Formaldehyde is found virtually everywhere, inside and outdoors. It is naturally occurring and man-made. It is widely used in building materials. The number of products that contain formaldehyde is impressive. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to avoid small quantities of formaldehyde. Most exposures to formaldehyde is airborne and usually with little effect. The most common skin exposures fabric finishes in clothing and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives in skin care products.

• Avoid permanent press and wrinkle free clothing, and avoid clothing needing to be dry-cleaned.

• 100% cotton, polyester or nylon clothing generally contains less formaldehyde than mixes.

• Please be aware that if your spouse or significant other uses topical skincare products that contain this chemical, skin-to-skin transfer may occur to you; and may take 2 to 3 weeks of avoiding exposure before improvement of your eruption begins.

Other names you may see Formaldehyde listed as or may be formaldehyde releasers:
  Bakzid P
  Biocide DS 5249
  Bronopol
  Dantoin MDMH
  Dowicil 200
  Dowicil 75
  Formaldehyde
  Formalin (aqueous)
  Formol
  Germall 115 9 (imidazolidinyl urea)
  Germall II (diazolidinyl urea)
  Glydant (DMDM dimethylolmethyl hydantoin
  Grotan BK

Where is it found?

What is it?

Hints on avoiding:

Antiperspirant
Astringent
Automobile exhaust
Building products
Cigarette smoke
Contraceptives
Coolants
Cosmetics
Cutting fluids
Dental plastics

Medicated creams
Metal working fluids
Mouthwash
Nail polish
Over the counter medications
Paint
Pathology fixatives
Plastics and resins
Paper
Pesticides
Photographic chemicals

Plywood
Rubber products
Shampoo
Shoes
Smoke from wood, charcoal
           and coal fires
Tanning agents
Textiles
Varnishes
Wart remedies
Wood composites

Disinfectants
Dry cleaning materials
Embalming solutions
Fabric finishesFertilizers
Fiberboard
Glue
Home cleansers
Insulation
Leather tanning
Linens
Mascara

Grotan HD2
Methanal (gas)
Methyaldehyde (gas)
Methylene oxide (gas)
Morbicid
Myacide BT
Onyxide 200
Oxymethylene

Paraformaldehyde
Parmetol K50
Polyoxymethylene urea
Preventol D1, -D2, -D3
Quaternium-15
Triadine-10
Tris nitro
Tris Nitro
Vancide TH
Veracur

Occupations with higher than normal risk include:
    Physicians
    Nurses
    Veterinarians
    Embalmers
    Clothing industry workers
    Furniture factory workers