly for 15-20 minutes. If the poisoned person has severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, seizures, or loss of consciousness, call emergency services immediately. While waiting for the ambulance to arrive, keep the poisoned person in a comfortable position, loosen clothing, and monitor their condition. Have the patient drink plenty of water to help the body eliminate Formaldehyde.

How to prevent toxic gas Formaldehyde?

The higher the concentration of CH2O gas and the longer the exposure time will have negative health consequences. We need to recognize and prevent it early to avoid being exposed to too much toxic gas. 4 ways to prevent Formaldehyde toxic gas are:

• Buy products that have been tested for formaldehyde levels
• The living environment needs to be airy
• Use natural cleaning products
• Plant green trees

Buy products that have been tested for formaldehyde levels

Formaldehyde is not a banned substance and is present in many everyday consumer products. When purchasing products that may contain formaldehyde, customers should look for those that have undergone toxin control testing.

E0: The product does not contain Formaldehyde

E1: Formaldehyde concentration is not greater than 0,124 mg/m³ or not greater than 9 mg/100g

CARB2 limits Formaldehyde emissions as follows:

– Hardwood plywood (HWPW): 0.0500ppm

– Medium density fiberboard (MDF): 0.11 ppm

– Chipboard (PB): 0.09ppm

Egger wooden floors meet E1 standards

E1 certificate of Egger wooden flooring

To limit exposure to Formaldehyde gas, it is necessary to use alternative products to Formaldehyde, such as Formaldehyde-free wood glue or low-VOC water paint (Volatile Organic Compound - volatile organic compounds) or avoid Buy products with strong chemical odors

The living environment needs to be airy

Living spaces need ventilation to dilute Formaldehyde concentrations. We need to follow the following 3 principles to create an open living space:

• Open windows and doors regularly to ventilate the house.
• Use exhaust fans in kitchens, bathrooms and areas with many products containing Formaldehyde.
• Install mechanical ventilation if necessary.

Use natural cleaning products

Nowadays, environmental protection is always a concern, every small thing we do will contribute to protecting the environment as well as our health by replacing chemical cleaning products with bleach products. natural cleaners such as baking soda, vinegar and lemon. You should especially wear gloves and masks when using chemical cleaning products.

Plant green trees 

Planting trees can help reduce the amount of Formaldehyde in the air, especially snake plants, aloe vera, and ivy.

Related question

Where does Formaldehyde gas usually exist?

Formaldehyde gas is commonly released from everyday items such as synthetic fabrics, adhesives, wallpaper, paints, and engineered wood products. Additionally, this gas is also present in strong concentrations in cigarette smoke and smoke from burning wood.

It's no secret that we often inhale Formaldehyde gas while traveling on the road. Specifically, Formaldehyde gas is emitted from motorbike and car exhaust. This gas also exists in natural gases such as kerosene and gasoline. Therefore, when stuck in traffic on the road, we always feel stuffy and have difficulty breathing.

What are the effects of Formaldehyde gas on human health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Formaldehyde gas has adverse effects on human health. Serious symptoms when exposed to them include stinging eyes, black nose and sore throat. Worse, high gas concentrations will bring dangerous complications such as: dry cough, headache, dizziness and nausea.

If Formaldehyde directly affects the body, it will lead to leukemia, affecting pregnant women. Therefore, this substance is banned from use in the food processing industry. They can exist in everyday objects but must be strictly controlled.

Does formaldehyde cause cancer?

According to statistics from the National Cancer Institute: It is estimated that Formaldehyde causes about 1% of all cancer deaths in the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) also classifies Formaldehyde as a human carcinogen (Group 1).

How to remove the pungent smell of Formaldehyde?

To eliminate the pungent smell of Formaldehyde, we can take a number of measures such as:

• Open windows and doors to keep the space airy
• Decorate some indoor plants that can effectively absorb Formaldehyde
• Use lemon, vinegar, baking soda, tea grounds, coffee grounds, etc.

How much Formaldehyde does laminate flooring have?

According to Circular 04/2023/TT-BXD issued by the Ministry of Construction, Formaldehyde concentrations for industrial wood floors are specifically as follows: Formaldehyde content is not greater than 0,124 mg/m³ or not greater than 9 mg/100g - meets E1 standard).

All laminate flooring brands at Kosmos meet E1 standards (formaldehyde emission concentration is less than 0,124 mg/mXNUMX).³, safe for users' health) including: Egger, Robina, Kosmos,…

Especially Egger - a German imported wooden flooring brand that is certified by CARB2 - California Air Resources Board (California Air Resources Board). This certification is necessary for products made from industrial wood (containing CH2O) to enter the US. In addition, the Egger factory also minimizes toxic gases emitted into the environment during production.

>>> High quality European wooden floors are safe for users' health.

What uses does formaldehyde have?

Aqueous solutions containing Formaldehyde are often used as bleach because this chemical can effectively remove bacteria. Typically, Formaldehyde is used to produce polymers and other chemicals. They create hard thermo-responsive resins when combined with phenol, urea, melamine, etc. and the finished products are long-lasting adhesives. This adhesive is often used in industrial wood production.

Formaldehyde (CH2O) is a gaseous organic substance that exists in many places in everyday life. Exposure to this toxic gas at high concentrations will seriously affect human health. Choose quality materials that are safe for your health to protect your family from the potential dangers of Formaldehyde!