While formaldehyde is known as an embalming agent, this chemical is also included into cleaning products, cosmetics or even building supplies. Having been classified as a probable carcinogen as well, formaldehyde has a huge health impact to our health. This substance has been linked to cancers like leukemia, or it may result in burning eyes, eczema and trouble breathing. To be aware, read five popular products with formaldehyde and important facts about them:
Cosmetics
The most formaldehyde have nail polishes, nail polish removers and hair-styling products, so try to use them minimally. Besides, skin care and baby products should also be avoided because in these products formaldehyde is used as preservative. Experts suggest checking the ingredients list. If you see some of these ingredients, don’t buy them no matter how innocent they look: diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, DMDM hydantoin, quaternium-15, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (most commonly known as bronopol), and sodium hydroxylmethylglycinate.”
Brazilian keratin
Brazilian keratin hair straightening technique, which helps women to forget curly hair for three months, has become extremely popular these days. However, this and many other hair smoothing procedures include high levels of formaldehyde. Doctors warn that many complaints from fair salon workers have been received and they all report itchy eyes, skin and respiratory problems. In addition, Canada has banned sales of any hair smoothing products containing formaldehyde.
Wrinkle-Free Fabric
To prevent clothes, bedding or other things from wrinkling, fabrics are often treated with wrinkle-free fabrics that are based on formaldehyde. Even more, in most cases formaldehyde levels exceed regulatory limits, so consumers may face allergic skin reaction, like a rash, blisters or even eczema out of nowhere. To avoid such unplanned reactions, experts recommend washing or dry cleaning all clothes before wearing them for the first time. Besides, formaldehyde is strictly guided in such countries as Japan, so exposure to this chemical can be minimized by buying clothes from there.