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Formaldehyde in China: production, consumption, exposure levels, and health effects
- Source :
- Environment International, Vol 35, Iss 8, Pp 1210-1224 (2009)
- Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Formaldehyde, an economically important chemical, is classified as a human carcinogen that causes nasopharyngeal cancer and probably leukemia. As China is the largest producer and consumer of formaldehyde in the world, the Chinese population is potentially at increased risk for cancer and other associated health effects. In this paper we review formaldehyde production, consumption, exposure, and health effects in China. We collected and analyzed over 200 Chinese and English documents from scientific journals, selected newspapers, government publications, and websites pertaining to formaldehyde and its subsequent health effects.Over the last 20 years, China's formaldehyde industry has experienced unprecedented growth, and now produces and consumes one-third of the world's formaldehyde. More than 65% of the Chinese formaldehyde output is used to produce resins mainly found in wood products — the major source of indoor pollution in China. Although the Chinese government has issued a series of standards to regulate formaldehyde exposure, concentrations in homes, office buildings, workshops, public places, and food often exceed the national standards. In addition, there have been numerous reports of formaldehyde-induced health problems, including poisoning and cancer. The lack of quality epidemiological studies and basic data on exposed populations emphasizes the need for more extensive studies on formaldehyde and its related health effects in China. Keywords: Formaldehyde, Production, Consumption, Exposure levels, National standard, Health effects, China
- Subjects :
- medicine.medical_specialty
China
Air pollution
Formaldehyde
Food Contamination
medicine.disease_cause
chemistry.chemical_compound
Pollution in China
Environmental health
Occupational Exposure
medicine
Humans
lcsh:Environmental sciences
General Environmental Science
lcsh:GE1-350
Consumption (economics)
Government
business.industry
Public health
Environmental engineering
Environmental Exposure
Legislation, Drug
Carcinogens, Environmental
chemistry
Air Pollution, Indoor
Renminbi
Public Health
business
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18736750
- Volume :
- 35
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Environment international
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....90c867f6a3bae1559dffb6cbf56211f4