Formaldehyde Free Insulation

If you are installing Insulation in your home, it is best to use the new Formaldehyde Free insulation to minimize your possible exposure to any form of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known allergenic chemical which can affect a lot of people. Using a formaldehyde free form of insulation will help protect your family from exposure to formaldehyde in other forms of insulation. People who are chemically sensitive to formaldehyde should avoid regular insulation and use the new Formaldehyde Free insulation.

Insulation Suppliers On The Rise

Insulation suppliers help you with a cost efficient process such as that of installing insulation in your house that will ease your need for more temperature controls such as air conditioning units or electric fires. Products that are designed to heat or cool your house will have a constant running cost, usually since they are plugged into the main power supply and hence will affect your monthly, quarterly or annual energy bills. One more advantage of thermal insulation installation is that some noise and vibration will get absorbed in the material. This can help in the reduction of outside noise or vibrations from appliances attached to walls. Your house can become a more comfortable place to live in if all of these factors are blended together. According to the general policy of the building trade, most new houses are already installed with insulation fixed into their roof and walls. However, you can install some additional forms of insulation, which can trim down the costs even further. They can be like; insulation of your hot water pipes, increasing water temperature by 2-4 F. This implies that you can decrease your water temperature setting.

An insulation supplier can help you with different types of home insulation products, for instance from cavity wall and loft insulation to draught proofing, etc. One of the types of loft insulation is a mineral fiberglass. It is basically rolled between and over the beams in your roof to a depth of around 270mm. It acts as a blanket efficiently and traps the rising heat from the house below.
Cavity Wall Insulation is probably the best method of reducing the energy significantly that is needed to heat your home. Most of the residential buildings have the external walls made up of two layers of bricks with a small air gap or ’cavity’ between them. Cavity wall insulation helps fill this gap with a unique mineral fiber, which decreases the amount of heat that can escape through the walls.

With the surging energy bills and gas and electricity prices inflating constantly, you can always make your home more energy efficient with simple solutions like that of thermal insulation. The installation of thermal insulation at your home can help you save hundreds of pounds on your energy bills and would also increase your energy efficiency. There’s an abundance of insulation suppliers in the market. But be sure to choose one with industry accreditations and a good testimony of customer service.

In this regard, there are some reputable and trusted names of insulation suppliers in the industry that can help you effectively in installing the insulation products in your home. These companies, taking into consideration your concern for energy costs, indoor air quality and “green” building techniques, can help you to avail advantages such as, lower energy bills, better indoor air quality, control moisture, a safe, healthy home environment, superior sound control, environmental satisfaction with additional post consumer recycled content. You can get high quality and eco friendly insulation products that are also Formaldehyde-free, and at competitive prices so that your profit margins remain in tact.

So, it is advisable to look for the best of insulation suppliers available in the market, by checking their work performance.

By: JJ Leshell.

Source: Formaldehyde Free

Formaldehyde

What can I do to reduce exposure to formaldehyde when using formaldehyde releasing hair smoothing/straightening products?

Employers, stylists, and other salon workers should read the product information and MSDSs for the products they buy and use so that they know what chemicals are in them and how to use them safely in the workplace. The best way to control exposure to formaldehyde is to use products that do not list formaldehyde, formalin, methylene glycol, or any of the other names for formaldehyde listed above on the label or in the MSDS. Beauty care companies are now making and selling products that they claim do not contain formaldehyde in the solution. Choosing one of these products might eliminate the risk of formaldehyde exposure. Note that just because a product doesn’t list formaldehyde, formalin, or methylene glycol does not mean that it does not contain any other hazardous ingredients.

If salon owners decide to use products that contain or release formaldehyde, then they must follow the requirements in OSHA’s Formaldehyde standard. The standard requires that employers test the air to find out the level of formaldehyde present in the air when the product is being used. If the test shows that formaldehyde is present at levels above OSHA’s limits (0.75 parts of formaldehyde per million parts (or ppm) of air during an 8-hour work shift or 2 ppm during any 15-minute period), then the employer must:

Install air ventilation systems in the areas where these products are mixed and used to help keep formaldehyde levels below OSHA’s limit and perform regular maintenance to make sure the systems work correctly;  When possible, require workers to use lower heat settings on blow-dryers and flat irons used during the process;  Give workers respirators, if needed; train them to use the respirator properly; and meet the other requirements in OSHA’s Respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134;  Ensure workers understand the information on a product’s label and MSDS;
Post signs at entryways to any area where formaldehyde is above OSHA’s limit to tell workers of the danger and stating that only authorized personnel may enter;
Tell workers about the health effects of formaldehyde, how to use the product safely, and what personal protective equipment to wear while using the product; and Train workers how to safely clean up spills and properly throw products out.
In addition, where the tests show that formaldehyde is present in the air at a level of 0.5 ppm during an 8-hour work shift or 2 ppm during any 15-minute period, then the employer must:

Get workers the right medical attention (e.g., doctor exams), and est the air periodically to make sure that formaldehyde levels are below OSHA’s limits.
Whether or not air tests show formaldehyde levels above OSHA’s limits, employers must follow certain parts of the standard if a product contains formaldehyde:

Give employees appropriate gloves and other personal protective equipment (e.g., face shield, chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant aprons) and train them on how to use this equipment while mixing and applying the products;

Explain to workers how to read and understand the information on a product’s label and MSDS;

Worker’s Training On Exposure To Formaldehyde

Make sure the workplace has eye and skin washing equipment if products that contain formaldehyde could be splashed onto the workers’ skin or into their eyes;

Train workers how to safely clean up spills and properly throw products out; and  Get workers the right medical attention (e.g., doctor exams) if they develop signs and symptoms of an exposure to formaldehyde or are exposed to large amounts of formaldehyde during an emergency (e.g., a large spill).
Employers must also keep records of the air tests they perform, any medical attention needed by their employees, and respirator fit-testing.

For more information about how to control formaldehyde exposures in hair salons, read Oregon OSHA’s hazard alert [495 KB PDF, 2 pages] and Cal/OSHA’s Advisory [33 KB PDF, 2 pages].

Source: OSHA Warning on Exposure To Formaldehyde

Exposure To Formaldehyde Hair Products

If you are concerned about the possible exposure to formaldehyde, the following product from Brazil was warned by the FDA. See Below

“The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to the importer and distributor of Brazilian Blowout Acai Professional Smoothing Solution (GIB LLC dba Brazilian Blowout) identifying this product as adulterated and misbranded because it contains methylene glycol, which can release formaldehyde during the normal conditions of use, and because the label makes misleading statements (“Formaldehyde Free” or “No Formaldehyde”)”

If you are into Straightening your hair, it is important that you understand that labels will not protect you from exposure to formaldehyde due to mislabeling.

Should I Be Concerned About an Exposure to Formaldehyde

If we look at the strong-smelling gas of Formaldehyde, the first thing we notice about it is that there is no color, yes it is colorless. If you walked into a  mobile home in the middle of the hot afternoon, the first thing you will notice is that your eyes will start to water. You will aso have a burning or stinging
sensation in your mucus areas of your nose and throat. It can cause some people to cough or wheeze. I know one person that gets skin rashes and is highly  allergic to formaldehyde.

There are some people who formaldehyde does not even bother them initially upon contact. It seems to have a delayed effect till the symptoms appear later that day. Exposure to formaldehyde has been shown to cause cancer in studies with laboratory animals. It may also cause cancer in humans but there are no  clinical trials to prove this. The best option is to try to avoid exposure to formaldehyde, so if it does cause cancer, you will not be one of the victims.

How People React To An Exposure To Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde affects people in different ways. Some will have an allergic reaction such as hives or a reddening of the area of exposure. One exposure route is from permanent press clothing that is not washed prior to wearing. I had one client who ended up in the emergency room due to an exposure to new clothing. Like I said, everyone is different. Some people have an allergic reaction such as cold or flu symptoms.

It is in small amounts in a combination of things in your home, examples of these will be clothing, paint on wall or painted furniture, carpeting and your couches. During most of my investigations, I find it mainly in the Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets. It is used in glues as part of the binder process.

Formaldehyde is released from building products in your home by the change of temperature and humidity. It is worst the first year and slowly gets less and less over a number of years. If you plan on rebuilding parts of your home, avoid any particle board furniture, certain types of shelving, furniture and cabinets. I
recently saw a non-formaldehyde plywood in Home Depot which seems to be the trend now.

In conclusion, all of us react to exposure to formaldehyde in different ways. Some gets respiratory symptoms, others cold and flu symptoms. We are all different but we all react differently but the end result is still the same. We are all allergic to an exposure to formaldehyde. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us or
visit our website for air testing.

What You Need To Know About Organic Skin Care & Formaldehyde

Today’s consumers are more conscious of their health and the environment due to the presence of formaldehyde in certain cosmetics, there are more organic skin care products available than ever before.  There are a lot of people that have developed allergies to all of the toxins and chemicals used in today’s skin care produts. A lot of women are looking for a healthier alternative.  Some commonly used ingredients in commercial products include formaldehyde, fragrances for smell and dyes for colors.

By contrast, organic skin care products contain natural ingredients such as vitamins A, C, or E, essential oils, antioxidants, or proteins.  These are necessary to replace the skin cells lost as we age.  As the body gets older, it produces less collagen and elastin, which leads to dry, wrinkled skin.  Re-hydrating the cells from the outside is the only way to repair this age-related damage.

You can now find organic skin care products in almost any pharmacy, drug store, or health food and nutrition store that are not suspose to contain formaldehyde.  If you do not have access to any of these places, there are many retailers online to choose your natural cosmetics from.  Some spas and salons have also added organic products to their inventory, so you may want to look there as well.  Most of these products are free of fragrances and dyes and will not cause or aggravate existing allergies.

There are organic products available both men and women.  Men can find organic shaving lotion and after-shave, while women usually have more options of cleansers, creams, toners, and gels.  Unfortunately, organic products generally cost more than the synthetic version of the same item.  It is worth the extra cost to protect your skin and your health from toxic chemicals and preservatives.

An alarming number of mainstream skin care products may contain the wetting agents diethanolamine and triethanolamine, sometimes listed on ingredient labels as DEA and TEA, respectively.  These substances by themselves are not considered to be a cancer risk.  If the product contains nitrites as contaminants, this may cause a chemical reaction that creates cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Most commercial cosmetic products include some type of bactericides or preservatives.  These are necessary to protect the cosmetics from contamination, but may also be dangerous or even carcinogenic.  For instance, trace amounts of formaldehyde are found in some products.  Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen and is neurotoxic in higher doses.

Formaldehyde and Organic Products

How can you be sure that your skin care products are really organic?  Unfortunately, there is still plenty of room for vagueness in labeling of cosmetic products.  Generally, a cosmetic product must follow the same USDA rules as would a food product.  The product must contain no less than 95% organic and natural ingredients in order to qualify for the label.

After the 95% threshhold is met, there is a serious lack of additional guidance and regulations.  There are no restrictions on the words cosmetic manufacturers can use on their labels, so you many see plenty of products called “organic” or “botanical” even though they may still contain a small amount of synthetic chemicals.  Read the ingredient labels carefully to be sure that your organic skin care products are really made of only organic materials.

What is Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is an important chemical used to make other  Chemicals used in industrial use, building materials such as plywood, and household products. It is one of the large group of industrial chemicals called volatile organic compounds  or ‘VOCs’. The term volatile means that the compounds can vaporize and become a gas at room temperature.

Uses of Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde has many purposes in industrial products such as the following:

1. Formaldehyde is used as an ingredient in a glue in pressed wood products such as particleboard, hardwood, plywood, and medium density fiberboard or MDF Board.
2. Can be used as a preservative in certain paints, sealers or coatings, and cosmetics;
3. It is used as a coating on your permanent press on your clothes, fabrics and draperies.
4. Paper can be coated with it to make it shine or stronger.
5. Formaldehyde is an ingredient in different types of insulation. It is used in such urea-formaldehyde insulation, foam and fiberglass.

Formaldehyde is used in lots of products and you must be aware of with all the new importants coming in from China. China does not have the same rules that the USA has regarding chemicals such as formaldehyde. As a consumer, you must be aware of formaldehyde in lots of products.

How You Can Be Exposed To Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde exposure can happen from breathing it or being absorbed thru the skin or eyes. Most of the time you can detect it by smell. Individuals with Allergies to formaldehyde can experience headaches, eye and airway irritation. If you are sensitized to formaldehyde, odor is not an indicator of formaldehyde exposure. Air Testing can help identify formaldehyde.

OSHA measures formaldehyde exposure in PEL’s (Permissible Exposure Limits). The PEL is 0.75 ppm. There are some Chemically Sensitive People that will react to formaldehyde at even levels lower than .75 ppm.

Exposure to formaldehyde can cause severe mucus membrane irritation, respiratory effects that can include bronchitis, pulmonary edema or pneumonia. Chemically Sensitive individuals will experience Asthma and Allergy Symptoms or dermatitis at very low dose exposure.

Warning: If you are in a poorly ventilated area during your exposure, formaldehyde exposure can result in asphyxiation. Exposure to formaldehyde is nothing to play around with; if you have a formaldehyde exposure severe reaction, seek medical help immediately.

Formaldehyde Exposure

Formaldehyde poisoning is also known as exposure to formaldehyde, formaldehyde exposure toxicity, formaldehyde toxicity, formalin toxicity, formalin exposure toxicity and formalin intoxication. People who have been exposed to formaldehyde in many of its different forms are more likely to suffer from formaldehyde poisoning. There are many products on the market that cantain formaldehyde that can cause the symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning. The symptoms can range from a mild allergy to acute poisoning.

In all cases, the level of severity of formaldehyde poisoning depends on the amount of formaldehyde inhaled, absorbed thru the skin or ingested by a person. If you feel that you have been poisioned by formaldehyde, go to a hospital immediately to seek treatment. Be sure to tell them about your exposure. They will know what to do. If the levels are high enough from the exposure to formaldehyde gas, death may result. That is why you need to read the labels on any containers that may contain the chemical compound formaldehyde. It is important to know and understand the symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning and how to treat it. It is nothing to fool around with. It is toxic in all forms.

Always remember to live in a Safe Home that has good Indoor Air Quality.

Formaldehyde

What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is an a chemical that is used to make many differnt types of other chemicals. It is also used to make building materials such as plywood and other household products such as cabinets. It is one of the large family of chemical compounds called volatile organic compounds or “VOCs.” The term volatile means that the compound vaporizes, that is, becomes a
gas, at normal room temperatures.

Formaldehyde serves many purposes in products. It is used as a part of:

1. Glue or any type of adhesive in pressed wood products like particleboard, different types of plywood and other fiberboards.

2. Some companies also use it as a preservative in paint, exterior coating and even cosmetics. You girls did not know you were putting formaldehyde on your face did you?

3. It is usedon clothing such as permanent press coating on pants, dresses, fabrics and draperies.

4. Another use is a coating on certain types of paper used in construction or paper products.

5. My favorite of all times, it is used in multipe types of insulation such as urea-formaldehyde in your attic or urea-formaldehyde foam type insulation. There is formaldehyde free insulation on the market also.

If you have a fire in your home that affects the insulation, it will release the formaldehyde into the air. Other sources are different types of burning such as cigarettes. It outgasses from materials made from it.

Have you ever been in a mobile home that was closed up and not aired out. That is formaldehyde that you smell and burns your eyes when your enter the mobile home. It takes years for it to outgass before it stops outgassing.

A lot of people can develope an allergic reaction to formaldehyde from breathing it and thru skin contact. Skin contact comes from unwashed new clothing. People with Asthma need to avoid formaldehyde.

It is important to live in a Safe Home with good Indoor Air Quality.
Formaldehyde is very bad for individuals with Asthma, Allergies or Chemically Sensitive.