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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday classified the industrial chemical formaldehyde as a carcinogen in its 12th Report on Carcinogens.
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, and strong-smelling chemical used to make resins for household products such as composite wood products, paper product coatings, plastics, synthetic fibers, and textile finishes, according to the HHS press release. It is also commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories, mortuaries, and some consumer products, including some hair straightening products (as well as for preserving animals for science classes, such as the frogs shown).
Formaldehyde was initially listed as a reasonably-anticipated human carcinogen in the 2nd Report on Carcinogens. There is now sufficient evidence from human studies showing that high exposure to formaldehyde can increase the risk nasopharyngeal cancer, sinonasal cancer, and myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, according to the press release. Formaldehyde had previously been shown to cause nasal cancer in rats.
There are now 240 substances listed in the report, which is produced by the National Toxicology Program, a program run by the HHS.
Consumer Reports recommends reducing exposure to formaldehyde with formaldehyde-free keratin hair treatments, using formaldehyde-free building materials, and washing newly-purchased clothing.
—Evan MacDonald
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