Urea Formaldehyde is found in both liquid and powder. The powder form can be found in pressed wood that was used in homes. The powder form can be inhaled easily and cause breathing difficulties, which is not as bad as the long term impact of this product. If used for long term, it could cause cancer. The other form of this product comes in liquid, which can be absorbed through the skin and cause irritation for its short term effect.
Bleach is commonly known to be used for cleaning. This product can cause irritation to eyes, mouth, and skin. If bleach is inhaled, it could cause respiratory problems such as asthma. This is just some of the known effects of this product, but it has been continuously used throughout homes.
Urea formaldehyde is pretty scary stuff. I am glad that it isn't used as much now as it was in the 70s. Pressed wood used to be fairly common in play structures too along with arsenic. It is so alarming to know it is associated with cancer!
ReplyDeleteYou're right on point regarding the formaldehyde. That acrid smell is so unmistakable, and I often wonder about its use in embalming fluid and how that affects funeral industry workers. I would like to believe that the formaldehyde-based products are properly disposed of as potentially harmful chemicals. But for such an underground industry, my sense is that they are likely contributors to unregulated chemical dumping in some areas.
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