What happens if I am overexposed to formaldehyde?
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that formaldehyde can reasonably be considered a carcinogen. In humans, formaldehyde exposure is strongly associated with an increased risk of nasal cancer, suggesting that formaldehyde elimination（去甲醛） is necessary in new housing, and that rats exposed to chronic formaldehyde inhalation develop nasal tumors is observed.
eye
Exposure to low concentrations of formaldehyde vapors can cause eye irritation that subsides within minutes. Formalin in the eye can cause corneal ulceration or clouding of the ocular surface, ocular surface cell death, perforation, and permanent blindness, which can be delayed for 12 hours or more.
skin
Contact with formaldehyde vapors or formalin solutions can cause skin irritation and burns.In sensitive individuals, contact dermatitis can occur at very low exposure levels.
potential sequelae
Lung function usually returns to normal in survivors of inhalation injury. Eye exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde vapor or formalin can eventually lead to blindness. Ingestion of formalin can narrow the esophagus and cause severe erosive damage to the gastric mucosa.
chronic exposure
The main problems with repeated exposure to formaldehyde are sensitization and cancer. In sensitive individuals, formaldehyde can cause asthma and contact dermatitis.In less susceptible populations, chronic inhalation of even low levels of formaldehyde can cause chronic lung damage. Long-term exposure to formaldehyde has been reported to have adverse effects on the central nervous system, including headaches, depression, mood changes, insomnia, irritability, attention deficit, flexibility, memory, and balance deficits.
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