As the summer winds down, many students are planning to return to school. Most students (and parents) are excited about this annual event. However, many students, about 6.2 million in the United States, are facing school with the challenges of Asthma. The disease can be triggered by many sources but a recent study by McGwin, Lienert and Kennedy in the March 2010 edition of Environmental Health Perspectives showed a link between formaldehyde exposure and Asthma in children. We have written about Formaldehyde in our past blogs and its adverse health effects including skin, eye and throat irritation. Children in our schools are facing chronic exposure to this chemical due to its use in the manufacture of furniture, particleboard and carpeting. The authors of the study were inspired by the concerns about the high levels of formaldehyde in the temporary trailers that were provided to displaced Gulf residents after Hurricane Katrina. The study, which involved 5,930 participants, showed an increase in asthma rates with rising rates of formaldehyde exposure. The authors believe that their results support a positive association between increased formaldehyde rates and risk of childhood asthma.
Green with Envy Home Store provides formaldehyde free alternatives with products from AFM Safecoat, Vermont Natural Coatings and Earthweave Carpet. We ship nationwide.
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