Seven million pounds of formaldehyde are produced each year. Obviously, it’s not all used lab specimens in high school biology classes. The colorless, pungent liquid winds up in a variety of widely used products, from plywood and rugs to permanent press clothing.

Chemically, formaldehyde is fairly unstable – it easy breaks down into a toxic gas that seeps into the air and causes illness. The theory that explains formaldehyde sickness says that the inhaled molecules of the gas combine with a protein in the respiratory tract to form another substance capable of triggering the immune reaction we know as allergy.

Classic symptoms of short term formaldehyde exposure are burning eyes, headaches, itchy skin or rashes, chest pain, a runny nose or nasal congestion, dry cough, nausea and a sore throat. Diarrhea and asthma may also be a problem.

”Since (formaldehyde) is so ubiquitous, common respiratory diseases such as asthma and other phenomena such as allergic dermatitis may be more frequently associated with formaldehyde then is currently realized, ”says Ralph E. Yodaiken, M.D., of the Centers for Disease Control, in an editorial for one of the most widely read medical journals in the country (Journal of the American Association, October 9, 1981).

A case of formaldehyde induced illness that effected hundreds of people occurred at a new administration building at a state college in Pennsylvania. After working in the office for three years, secretaries and administrators alike began to experience the symptoms described above.

They would get progressively worse during the day, but feel better at night and on the weekends. When winter came and the heating system was turned on, people felt even worse. A squad of consultants was called in to conduct test. The cause was narrowed down to formaldehyde gas generated by furniture and by bookshelves made from laminated particleboard and plywood (two common sources of formaldehyde).

As with so many new homes and office buildings, energy saving measures had cut fresh air to practically nil. So part of the ”cure” was to open the windows, flooding the entire building with outside air for two weeks. The offensive desks, credenzas and bookshelves were also replaced.

After being left vacant for a full year, the building was eventually reopened. The staff resumed their work – without symptoms. That scenario has repeated itself again and again in office buildings from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles. And evidence now shows that long term exposure to formaldehyde may cause cancer.

As of this writing, one of the most common household sources of formaldehyde – urea formaldehyde foam insulation – has been banned by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Several doctors we spoke to express the hope that if consumers voluntarily avoid formaldehyde-laced products, manufacturers will be reluctant to put them on the market in the first place.

But for now, you’ll have to be your own formaldehyde watchdog. Read labels before you buy. Look carefully: formaldehyde may be disguised as formol, methylene oxide or formalin. Here are some other tips.

• If you’re doing any home building or remodeling, it may be worth your while to spend extra money for solid, genuine wood instead of particle board and plywood.
• If your house already has lots of plywood and particle board – in partitions, closets, cabinets and furniture – paint the surfaces with a low permeability paint.
• Instead of formaldehyde soaked carpeting, use washable cotton throw rugs on your floors (they also cut down on dust and mold).
• Before buying a home, check to see if it's foam insulated. If it is, keep shopping – or plan to have the insulation removed.
• Ventilate your house

Products That Commonly Contain Formaldehyde

Adhesives	Flame-resistant cloth	Photographic chemicals
Air fresheners	Grocery bags	Plastic
Antiperspirants	Hair spray	Shampoos
Carpets and drapes	Insecticides and fungicides	Soap
Chemical fertilizers	Insulation	Toothpaste
Cigarette smoke	Mouthwashes	Wallboard
Detergents	Nail polish	Wallpaper
Diesel fuel	Newsprint	Waxed paper
Disinfectant	Paper products	Wood veneer
Facial tissues	Permanent-press clothes