Formaldehyde and ways to limit your exposure

  March 2020

Our News

We are currently putting together the next edition of the MCS-Aware magazine which will be out in May. We have some interesting articles including MCS and Japan, hormonal health and toxins, an update on 5G, research on supermarkets & pesticides and much more. If you would like to subscribe click here to find out more.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help out with IT issues (experience with Joomla) and an accounting volunteer who has experience in general book keeping (needs to be able to come to the office in Hitchin once a month). If you know anyone or would like to volunteer please e-mail us on iThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Glossary: EI: Environmental Illness, MCS: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, EHS/ ES: Electro-Hypersensitivity

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a common chemical used in thousands of products as a binder, adhesive and solvent. Formaldehyde can also be formed when other chemicals break down, including natural chemicals e.g methane. It is a volatile organic compound (VOC) which means it is a chemical that becomes a gas at room temperature. As a result, products made with formaldehyde will release the gas into the air. This is called off-gassing. The liquid form (40% aqueous solution) of formaldehyde is called formalin and the solid form is paraformaldehyde (white powder). Formaldehyde can be absorbed by inhalation and ingestion and less well through the skin. Find out what products contain Formaldehyde and what you can do to protect yourself here.

Formaldehyde has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as carcinogenic to humans.

Beef noodles with broccoli and spring onions
Corn, egg, gluten, lactose, milk, nut, peanut & wheat free

This recipe is easy to make and really tasty. It is made with wheat-free noodles.Click here for the full recipe.

Babies frequently exposed to cleaning products at higher risk of asthma

New research suggests frequent exposure to common household cleaning products can increase a child's risk of developing asthma. The cohort study found young infants living in homes where cleaning products were used frequently were more likely to develop childhood wheeze and asthma by age three. Lead author Jaclyn Parks, a health sciences graduate student at Simon Fraser University in B.C., said the first few months of life are critical to the development of a baby's immune and respiratory systems.

"The risks of recurrent wheeze and asthma were notably higher in homes with frequent use of certain products, such as liquid or solid air fresheners, plug-in deodorizers, dusting sprays, antimicrobial hand sanitizers and oven cleaners," Parks said in a release.

"It may be important for people to consider removing scented spray cleaning products from their cleaning routine. We believe that the smell of a healthy home is no smell at all."

The study used data from 2,022 children enrolled in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development cohort study and examined their daily, weekly and monthly exposure to 26 types of household cleaners, including dishwashing and laundry detergents, cleaners, disinfectants, polishes and air fresheners.

By the age of three, 7.9 per cent of those living in homes where cleaning products were used frequently had asthma. That's compared to nearly five per cent diagnosed from homes that used low amounts of products.Data was collected between 2008 and 2015. Researchers also found the relationship between product exposure and respiratory problems was much stronger in girls than boys.

The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in February 2020. To read the full article also published on CBC News, click here.

 Latest News

Johanna Kuvaja is a singer songwriter who suffers from MCS. She presents her new ballad ‘Back for Good’. Read more about the Finnish singer here.

Dark Waters is at the cinemas in the UK now. Inspired by a shocking true story, a tenacious attorney (Ruffalo) uncovers a dark secret that connects a growing number of unexplained deaths due to one of the world's largest Pharmaceutical companies. Watch the trailer here.

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