The hazards of formaldehyde to pregnant women
Release time : 10/10/2025 09:30:03
Formaldehyde poses a significant risk to pregnant women. Exposure can cause discomfort such as eye irritation, congestion, and headache, with severe cases leading to miscarriage, fetal abnormalities, ectopic pregnancy, toxoplasmosis, and anencephaly.
Infants and children have not yet fully developed their immune systems, pregnant women are generally weaker and more susceptible to illnesses, and even low levels of formaldehyde in the air can harm both mother and child.
It is a highly toxic gas, and it ranks second in our country's list of toxic gases. Many people are probably still vividly aware of the Anxin "toxic floor" incident that was previously exposed.
Formaldehyde is predominantly derived from materials such as artificial wood products, paints, and coatings.
Although formaldehyde is terrifying, there are still many ways to prevent it. For example, placing pothos plants in the home and testing the air for indoor air quality. Therefore, pregnant women need not be overly concerned and should feel at ease waiting for their little ones to arrive.
Formaldehyde, Harm to Pregnant Women. Formaldehyde is a colorless and soluble stimulating gas. The main sources of air formaldehyde are the artificial boards such as plywood, density board, glue board, glue, paper-based insulation material etc.
Formaldehyde is a strong irritant and when at low concentrations can cause eyes to burn, tear or become red.
At a slightly elevated concentration, one may experience symptoms such as choking, nausea, difficulty breathing, or even suffocation.
The release period of formaldehyde can be up to 3-15 years, which can be absorbed through the respiratory tract into the body.
Let's take a look at the harm that formaldehyde poses to pregnant women.
1. Formaldehyde poses a risk to the hematopoietic system of pregnant women, potentially leading to anemia, infections, and subcutaneous bleeding.
Long-term exposure to low concentrations can damage hearing, causing headaches, dizziness, fatigue and weakness, pallor, visual impairment, and balance dysfunction.
2. Frequent exposure to the skin of pregnant women can lead to erythema, dryness, and blistering. It has been shown to have carcinogenic effects, potentially leading to leukemia. It also affects the reproductive system, causing menstrual irregularities. In severe cases over a long period, there may be genetic implications.
3. Exposure to formaldehyde, such as inhaling it through the nose, can cause permanent damage to the brain and kidneys.
If the mother is exposed to benzene during pregnancy, toxicity may affect the baby and cause birth defects. Severe cases may lead to abortion, fetal anomalies, ectopic pregnancy, toxoplasmosis, and anencephaly.
Methylene chloride is a toxic substance, and it ranks second on the list of priority controlled chemicals in China. It is an odorless and colorless gas, with an international standard of no more than 0.08mg per cubic meter. If it exceeds four or five times, people may not feel it at all. However, when symptoms such as eye irritation, nasal congestion, dizziness, and sore throat occur, they are mostly caused by exposure to levels more than ten times higher. Prolonged exposure to excessive levels of methylene chloride can lead to lung cancer.
Is the harm of formaldehyde to pregnant women significant? The harm of formaldehyde to pregnant women is particularly significant.
Scientific experiments have proven that the immune system of infants and young children is not yet fully developed, and pregnant women are generally weaker and more susceptible to illness. Even low concentrations of formaldehyde in the air can pose a threat to both mother and child's health.
Generally, the volatile toxic gases such as formaldehyde have a long period of activity. The first year is particularly severe because the gases emit quickly and at high levels during this time. Therefore, they pose a serious threat to pregnant women.
Pregnant women who spend prolonged periods in environments containing formaldehyde may experience discomfort in various aspects. Moreover, the transmission of formaldehyde through the placenta can endanger fetal health, potentially leading to fetal malformations, ectopic pregnancy, toxoplasmosis, and anencephaly if severe conditions are present.
Therefore, pregnant women should pay special attention to not stay in a newly renovated house at all times, as excessive exposure to formaldehyde can be harmful.
How can pregnant women prevent exposure to formaldehyde poisoning? The pollution caused by renovations, especially paints, coatings, and building materials, is something everyone knows about. Among these, the dangers posed by formaldehyde are particularly severe.
Formaldehyde exposure can cause chronic respiratory inflammation, and even lead to damage to the immune system, respiratory system, and liver. Special attention should be paid to pregnant women because if mothers suffer from formaldehyde exposure during pregnancy, toxicity may affect the baby and produce defects. Let's explore how pregnant women can prevent formaldehyde poisoning.
Firstly, in order to be healthy for pregnant women, it is not enough to simply consider the length of time spent indoors. If the air meets the standards after decorating, then you can immediately move in.
On the contrary, if the house is left empty for more than half a year after decoration, but the air quality is still not up to standard, then it can't be occupied.
Therefore, after the renovation, please invite a professional environmental protection company to conduct an indoor air quality inspection of your home. Based on the test results, you can remove formaldehyde from your living space for thorough inspection and treatment. Once you are confident that everything is safe, you can move in with peace of mind.
Secondly, we can also place plants such as spider plant in the home to eliminate odors. It not only decorates the room but also prevents formaldehyde poisoning.
Finally, pregnant mothers should avoid places with strong odors as much as possible and seek out fresh air environments for the health of their baby.
When pregnant women are poisoned by formaldehyde, they may manifest as suffocation, nausea and even dizziness, and may be accompanied by frequent colds. These symptoms are similar to some symptoms during pregnancy, so many pregnant women do not deliberately distinguish between formaldehyde poisoning reactions and pregnancy reactions.
Studies have shown that long-term exposure to formaldehyde, low-concentration aromatic hydrocarbon organic solvent pollution will have an impact on the birth weight of newborns, leading to low-birth weight infants and significantly shortening the pregnancy cycle, and even causing serious fertility malformations and miscarriages.
So what should I do about formaldehyde poisoning in pregnant women? 1. For mildly poisoned pregnant women, it is recommended to leave the environment containing formaldehyde immediately and replace contaminated clothing.
Rinse your body with plenty of water promptly, and wash it with soapy water or 2% sodium bicarbonate solution.
If you accidentally enter the eyes, rinse with plenty of water.
2. For pregnant women with moderate poisoning, let them inhale 0.1% light ammonia water. If they want to quickly remove throat edema and lung water caused by poisoning, it is recommended to use sufficient glucocorticoids in a short period of time in the early stages of treatment.
3. In the event that pregnant women accidentally come into contact with a significant amount of formaldehyde and exhibit respiratory irritation, they are required to observe for two days. It is crucial to avoid physical activity that may exacerbate their condition, and to consume more fresh vegetables and fruits while resting.
4. Pregnant women should address their specific needs, prevent infections, and manage complications.
The medical information provided in this text is for reference only.
If you experience discomfort, it is recommended to seek medical attention immediately. The diagnosis and treatment should be based on a consultation with a healthcare professional in person.