Does formaldehyde affect pregnancy?

When it comes to decorating a new house, the biggest problem is formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a harmful substance present in various building materials. If ingested for a long time, it will cause great harm to the human body. Even ordinary people can be harmed by formaldehyde, not to mention pregnant women who have low resistance. So, what are the adverse effects of formaldehyde on pregnant women? Below, we will introduce you to the relevant knowledge.

Influential.

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic substance and is recognized by the World Health Organization as a carcinogen and teratogen. If pregnant women are exposed to formaldehyde for a long time, it may cause respiratory diseases at the mildest, affecting the health of the fetus, or it may induce cancers such as nasopharyngeal cancer, colon cancer, brain tumors, and genetic mutations in the cell nucleus.

1. When pregnant women stay in a room with formaldehyde concentration higher than 0.24-0.55 mg/cubic meter, their circulatory system, immune, reproductive and metabolic functions will be affected, and they are also very likely to experience symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, irritability, excitement, and insomnia.

3. Long-term exposure of pregnant women to formaldehyde can cause poisoning, anemia and miscarriage, and can also lead to fetal weight loss, fetal malformation and even death.

Therefore, pregnant women should minimize exposure to formaldehyde, especially in the first three months of pregnancy.

2. Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning in pregnant women

Formaldehyde in the air is irritating to human skin, conjunctiva, respiratory mucosa, etc., and can also be absorbed through the respiratory tract. Formaldehyde can be converted into formic acid in the body, which has a certain anesthetic effect.

Symptoms of poisoning: There is a distinct irritating odor in the room with high formaldehyde concentration, which can cause symptoms such as tearing, dizziness, headache, fatigue, blurred vision, etc. Examination can reveal obvious congestion of the conjunctiva and pharynx. Some patients have rough respiratory sounds or dry rales when auscultated. More serious cases may cause persistent cough, hoarseness, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning in pregnant women are as follows:

It manifests as transient eye and upper respiratory tract irritation symptoms, such as eye stinging, tearing, sore throat, chest tightness, cough, etc. Chest auscultation and chest X-ray showed no abnormalities.

2. Mild poisoning:

Obvious symptoms of eye and upper respiratory tract mucosal irritation. The main symptoms are conjunctival congestion, redness and swelling, difficulty breathing, heavy breathing, hoarseness of the throat, and dry, dull or wet speech. The poisoned person can also feel his breathing becoming heavier. Another specific symptom of mild formaldehyde poisoning is one to two degrees of throat edema.

3. Moderate poisoning:

Incessant cough, sputum, chest tightness, dyspnea, and dry or wet crackling sounds. During chest X-ray, the lung texture solidifies and turns into scattered small spots or flake-like shadows, which is the medical model of bronchopneumonia; the throat edema increases to grade three. Blood gas analysis may be accompanied by mild to moderate hypoxemia.

4. Severe poisoning :

The condition of the lungs and larynx deteriorates, with symptoms of pulmonary edema and fourth-degree laryngeal edema appearing. Blood gas analysis also becomes serious, showing severe hypoxemia. Coma and shock symptoms may also occur.