Question from Magaret
Hi I don’t know if this is something that can be answered by you or anyone else.
I recently tested air for formaldehyde at home and work. The lab report found that the levels were both 14-15 parts per billion. I know that those levels are well below the EPA guidelines, but for someone with sensitivities can it pose a potential issue?
The guy at Advanced Chemical Sensor lab didn’t seem to think that level could be considered a problem. I thought I’d double check with you.
I’m wondering this because I have noticed some symptoms (brain fog & weird feeling in body) at work, but not at home.
I did another air test for my work space, but just for VOC’s. All it revealed was (again) a low level of Acetone, which didn’t seem too remarkable to the lab.
For what it is worth, prior to doing the testing and during a particularly toxic feeling episode, a holistic dr whom I’d consulted mentioned that I seemed to have some minor formaldehyde issue coming up in my body. (It was however among other more major issues, like pesticide and petroleum solvent exposure.)
Debra’s Answer
Whether or not one reacts to a particular chemical exposure is a very individual thing.
It depends on how much you’ve been exposed to and how often, other chemicals in your body, your general health…you could put ten people in a room with the same chemical exposure and each will respond differently.
The traditional toxicology viewpoint is that it takes a certain amount of a chemical to cause a toxic response and that can happen all at once or build up in your body over time. But what we are learning now is that some chemicals–like endocrine disruptors–can cause damage at extremely low doses, and people with MCS can react to exposures well below those considered safe. Children are much more susceptible, as are the elderly and those with chronic illness.
I would say if you are having symptoms, and you have known sensitivites, even that small amount can pose a potential issue.
ANY amount of a chemical can cause problems for some people. There is no safe level for lead, for example.
I would suggest to you to remove the source of formaldehyde until you can be in the room with no symptoms.
I too, have mcs symptoms mainley at work. What I would like to know from the person who asked this question. What are your other health issues. I myself have chronic candidiasis, I know that candida puts about 80 different toxins into the blood stream. When I have had too much sugars, or too much of my know allergens like coffee, especiall decaf coffee and commercial at that that my sysmptoms go crazy. My food allergies have alot to do with how my body reacts to formaldehydes and other aldehydes. For example, if carpets have been recently cleaned and still damp, or if excessive fragrances are used, but my reactions to the fragrances vary depending on if my food allergies are prevelent.
So, do you notice an increase of your symptoms at other times.