5 Things You Should Know about Formaldehyde

What kills germs and keeps fabric from wrinkling? You guessed it: formaldehyde. And while those two traits may sound like a good thing — especially if you hate ironing clothes — formaldehyde has been tied to several health issues. Here are a few facts about formaldehyde you should know — and how you can reduce your exposure.

Formaldehyde goes by many names. The colorless, pungent gas is referred to as formalin when it’s in liquid form, but it’s also known as methylene glycol, methylene oxide, paraform, formic aldehyde, methanal, oxomethane, oxymethylene, or CAS Number 50–00–0. All of these are names for formaldehyde under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Formaldehyde standard.

Formaldehyde has been making fabric wrinkle-resistant for over 75 years. In the 1930s, a British textile manufacturer, Tootal Broadhurst Lee Co., used formaldehyde to make its fabric wrinkle-free. The company’s Tootal tie was one of the first garments marketed as being crease-resistant.

Because the concentration of formaldehyde in the fabric was so high, customers reported allergic reactions, including contact dermatitis. Over the last 25 years, the technology used in the apparel manufacturing industry has evolved to use less formaldehyde in treating fabric.

Formaldehyde is used to kill bacteria, molds, yeast and fungi. Its popularity in cosmetics and personal care products is due to its disinfecting abilities.

Prolonged exposure to formaldehyde has been linked to leukemia in humans. Studies conducted by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health have shown an association between workers who were regularly exposed to formaldehyde and leukemia.

Hair smoothing treatments used in salons may be a source of formaldehyde. In late 2011, consulting firm ChemRisk published a study that found some hair-smoothing products, including some labeled formaldehyde-free, contain formaldehyde. Their tests indicated that formaldehyde levels of these products were above OSHA’s short term exposure limit.

How can you limit your exposure to formaldehyde?

• Reduce the number of permanent-press or wrinkle-resistant clothing items in your wardrobe.
• Wash clothing prior to wearing it to reduce or remove formaldehyde that may have been used prior to shipping it from overseas manufacturers.
• Check product labels for formaldehyde and its associated names.
• Ask your hair salon professional to use only formaldehyde-free products on your hair.