Toxicity formaldehyde

There is no information about the mechanisms of formaldehyde toxicity, and the information available in the literature about formaldehyde toxicity in batch and continuous systems is difficult to extrapolate for design purposes (Tables 19.3 and 19.4). 

Chang CC, Gershwin ME Perspectives on formaldehyde toxicity separating fact from fantasy. Reg Toxicol Pharmacol 16 150-160, 1992... 

The biological role of PIMT involves the selective methylation of isoaspartate residues followed by a demethylation step to reform the succi-nimide intermediate. The demethylation causes the release of methanol which can be converted to formaldehyde and finally to formic acid, as demonstrated in rat brain preparations. It was found that S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM), the methyl donor, caused formaldehyde levels to rise in the rat brain homogenates, thus suggesting that excessive formaldehyde may be a precipitating factor in Parkinsons s disease (PD) (Lee et ah, 2008). It is possible that carnosine could suppress formaldehyde toxicity by reacting with it to generate a carnosine-formaldehyde adduct. This should be a relatively easy experiment to perform to test this prediction. 

Ku RH, Billings RE. 1986. The role of mitochondrial glutathione and cellular protein sulfhydryls in formaldehyde toxicity in glutathione-depleted rat hepatocytes. Arch Biochem Biophys 247 183-189. 

Sprince H, Parker CM, Smith GG. 1979. Comparison of protection by L- ascorbic acid, L-cysteine, and adrenergic-blocking agents against acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde toxicity Implications in smoking. Agents Actions 9 407-414. 

Heck H, Casanova M, and Starr TB (1990) Formaldehyde toxicity - new understanding. Critical Reviews in Toxicology 20 397-426. 

A few controlled exposure studies have found only subtle or infrequent effects of formaldehyde on lower respiratory tract function in this concentration range, supporting the hypotheses that the upper respiratory tract is a more likely target of formaldehyde toxicity than the lower respiratory tract and that pulmonary hypersensitivity to formaldehyde is rare (Green et al. 1987 Nordman et al. 1985 Sauder et al. 1986). 

In general, the information from reports of acute poisoning in humans ingesting formaldehyde and reports of studies of animals exposed to formaldehyde in air, in drinking water, or in the diet indicate that the liver is not a prime target of formaldehyde toxicity, and that hepatic effects from exposure to... 

Endocrine Effects. No information was available that reported the effects of formaldehyde on the endocrine system of humans after inhalation, oral, or dermal exposure. Formaldehyde has been reported not to exert adverse effects on organs of the endocrine system in laboratory animals and, hence, is not a major target organ for formaldehyde toxicity after inhalation (Appelman et al. 1988 Kamata et al. 1997 Kems et al. 1983b Maronpot et al. 1986 Monticello et al. 1989 Woutersen et al. 1987) or oral (Johannsen et al. 1986 Til et al. 1988b, 1989 Tobe et al. 1989 Vargova et al. 1993) exposure. No data regarding endocrine effects in animals after dermal exposure were located. 

Studies of animals exposed to formaldehyde in air, in drinking water or diet, or applied to the skin indicate that the reproductive organs are not a critical target for formaldehyde toxicity, but comprehensive assessments of reproductive performance (e.g., 2-generation studies) in formaldehyde-exposed animals were not located. 

Target organs of formaldehyde toxicity while in the gaseous phase are the respiratory tract and eyes. 

Andersen I, Molhave L. 1983. Controlled human studies with formaldehyde. In Gibson JE, ed. Formaldehyde toxicity. Washington, DC Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 154-165. 

Formaldehyde toxicity. Washington, DC Hemisphere Publishing Corporation, 166-174. 

Morgan KT, Kimbell JS, Monticello TM, et al. 1991. Studies of inspiratory airflow patterns in the nasal passages of the F344 rat and Rhesus monkey using nasal molds Relevance to formaldehyde toxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 110 223-240. 

Edited by Feinman SE. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1988a, pp 18-36 Feinman SE Formaldehyde toxicity, in Formaldehyde Sensitivity and Toxicity. Edited by Feinman SE. Boca Raton, FL, CRC Press, 1988b, pp 156-166 Fiedler N, Kipen H, DeMarco J, et al Neuropsychology and psychology of MCS. Toxicol Ind Health 10 545-554,1994... 

Woodbury MA, Zenz C Formaldehyde in the home environment prenatal and infant exposures, in Formaldehyde Toxicity. Edited by Gibson JE. Washington, DC, Hemisphere, 1980, pp 203-211... 

A factor that may affect the growth of amino resins is the question of formaldehyde toxicity. Like many other chemicals, aminoformaldehyde resins have encountered questions of product safety in recent years. This has been largely due to reports that formaldehyde causes nasal tumors in rats, although epidemiological studies of workers exposed to formaldehyde have shown no confirmation of this. 

Methanol oxidizes to formaldehyde (toxic), reacts with ethylene oxide to form 2-methoxyethanol (macrocytosic), and reacts with formic acid to form methyl formate (flammable nasal, conjunctival, and pulmonary irritant). It reacts with HBr or NaBr/H2S04, forming methyl bromide (pulmonary edema, narcotic). It forms... 

Major applications Electrical fittings, telephone handsets, radio housings, cigarette boxes, lampshades, tableware, cavity wall insulation (UFFI) from 1950s until 1980 when it was discontinued due to concern over formaldehyde toxicity. 

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