Rich Murray: Professional House Doctors: Singer: EPA: CPSC:
formaldehyde toxicity 6.10.1 rmforall

June 10 2001 Hello, If in humans, as in rats, aspartame and its
methanol component result in adducts of formaldehyde, bound to
RNA, DNA, and proteins in many tissue cells, then aspartame
reactors would probably react to other sources of formaldehyde.
The first and second references here list many symptoms that are also
reported by aspartame reactors. Living in a hot
new mobile home in an area of high humidity, cooking with
natural gas, smoking, and many deodorizers will increase exposure.

Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@...
1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505
505-986-9103

M.I.T. (physics and history, BA, 1964), Boston U. Graduate School
(psychology, MA, 1967): As a concerned layman, I want to clarify the
aspartame toxicity debate.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/618
long 40K summary

Excellent 5-page review by H.J. Roberts in "Townsend Letter",
Jan 2000, "Aspartame (NutraSweet) Addiction"
http://www.dorway.com/tldaddic.html http://www.sunsentpress.com/
H.J. Roberts, M.D. HRRobertsmd@... sunsentpress@...
Sunshine Sentinel Press 6708 Pamela Lane West Palm Beach, FL 33405
800-814-9800 561-588-7628 561-547-8008 fax
1038 page text "Aspartame Disease: An Ignored Epidemic"
published May 30 2001 $ 85.00 postpaid data from 1200 cases
http://www.aspartameispoison.com/contents.html 34 chapters
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http://www.prohousedr.com/formfact.htm

What Is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas compound (HCHO)
that can irritate eyes, mucous membranes and the upper
respiratory system. It can be inhaled or absorbed by the skin.
Formaldehyde is also a metabolic product of normal
living cells. Formaldehyde is an excellent resin and binding agent
and is very inexpensive to produce which
contributes to it's wide usage (approximately 6 billion pounds
are produced each year). The only way for you to
know how much formaldehyde may be in your home is to test.

Where Can Formaldehyde Be Found?
Formaldehyde is found virtually everywhere, indoors and out,
naturally occurring and man-made. It is a
combustion product found in cigarette and wood smoke,
natural gas, kerosene, exhaust from automobiles,
incinerators and power plants. It is also widely used in
building materials especially glue, Urea-formaldehyde foam
insulation and pressed-wood products such as plywood,
particle board, paneling and wood finishes. Many floor
coverings contain formaldehyde such as carpet as well as furnishings.
Also used in paper products, cosmetics,
deodorants, shampoos, fabric dyes and permanent-press fabrics,
inks, and disinfectants. Another common place
to find formaldehyde that seems out of place is in products that
are supposed to make our homes smell better such
as air and carpet deodorizers. Mobile homes, motor homes,
and travel trailers are known for high amounts of
formaldehyde since so many of their components may be
made from particle board or pressed-wood products.
The number of products that contain formaldehyde are as
astounding as it is depressing.

What Are The Health Effects Of Formaldehyde?
Symptoms of low-level exposure include; runny nose,
sore throat, cough, dermatitis, sleeping difficulties,
headache, fatigue, breathing difficulties, sinus irritation,
chest pain, frequent nausea, bronchitis, and decreased lung
capacity. Signs of acute exposure include; abdominal pain,
anxiety, coma, convulsions, diarrhea, and respiratory
problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia or pulmonary edema.

How Do I Test For Formaldehyde?
A Do-It-Yourself Test Kit is available from
Professional House Doctors, Inc. that measures concentrations as
low as 0.02 ppm, is easy to use, with complete instructions,
and contains enough solution to run 3 separate tests.

If There Is A Problem How Do I Fix It?
Finding and removing the source is the most effective,
but can be costly. Reducing the temperature and lowering
the humidity level to approximately 35 percent can also help
to diminish the effects. Formaldehyde tends to double
its level of outgassing for every 10°F increase in temperature.
There are also some surface barriers available to
cover and reduce the formaldehyde outgassing from some
components. Many other methods are available
depending upon the source and amount of formaldehyde present.

Further details are included with each test kit.

For more information on formaldehyde problems and
how to deal with them, or other indoor
environmental/building science concerns, testing or
consulting services, E-Mail us at info@...
Professional House Doctors, Inc.,
Environmental & Building Science Specialists, providing scientific
solutions to today's most challenging problems.
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http://freespace.virgin.net/ppm.ltd/neges2.html
Formaldehyde neurotoxicity

Many people are not aware the formaldehyde is neurotoxic.
Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning may include headache,
problems with memory, learning, concentration, sleep,
personality changes, and other symptoms. People with significant
exposure to formaldehyde with these symptoms may wish
to have a neurobehavioral toxicity examination.

Raymond Singer, Ph.D.
Neurobehavioral Toxicology and
Neuropsychology (Board Certified, ABPN)
phone (505) 466-1100 fax (505) 466-1101
http://members.aol.com/neurosite/index.htm neurotoxicity information
Posted by: Raymond Singer, Ph.D. on 3 March 1999 at 16:15
Next message in thread: Re: Formaldehyde neurotoxicity --
Maggie MacRaven 4/3/99
Return to the Formaldehyde Forum

Singer, R. (1990). Formaldehyde neurotoxicity.
Archives of Clinical Neurophychology, 5:2, 214.
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http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/formald2.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
Washington, DC 20207
CPSC Document #725 (reprinted by the U.S. EPA)

An Update on Formaldehyde: 1997 Revision

What is Formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical
used to make other chemicals, building materials,
and household products. It is one of the large family
of chemical compounds called volatile organic
compounds or 'VOCs'. The term volatile means that
the compounds vaporize, that is, become a gas,
at normal room temperatures. Formaldehyde serves
many purposes in products. It is used as a part of:

the glue or adhesive in pressed wood products
(particleboard, hardwood plywood, and
medium density fiberboard (MDF));
preservatives in some paints, coatings, and cosmetics;
the coating that provides permanent press
quality to fabrics and draperies;
the finish used to coat paper products; and
certain insulation materials
(urea-formaldehyde foam and fiberglass insulation).

Formaldehyde is released into the air by burning
wood, kerosene or natural gas, by automobiles,
and by cigarettes. Formaldehyde can off-gas from
materials made with it. It is also a naturally
occurring substance.

The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission has produced
this booklet to tell you about formaldehyde
found in the indoor air. This booklet tells you
where you may come in contact with formaldehyde,
how it may affect your health, and how you might
reduce your exposure to it.

Why Should You Be Concerned?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas.
When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm
(parts in a million parts of air), it can cause watery eyes,
burning sensations in the eyes, nose and
throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing,
skin rashes, and allergic reactions. It has also
been observed to cause cancer in scientific studies
using laboratory animals and may cause cancer
in humans. Typical exposures to humans are much lower;
thus any risk of causing cancer is
believed to be small at the level at which humans are exposed.

Formaldehyde can affect people differently.
Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde while
others may not have any noticeable reaction to the same level.

Persons have developed allergic reactions
(allergic skin disease and hives) to formaldehyde through
skin contact with solutions of formaldehyde or
durable-press clothing containing formaldehyde.
Others have developed asthmatic reactions and
skin rashes from exposure to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is just one of several gases present
indoors that may cause illnesses. Many of these
gases, as well as colds and flu, cause similar symptoms.

What Levels of Formaldehyde Are Normal?
Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels,
usually less than 0.03 ppm, in both outdoor and
indoor air. The outdoor air in rural areas has lower
concentrations while urban areas have higher
concentrations. Residences or offices that contain
products that release formaldehyde to the air can
have formaldehyde levels of greater than 0.03 ppm.
Products that may add formaldehyde to the air
include particleboard used as flooring underlayment,
shelving, furniture and cabinets; MDF in
cabinets and furniture; hardwood plywood wall panels,
and urea-formaldehyde foam used as
insulation. As formaldehyde levels increase, illness
or discomfort is more likely to occur and may be
more serious. [Continued...]
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Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by
scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: headaches; many
body and joint pains (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching,
spasms, cramps, or numbness); "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory,
confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia,
dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, nausea,
seizures, poor vision, hearing, or taste; fever, fatigue; red face,
itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat, dry mouth or eyes, mouth
sores; hair loss; obesity, bloating, edema, poor or excessive hunger
or thirst, anorexia; coldness; diarrhea or constipation; breathing
problems; racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar
levels; sweating; birth defects; brain cancers; addiction;
aggravates autism, ADHD, and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain).

Almost all are typical of chronic methanol-formaldehyde toxicity:
for detailed review http://www.dorway.com/barua.html
Journal Of The Diabetic Association Of India
1995 Vol. 35, No. 4. Emerging Facts About Aspartame
Dr. J. Barua (ophthalmic surgeon), Dr. Arun Bal (surgeon)
(79 references) barua@...
"...the total amount of methanol absorbed will be approximately
10% of aspartame ingested. An EPA assessment of methanol states
that methanol "is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate
of excretion once it is absorbed." The absorbed methanol is then
slowly converted to formaldehyde..."
"Reaction of formaldehyde with DNA has been observed,
by spectrophotometry and electron microscopy, to result in
irreversible denaturation."

A radioactive tracer study proves that the methanol from a low dose of
of aspartame binds formaldehyde, a deadly cumulative poison, into
tissues: Trocho C et al, June 26 1998, Life Sci, 63(5), 337-349.
http://ww.presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html
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