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Government Agencies Take a Closer Look at Human Exposure to Formaldehyde

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 16:17:30 EST

Just last month, Safe Work Australia, a government statutory agency, changed the agency's hazardous substance entry for formaldehyde.  The agency's released a statement that included the following reasoning, 'Based on the NICNAS (National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme) Priority Existing Chemical Assessment Report for formaldehyde, Safe Work Australia has updated the entry in HSIS for formaldehyde to reflect recommended changes in classification. The update includes a change to the carcinogen classification from category 3 (limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect) to category 2 (may cause cancer by inhalation) ....'
 
Formaldehyde, a widely used chemical found in many manufacturing processes, common building materials and household furnishings, has come under increased scrutiny in recent years.  A number of government agencies, including in the U.S., have also raised concerns over the chemical's possible link with cancer.  Recently, the United States' National Toxicology Program, an interagency program of the Department of Health and Human Services, named formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen in its 12th Report on Carcinogens.  Formaldehyde was also classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
 
'Most people have no idea that they could be exposed to formaldehyde in the air at home or work on a daily basis due to off-gassing from everything from the carpet they walk on to the chair they sit on,' reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, an indoor air quality and formaldehyde test kit manufacturer.  'There are both long term and short term health concerns related to exposure to this chemical.  At IAQ Index, we have developed a consumer test kit that can quickly and accurately test the air for formaldehyde.  A report is then provided that provides easy to understand findings that lets the consumer know if they have a problem.'
 
IAQ Index supports an educational video about the dangers of exposure to formaldehyde that can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD4pTC8GVpE
 
To learn more about testing for formaldehyde or other indoor air quality (IAQ) contaminants, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com  or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA's Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.