What symptoms can be caused by excessive formaldehyde levels?
Disease description:
Recently moved into a newly renovated house, I have been experiencing persistent coughing, an itchy throat, sneezing, and some eye irritation and redness. At times, I also feel dizzy and very fatigued. I'm wondering whether this might be due to excessive formaldehyde levels in the house. Could elevated formaldehyde levels cause other, more severe symptoms?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Ren Yi
Formaldehyde is a common indoor air pollutant, and long-term exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde may cause the following symptoms:
1. Respiratory discomfort: Prolonged exposure to such an environment can irritate the respiratory tract, leading to persistent coughing, severe sore throat, and even shortness of breath.
2. Vision impairment: Formaldehyde poisoning may cause a strong burning sensation in the eyes, uncontrollable tearing, eye redness, and sensitivity to light. Long-term exposure could potentially lead to conjunctivitis, keratitis, and even vision loss.
3. Allergic purpura: Skin contact with formaldehyde may result in red patches, rashes, severe itching, dryness, and peeling. Long-term exposure may further contribute to conditions such as allergic purpura.
4. Coma: Formaldehyde may affect the central nervous system through the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and memory loss. In severe cases, coma or convulsions may occur.
Therefore, in newly renovated homes or environments where large amounts of formaldehyde-containing materials have been used, effective measures should be taken to reduce formaldehyde levels.
