What do the lab of a mad scientist and your household cleaners have in common? What about those two things and cosmetics? Or all of those things and Johnson and Johnson’s last formulation of baby soaps and shampoos? You’d hope nothing, but unfortunately the truth is that they are all common sources of a known carcinogen and highly toxic chemical you are probably fairly familiar with: Formaldehyde.

Have you ever been doing your nails or painting a room and thought to yourself that that burning sensation in your nose can’t be good for you? Whelp, you are right! Even a very low amount of formaldehyde is enough for an acute exposure. 0.03 ppm is enough to have a negative health impact on the body. Formaldehyde is toxic in nearly every form of exposure. In its gaseous form, it is toxic to inhale and can cause constriction and adhesion in the lungs. It’s heavier than air so inhaling it can even cause asphyxiation. Long term exposure can cause nasopharyngeal cancer and lung cancer. In its liquid form, it causes skin irritation and if you get it in your eyes, it can cause permanent blindness. This is something to consider when a number of hair products contain some amount of formaldehyde. It is found in larger amounts in products used to straighten or process hair. Some cosmetics also contain formaldehyde and you might remember the rather large stink that was made about Johnson & Johnson for having preservatives in their baby shampoo that released small amounts of formaldehyde when used. This was especially awful because it was in a product specific for babies who are more susceptible to most toxins, including formaldehyde.

The EPA has taken some steps towards limiting the amount of exposure that is considered low risk but we are also seeing a significant amount of water contamination due to the use of formaldehyde in agricultural settings as well. One of the more efficient methods for removing formaldehyde is a combination of UV radiation and ferrate(VI).

Formaldehyde is ubiquitous and some exposure is a given but there is no reason to be exposed beyond base environmental levels. Be a critical consumer and make sure that the products you are buying and using are doing their best to limit the amount of formaldehyde contained in their product. There are alternatives to almost every use of formaldehyde. Vote with your patronage and support products that prioritize safer components and ingredients.

Resources:

Personal Care Products with Formaldehyde

https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/formaldehyde.pdf

Formaldehyde - WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants - NCBI Bookshelf

Formaldehyde (EPA Profile)

6. ANALYTICAL METHODS (CDC Profile)

Formaldehyde And Formaldehyde-Releasing Preservatives - Safe Cosmetics

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479716307551