Formaldehyde News and Research

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Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used to manufacture building materials and to produce many household products. Formaldehyde sources in the home include pressed-wood products, cigarette smoke, and fuel-burning appliances. When exposed to formaldehyde, some individuals may experience various short-term health effects. Formaldehyde has been classified as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and as a probable human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Research studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have suggested an association between formaldehyde exposure and cancers of the nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, and brain, and possibly leukemia.

DNA extracted from museum specimens can provide genetic information

DNA in preserved museum specimens can allow scientists to explore the history of species and humanities impact on the ecosystem, but samples are typically preserved in formaldehyde which can damage DNA and make it very difficult to recover.

4 Feb 2020

Hair dyes raise the risk of breast cancers especially among black women says study

A new study has confirmed that permanent hair dyes and chemical hair straightener use are associated with breast cancers especially among African American women. There have been animal studies that reveal that these hair dyes and chemicals used for straightening the hair are associated with cancers. Human studies however have not shown consistent results establishing the relationship between the chemicals and the cancers.

5 Dec 2019

CDC cautions people to avoid e-cigarette products

Although e-cigarettes have been on the market for years, recent reports of vaping-linked illnesses have brought serious attention to these products.

5 Dec 2019

Epigenomic techniques used to fight disease

Humans differ from one another in many ways, including how they react to disease, because of their DNA blueprint, as well as the difference in the environments they face. These factors combine to make each person unique. Now a new study published in the journal Nature Protocols reports the development of a promising technology to uncover the process by which the body fights diseases in different ways.

4 Dec 2019

Researchers recommend actions to improve ventilation rates in classrooms

Roughly 85% of recently installed HVAC systems in K-12 classrooms investigated in California did not provide adequate ventilation, according to a study from UC Davis and the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab).

6 Nov 2019

Cigarettes vs. vaping: That’s the ‘wrong comparison,’ says inhalation researcher

Ilona Jaspers initially approached the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses with a clinical curiosity.

4 Nov 2019

As vaping devices evolve, new potential hazards scrutinized

The smokeless tobacco industry that began with low-voltage cigarette look-alikes has evolved to include customizable, high-wattage machines capable of generating enormous clouds of vapor - and potentially toxic substances.

24 Oct 2019

Why Mattresses Could be a Health Threat to Sleeping Children

Researchers at the Israel Institute of Technology have found that children’s mattresses may represent a health hazard as they emit some dangerous pollutants at concerning levels overnight.

11 Jul 2019

Does it make sense to delay children’s vaccines?

When Elyse Imamura's son was an infant, she and her husband, Robert, chose to spread out his vaccinations at a more gradual pace than the official schedule recommended.

20 Mar 2019

Study emphasize need for educational outreach, policy change to reduce health hazards at salons

The nail salon industry has seen rapid growth within the last 20 years, becoming increasingly popular among women of all ages who like to get their nails professionally done.

6 Feb 2019

New genetically modified common houseplant purifies air around it

We like to keep the air in our homes as clean as possible, and sometimes we use HEPA air filters to keep offending allergens and dust particles at bay.

20 Dec 2018

Genetically modified houseplant can efficiently detoxify indoor air

Our homes are supposed to be safe havens from the outside world. However, studies have shown that household air is more polluted than either office or school air, exposing children and home workers to higher levels of carcinogens than the general population.

19 Dec 2018

Nail polish labels that promote fewer ingredients are not necessarily safer

Consumers are growing more knowledgeable about the potential health effects of nail polish, and manufacturers have taken action.

11 Oct 2018

New book explores unlikely origins of food regulation

Milk may seem as wholesome a drink as there is, but it was not always so.

4 Oct 2018

Study: Treating e-cigarettes like cigarettes could lead to misguided research and policy initiatives

"Cigarette" might appear in the term "e-cigarette" but that is as far as their similarities extend, reports a new Northwestern Medicine report published Friday, Sept. 28, in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research.

3 Oct 2018

FDA launches new comprehensive effort to educate kids about dangers of e-cigarettes

In the latest of a series of actions to address the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration today launched "The Real Cost" Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign, a new, comprehensive effort aimed at educating kids about the dangers of e-cigarettes.

18 Sep 2018

Considerable amounts of cancer-causing chemicals gets absorbed by lungs during vaping

E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular as a smoke-free alternative to conventional tobacco cigarettes, but the health effects of "vaping" on humans have been debated in the scientific and tobacco manufacturing communities.

11 Sep 2018

E-cigarettes can damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer, say researchers

The chemicals present in e-cigarettes can alter DNA in oral cells and increase the risk of cancer, according a new study.

20 Aug 2018

Vaping may modify DNA

The popularity of electronic cigarettes continues to grow worldwide, as many people view them as a safer alternative to smoking. But the long-term effects of e-cigarette usage, commonly called "vaping," are unknown. Today, researchers report that vaping may modify the genetic material, or DNA, in the oral cells of users, which could increase their cancer risk.

20 Aug 2018

Study reveals role of RUNX proteins in DNA repair

A study by researchers from the Cancer Science Institute of Singapore at the National University of Singapore has revealed that RUNX proteins are integral to efficient DNA repair via the Fanconi Anemia pathway.

15 Aug 2018