Imbus H R
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1985 Dec;76(6):831-40. doi: 10.1016/0091-6749(85)90757-2.
Formaldehyde is a very widely used chemical in our present society and one with which every physician has had a first-hand experience in his early days of training in the anatomy laboratory. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health lists 52 occupations that expose people to formaldehyde. In recent years, however, the increasing use of formaldehyde resins in the production of building materials such as particleboard and urea-formaldehyde foam insulation has resulted in exposures of large numbers of people in nonoccupational settings. Consumer products such as cosmetics, cigarettes, textiles, furniture, draperies, and preservatives release formaldehyde. It is present in the outdoor atmosphere from products of combustion and automobile exhaust and likewise in the home from such things as gas cooking. These more widespread and increased exposures have resulted in concern regarding potential health effects. Therefore, it is likely that physicians have or will encounter patients who wish evaluations of a present or potential health effect from formaldehyde. This article is for the purpose of providing assistance in such evaluation.
甲醛是当今社会应用极为广泛的一种化学物质，每位医生在解剖实验室接受早期培训时都曾亲身体验过它。美国国家职业安全与健康研究所列出了52种会使人接触甲醛的职业。然而近年来，刨花板和脲醛泡沫绝缘材料等建筑材料生产中甲醛树脂的使用日益增多，导致大量非职业环境中的人接触到甲醛。化妆品、香烟、纺织品、家具、窗帘和防腐剂等消费品会释放甲醛。它存在于燃烧产物和汽车尾气产生的室外大气中，同样也存在于家庭中，比如燃气烹饪产生的环境中。这些更为广泛且不断增加的接触引发了人们对潜在健康影响的担忧。因此，医生很可能已经或将会遇到希望评估甲醛对当前或潜在健康影响的患者。本文旨在为这种评估提供帮助。
