Formaldehyde - what is it? This word must have been heard by everyone, at least once in a lifetime, but not everyone knows what it means. What associations arise when mentioning this substance? Difficult to answer? Meanwhile, formaldehyde surrounds us everywhere.
What is formaldehyde?
First of all, formaldehyde is a gas. It is naturally formed not only in the environment, but also in our body. In addition, it is obtained by production. Few people know, but we are in constant contact with this substance. It enters our body when we inhale. In addition, a person daily uses products containing small amounts of formaldehyde (for example, bath foam and shampoo).
Formaldehyde Preparation
The main method for producing industrial formaldehyde is the oxidation of methanol. It is carried out using a silver catalyst. This process proceeds at atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 650 degrees. Methanol oxidation is well established, and approximately 80 percent of formaldehyde is obtained by this method. But recently, there is an active development of a new promising method in which an iron-molybdenum catalyst is used. The reaction proceeds at a temperature of 300 degrees. Moreover, in both methods, the degree of conversion has a very high percentage (almost 99%).
Obtaining formaldehyde is also possible in the process of methanol dehydrogenation. It is carried out with the participation of zinc and copper catalysts. The required temperature is 600 degrees. Although this method has not yet found wide application. However, it is considered very promising. It allows you to get formaldehyde without water content.
Formaldehyde use
Upon receipt of this substance, there is only one side effect - the oxidation of formaldehyde. In this case, toxic substances are released. Unfortunately, this process is active at room temperature.
Despite this, formaldehyde is widely used in many areas of industrial production. An aqueous solution - methanediol - causes protein denaturation. This feature of formaldehyde allows the use of the substance in the leather industry. And he also has excellent tannin properties, which is very useful in medicine. Formaldehyde is recognized as a strong antiseptic, as well as an excellent preservative for biological materials. But that is not all. The substance in question is used in the furniture and woodworking industries, in particular, it is necessary for the manufacture of plywood. Finally, formaldehyde is used in the production of film films.
Cosmetology
Sometimes shampoos and some bath products contain such a dangerous substance for a person as formaldehyde. That this is dangerous is beyond doubt. After all, it is a very strong and very effective preservative. But it is never found in pure form in shampoos. Especially - in the means for caring for a child. Formaldehyde gets into their composition as a result of the breakdown of other chemicals - releases.
Many bath foams are stored for a long time thanks to these components. Releasers slowly release small doses of formaldehyde. This helps prevent the appearance of fungi and bacteria in shampoos.
What is the danger of formaldehyde?
Based on the above information, it becomes unclear what formaldehyde is. What is a dangerous poison or a harmless component of soap and detergents? Of course, in large doses, it poses a threat to human health. But formaldehyde can penetrate into our body not only in contact with cosmetics. The fact is that it penetrates the lungs and blood through the air. Here are just some sources of toxin:
- tobacco smoke;
- traffic fumes;
- open flame;
- gas stoves;
- glue;
- disinfectants;
- nail polish;
- new carpets and rugs;
- shampoos for cleaning carpets;
- new pressed wood furniture.
What happens when formaldehyde is inhaled? In humans, this causes irritation of the nasopharynx and eyes. The lungs are affected. Many scientists seriously believe that a number of cases of asthma in children are associated with this particular gas. There are concerns that with prolonged contact with formaldehyde in high concentrations, cancer tumors may form. Studies have shown that this substance is a fairly strong carcinogen, and experiments on laboratory animals have confirmed this assumption. However, it is not proven that in contact with the skin formaldehyde promotes the development of a malignant tumor.
What is known about formaldehyde?
So, one of the dangerous carcinogens that surround us daily is formaldehyde. That this is a harmful substance to humans has already been proven. But what else do we know about him, in addition to the fact that gas enters the lungs when inhaling and is not able to affect the skin? Penetrating into the body, formaldehyde decomposes very quickly and is excreted in the urine and during exhalation (with carbon dioxide).
People who constantly live in large industrial cities, in large areas built up with high-rise buildings, are exposed to higher concentrations of formaldehyde than those who live in villages and towns. The likelihood of contact with this harmful substance is greater indoors than outdoors.
What is not known about formaldehyde?
In fact, despite the fact that formaldehyde is well studied, there are still controversial questions about the effect of this gas on the body. So, for example, it is not known whether adults are less sensitive to this substance than children. Scientists and doctors disagree on this issue. But if we take into account that when breathing in a child, the volume of air per kilogram of weight is greater than in adults, then the assumption of their higher sensitivity to formaldehyde is quite justified.
Threat to human health
The effect of formaldehyde on humans is very harmful and dangerous. This gas has pronounced mutagenic properties. It also acts as an irritant and a serious allergen. Prolonged human contact with the environment in which this gas is dispersed can provoke the development of cancer. Most often, cancer of the respiratory tract is diagnosed. Perhaps more developed and other severe forms, including leukemia.
Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning of the body are as follows: migraine, shortness of breath, depressed psychological state. If the gas concentration reaches a critical level for human health, this can provoke paralysis of the respiratory tract, which leads to death. Conjunctivitis and pulmonary edema may also indicate formaldehyde in the environment.
What other pathologies can formaldehyde cause? The reactions of its decomposition in the body cause significant harm to health. Penetrating into the digestive system, gas can cause a chemical burn, provoke numerous swelling and even respiratory arrest. As a formaldehyde solution, formalin is also able to harm our body. People who, due to their professional duties are sometimes forced to deal with this substance, experience all the manifestations of poisoning: asthma symptoms, severe headaches, conjunctivitis, damage to the nervous system.
How to regulate the formaldehyde content in products?
Many countries have state control over formaldehyde as a carcinogen. For example, in the UK, the permissible concentration of this gas in air and water is regulated by law. Exceeding it is unacceptable, it always entails responsibility. Such a serious attitude to this dangerous toxin is observed in almost all developed countries. There are also certain restrictions on workplaces where formaldehyde is being manufactured or applied. The European Union stipulates the use of this substance in cosmetics, including shampoos, bath foams, nail polish. In these products, formaldehyde releasers must be present in minimal concentrations. If their content exceeds the established standards, this should be indicated on the label. And in some countries, formalin is generally prohibited. So, in Japan and Sweden, any content of this substance in cosmetic products is unacceptable.
How to be and what to do?
Should I be wary of a substance like formaldehyde? The health formula, of course, does not include exposure to this gas. Meanwhile, it is impossible to completely avoid contact with the aforementioned irritant. Formaldehyde is part of some bath products; it is even found in some baby shampoos. True, manufacturers claim that it is unlikely that the baby will get irritated by such an insignificant concentration. So such contact is completely safe. But if the child has an individual intolerance, then irritation can appear even with such scanty amounts. Therefore, parents before buying cosmetics for crumbs need to pay attention to the label.
How to minimize the harmful effect?
Phenol formaldehyde is a very toxic substance. To weaken its effect is quite difficult. When gas is in the body, it changes dramatically. Upon decomposition, it is transformed into formic acid, or methyl alcohol. Of course, the best defense against this carcinogen is to avoid places and areas where it can be kept in high concentration. This is, first of all, traffic jams, industrial areas, furniture factories. It is also recommended not to linger in rooms that are not ventilated. In addition, you should know that many indoor plants are able to absorb formaldehyde from the air (for example, chlorophytum, ivy, ficus).