Increased risk of allergy in children due to formaldehyde exposure in homes

Abstract

Low-level exposure to indoor formaldehyde may increase the risk of allergic sensitization to common aeroallergens in children.

Personal Exposure of Children to Formaldehyde in Perth, Western Australia

“…These studies, which investigated children's respiratory health in relation to formaldehyde exposures based on stationary indoor measures, have indicated that respiratory impacts can occur at relatively low concentrations, as are found in conventional Australia homes (Garrett et al 1999;Franklin et al 2000). This further supports the need to more directly quantify the actual concentrations of formaldehyde children are being exposed to.…”

“…There has been some limited research undertaken in the field of children's health and formaldehyde, with some useful research undertaken within Australia (Garrett et al 1999;Franklin et al 2000;Rumchev et al 2002). These studies, which investigated children's respiratory health in relation to formaldehyde exposures based on stationary indoor measures, have indicated that respiratory impacts can occur at relatively low concentrations, as are found in conventional Australia homes (Garrett et al 1999;Franklin et al 2000).…”

“…It is an irritant of the upper respiratory tract at relatively low concentrations and has been associated with asthma development and asthma symptom exacerbation, particularly in children (Garrett et al 1999;Arts et al 2008). It is also associated with occupational asthma in adults (Horvath et al 1988;Godish 1990).…”

Expressing urine from a gel disposable diaper for biomonitoring using phthalates as an example

“…Ambient levels of VOCs, including formaldehyde, have been linked to reported asthma in children (Krzyzanowski et al, 1990;Ware et al, 1993;Garrett et al, 1999;Rumchev et al, 2000Rumchev et al, , 2002. The weight of evidence currently available linking VOCs to ill-health in adults suggests that ambient levels found in homes are unlikely to cause adverse effects, but research focusing on the impact of VOCs on the respiratory health of children is sparse.…”

“…The weight of evidence currently available linking VOCs to ill-health in adults suggests that ambient levels found in homes are unlikely to cause adverse effects, but research focusing on the impact of VOCs on the respiratory health of children is sparse. Formaldehyde has been associated with increased prevalence of atopy (Garrett et al, 1999) and higher levels of specific immunoglobulin E (Wantke et al, 1996) in children. Formaldehyde, at levels typically encountered in homes in developed countries, is associated with airway inflammation in both healthy children (Franklin et al, 2000) and adults (Wieslander et al, 1997).…”