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Urea-formaldehyde (UF), also known as urea-methanal, so named for its common synthesis pathway and overall structure, [1] is a nontransparent thermosetting resin or polymer. It is produced from urea and formaldehyde. These resins are used in adhesives, plywood, particle board, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), and molded objects.
The Biden administration has officially determined the chemical formaldehyde poses an “unreasonable” risk to human health and should be regulated. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ...
To the average consumer, formaldehyde may be best known as an embalming agent. But this naturally occurring chemical is a major industrial staple, used in many consumer goods, including cleaning ...
Formaldehyde is a common precursor to more complex compounds and materials. In approximate order of decreasing consumption, products generated from formaldehyde include urea formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxymethylene plastics, 1,4-butanediol, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. [40]
Despite genuine concerns, formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance, of which human beings produce approximately 1.5 oz a day as a normal part of a healthy metabolism. Formaldehyde also occurs naturally in many fruits, such as bananas, apples, and carrots, and does not bioaccumulate in either plants or animals. [4]
Formaldehyde is dangerous to human health. [8] [9] In 2011, the US National Toxicology Program described formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen". [10] [11] [12] The danger of formaldehyde is a major reason for the development of formaldehyde releasers which release formaldehyde slowly at lower levels. [13]
Some people have a contact allergy to imidazolidinyl urea causing dermatitis. [3] Such people are often also allergic to diazolidinyl urea. In addition to being an allergen, it is a formaldehyde releaser, since it generates formaldehyde slowly as it degrades. Although the formaldehyde acts as a bactericidal preservative, it is a known carcinogen.
Formaldehyde in the air has long been recognized as a major occupational hazard in many industries; such as those using urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesives, or UF-based products like fiberboard, and UFFI spray foam insulation. Levels below 0.05 parts per million (ppm) were found to be positively correlated with eye and nasal irritation. [3]