Formaldehyde exposure can cause cancer according to NIH

Formaldehyde Causes Cancer

Formaldehyde exposure can cause rare malignancies such as throat cancer and sinus cancer according to the National Institutes of Health.

On Friday, the NIH released an updated list of cancer-causing substances. Formaldehyde, styrene and aristolochic acids are among the eight chemicals added to the list.

Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in many household products such as plastics, textiles and paper. It also has widespread use in the biomedical industry which utilize it as a preservative and a disinfectant.

Consumer items like hair products also contain formaldehyde. Mortuaries also use the chemical as a preservative. Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a strong odor. It can be found in liquid form as well.

Styrene is used in making food containers and fiberglass. The chemical is one of many carcinogens identified in tobacco smoke. The NIH said that styrene exposure is greatest among those who inhale smoke from cigarettes.

Aristolochic acids can cause cancer and damage to kidneys. This group is responsible for high rates for urinary tract and bladder cancer. It is found naturally in certain plants including some herbal medicine indicated for treatment of gout and arthritis.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration urged consumers a decade ago to stop using products that contain aristolochic acids because of dangerous effects. But many products are still bought online and abroad.

Formaldehyde exposure has been proven by past studies to raise the risk of cancer. But it is only now that the NIH formally classified the noxious chemical as a carcinogen.

Posted by George Daniels on Monday June 13 2011, 8:24 PM EST. Ref: AP. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0