What is formaldehyde? Perhaps you have heard of it before, in the context of corpses, or of preserved animals in jars. No myth after all: formaldehyde solutions are used by professional morticians to embalm bodies. However, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents are also used in various types of cosmetics: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, mouthwash, bubble bath formulae, hairspray, mousse, toothpaste, mouthwash, mascara, talcum powder, hair dye, foundation, face cream, nail hardener, and nail polish.
It is odd that formaldehyde could be part of something as fussy and delicate as styling mousse or mascara, yet also found in cigarette smoke and oxygenated gasoline. The thing to keep in mind is its natural state. The National Cancer Institute describes it as a “colorless, flammable, strong-smelling gas” before going on to say that “[r]esearch studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain, and possibly leukemia.” It is certainly worth keeping in mind that the sparkling red polish on your well-manicured fingernails may well be a combustible carcinogen!
With all that, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that this chemical has many other long- and short- term impacts on your health as well. Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde fumes or formaldehyde-infused products can result in (besides the aforementioned cancer) dermatitis, asthma, an increased chance of contracting respiratory diseases, chronic fatigue, and pulmonary edema (lungs filling up with fluid). The worst of the short-term effects is probably the fact that contact with your cornea results in irreversible sight damage – possibly complete blindness. Other immediate consequences abound: irritation of the eyes, sneezing and coughing, sore throat, allergic skin reaction, blisters, and headaches. A chemical to avoid indeed!
It’s not just formaldehyde itself that you should watch out for. As mentioned earlier, many cosmetic products make use of substances which release formaldehyde, such as quaternium-15; 2-bromo-2nitropane-1,3-diol; imidazolidinyl urea; diazolidinyl urea; DMDM hydantoin; methyl chloroisiothiazolinone; methyl isothiazolinone; and phenoxyethenol. Furthermore, manufacturers in the European Union are not required to restrict formaldehyde levels if it is being used as an antibacterial ingredient, and warning labels are not mandatory.
Subterfuge, whether unintentional or not, can be found in plenty. Formaldehyde is a many-faced substance, going under many names. Before you go out shopping, confident that no formaldehyde-containing product will make its way into your cart, take note: it also is known as formalin, methanol, methyl aldehyde, methylene oxide, morbicid acid, and oxymethylene.
Even without exposing yourself to formaldehyde in processed products like cosmetics, your body does produce it in tiny quantities. You should remember, however, that many substances which are relatively safe in trace amounts are toxic in higher doses – case in point, selenium – and the formidable formaldehyde is certainly no exception.
ThinkQuest 2006: Xiaoxiao, Lisa, Susan & Sri
