What does fact checked mean?
At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- “Gigiena i sanitariia”: Diagnosis of formaldehyde allergy
- “Gigiena i sanitariia”: Diagnosis of formaldehyde allergy
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Latex Paint and Allergies
Latex is a natural product that comes from a light milky fluid extracted from the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensi. It’s used in a wide variety of products, and it can cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Despite the name, latex paint is made from synthetic ingredients and generally doesn’t cause the same allergic reaction. However, some of its components might cause problems.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
History
Natural rubber latex has been in use for more than a century. Latex paint became widely available in the 1950s. The world’s rubber supplies had been used up during World War II and at the same time developers decided they needed a more durable polymer than natural latex for outdoor environments. This led to the development of synthetic latex paint.
- Natural rubber latex has been in use for more than a century.
- The world’s rubber supplies had been used up during World War II and at the same time developers decided they needed a more durable polymer than natural latex for outdoor environments.
Considerations
Glue Allergies
Learn More
Even though there isn’t any natural rubber latex in latex paint, there are some known chemical sensitizers such as formaldehyde and ammonia compounds. Formaldehyde is a strong irritant used in pathology and embalming that can cause nasal tumors in rats. According to Latex Allergy News, it is possible that health care providers could be sensitized to formaldehyde in an occupational setting and have symptoms whenever they encounter latex paint.
- Even though there isn’t any natural rubber latex in latex paint, there are some known chemical sensitizers such as formaldehyde and ammonia compounds.
- According to Latex Allergy News, it is possible that health care providers could be sensitized to formaldehyde in an occupational setting and have symptoms whenever they encounter latex paint.
Effects
The chemical components in formaldehyde can cause an immunoglobulin E, or IgE, allergic reaction. When this happens, your immune system identifies the formaldehyde as a harmful substance and triggers certain cells to produce IgE antibodies to fight the allergen. Formaldehyde allergies can occur either with direct contact or by inhaling formaldehyde particles or gas.
Symptoms
Acacia Allergy
Learn More
Your reaction to formaldehyde depends on the type of exposure. Frequent or prolonged skin exposure can lead to allergic contact dermatitis, with itching and red, weepy skin.
Diagnosis
To test for formaldehyde sensitivity, your doctor will take a detailed medical history and use a patch allergy test on your skin with a solution containing urea formaldehyde in petrolatum, melamine formaldehyde in petrolatum and other formaldehyde resins in petrolatum or isopropyl alcohol.
Prevention/Solution
It’s difficult to avoid all exposure to formaldehyde because it is normally present at low levels in both indoor and outdoor air and is one of the most widely used chemicals in products like paint and furniture. If you determine you have an allergy to this chemical and/or latex paint, you should use an oil-based paint instead. To treat any contact dermatitis symptoms, you might need topical corticosteroids, emollients or treatment of any secondary bacterial infection.
Warning
In rare cases, formaldehyde can cause a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis. A report from Japan’s Osaka Prefectural Medical Center for Respiratory and Allergic Diseases indicated that two dental patients developed a severe reaction after application of a formaldehyde-containing tooth filling. According to the journal Human and Experimental Toxicology, long-term environmental exposure to gaseous formaldehyde, such as might be in interior latex paint, promotes allergen-specific IgE-mediated immune responses 3.
Related Articles
References
- DermNet New Zealand
- “Gigiena i sanitariia”: Diagnosis of formaldehyde allergy
- Human and Experimental Toxicology: Long-term exposure to gaseous formaldehyde promotes allergen-specific IgE-mediated immune responses in a murine model
- American Chemistry Council. Why is Formaldehyde Used to Make Vaccines? Washington, DC: American Chemistry Council 2020 https://formaldehyde.americanchemistry.com/ProductsTechnology/Formaldehyde/Why-is-Formaldehyde-Used-to-Make-Vaccines.pdf
- National Cancer Institute. Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk. Reviewed June 10, 2011. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health 2020 https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/formaldehyde/formaldehyde-fact-sheet
- Baker RR. The generation of formaldehyde in cigarettes--Overview and recent experiments. Food Chem Toxicol. 2006;44(11):1799-1822. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2006.05.017
- Whitlatch A. Schick S. Thirdhand Smoke at Philip Morris. Nicotine and Tobacco Research. December 2019;21(12):1680–1688. doi:10.1093/ntr/nty153
- New England Journal of Medicine (Letter to the Editor). Hidden Formaldehyde in E-Cigarette Aerosols. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:392-394. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1413069
- Gillmana IG, Kistler KS, Stewart EW, Paolantonioa AR. Effect of variable power levels on the yield of total aerosol mass and formation of aldehydes in e-cigarette aerosols. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. March 2016;75:58-65. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2015.12.019
- World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 88. Formaldehyde, 2-Butoxyethanol and 1-tert-Butoxypropan-2-ol. 2-9 June 2004. Lyon, France: World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer 2006 https://monographs.iarc.fr/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono88.pdf
Writer Bio
Bonnie Singleton has been writing professionally since 1996. She has written for various newspapers and magazines including "The Washington Times" and "Woman's World." She also wrote for the BBC-TV news magazine "From Washington" and worked for Discovery Channel online for more than a decade. Singleton holds a master's degree in musicology from Florida State University and is a member of the American Independent Writers.