Toxnet.nlm.nih.gov is a great resource for environmental research. It can also be used to look up specific chemicals and learn more about what it is, where it is used, the exposure and risk. I looked up formaldehyde and bleach.
Formaldehyde, the database describes it as a colorless, flammable gas that “is used mostly to make resins used in building materials, coatings for paper and clothing fabrics, and synthetic fibers”. Formaldehyde is also used to make other chemicals and it is found in smoke from burning tobacco or fuels. Health effects with short-term exposure can cause skin, eyes, nose and throat irritation. In regard to long-term exposure, some studies have found formaldehyde-exposed workers to have an increased risk of dying from myeloid leukemia or cancer of the nose or pharynx. “Nasal tissue damage and nose tumors were found in laboratory animals who breathed in moderate concentrations of formaldehyde in the air for 6 hours per day for most of their lives.” Formaldehyde has been determined carcinogenic to humans, based on evidence for myeloid leukemia or cancer of the nose.
Bleach, chlorine is the chemical in bleach that has a wide range of uses as a disinfectant. In the general population exposure to chlorine at low levels include drinking chlorinated water or when swimming in chlorinated pools or hot tubs, and when chlorine is used in water disinfection processes it transforms into other chemicals. Other exposures can be the mixing of toilet cleaner and bleach this can form chlorine vapors that can cause irritation and burns to skin, eyes, nose, and throat followed by coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain will occur at high vapor levels. Chlorine has not been identified as a carcinogenic.
There is so much information available to us in this age of technology, and while I love information at times it does feel overwhelming. With that said, it is critical to understand and be informed of toxins that can negatively impact our health so make healthier decisions.
Formaldehyde, the database describes it as a colorless, flammable gas that “is used mostly to make resins used in building materials, coatings for paper and clothing fabrics, and synthetic fibers”. Formaldehyde is also used to make other chemicals and it is found in smoke from burning tobacco or fuels. Health effects with short-term exposure can cause skin, eyes, nose and throat irritation. In regard to long-term exposure, some studies have found formaldehyde-exposed workers to have an increased risk of dying from myeloid leukemia or cancer of the nose or pharynx. “Nasal tissue damage and nose tumors were found in laboratory animals who breathed in moderate concentrations of formaldehyde in the air for 6 hours per day for most of their lives.” Formaldehyde has been determined carcinogenic to humans, based on evidence for myeloid leukemia or cancer of the nose.
Bleach, chlorine is the chemical in bleach that has a wide range of uses as a disinfectant. In the general population exposure to chlorine at low levels include drinking chlorinated water or when swimming in chlorinated pools or hot tubs, and when chlorine is used in water disinfection processes it transforms into other chemicals. Other exposures can be the mixing of toilet cleaner and bleach this can form chlorine vapors that can cause irritation and burns to skin, eyes, nose, and throat followed by coughing and wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain will occur at high vapor levels. Chlorine has not been identified as a carcinogenic.
There is so much information available to us in this age of technology, and while I love information at times it does feel overwhelming. With that said, it is critical to understand and be informed of toxins that can negatively impact our health so make healthier decisions.
I agree...the amount of information can be overwhelming. I think there should be ways to make it easier to receive this information and in ways that are easy to comprehend and convenient. This way we can more easily be informed of these toxins and how they are impacting our health. I think some of us get so used to the products that we use or are exposed to everyday that we don't even really think about what is in them and how they could be impacting our health.
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