How can one tell whether one’s symptoms or health problems have been caused by exposure to formaldehyde? - Katrina/FEMA trailer occupant
We do not strictly control Google ad content. If you believe any Google ad is inappropriate, please email us directly here.
Formaldehyde exposures even at concentrations as low as 0.04 ppm have been shown to apparently cause sub-clinical respiratory inflammatory responses which can be detected by expired breath analyses to determine nitric oxide (NO) in one’s breath. Such an analysis is the only known test that can demonstrate that formaldehyde can cause adverse health effects at concentrations found in building environments.
In addition to its effects on the respiratory system, formaldehyde can also affect the central nervous system (CNS). Common CNS symptoms associated with formaldehyde exposures in buildings include frequent headaches, unusual fatigue, lassitude and disturbed sleep.
There are certain patterns in symptom/health responses to formaldehyde levels in indoor environments. These include:
- Onset of symptoms in time after moving into a formaldehyde-contaminated indoor environment
- Symptoms most severe in those individuals who spend the most time in the formaldehyde-contaminated environment (e.g., full-time homemakers, pre-school age children)
- As a general rule symptoms are more severe in young children
- Symptoms diminish in severity when away (e.g., visiting parents for several days) and recur on returning
- Symptom severity increases with increasing formaldehyde concentration
- Symptoms diminish in severity when the structure is ventilated by opening windows
- Symptoms increase in severity on very warm, humid days
- Symptoms diminish in severity on cool relatively dry days
- Symptoms are fewer and less severe in adult males under the age of 65
- Symptoms generally decrease in severity over time
- Symptoms reported by visitors to the formaldehyde contaminated environment.
HHI Error Correction Policy
HHI is committed to accuracy of content and correcting information that is incomplete or inaccurate. With our broad scope of coverage of healthful indoor environments, and desire to rapidly publish info to benefit the community, mistakes are inevitable. HHI has established an error correction policy to welcome corrections or enhancements to our information. Please help us improve the quality of our content by contacting allen@healthyhouseinstitute.com with corrections or suggestions for improvement. Each contact will receive a respectful reply.
The Healthy House Institute (HHI), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HealthyHouseInstitute.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on creating healthy home environments.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HHI provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HHI: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
