Formaldehyde Linked to Lou Gehrig's Disease

[flashl]

WEDNESDAY, April 16 (HealthDay News) -- New preliminary research suggests that exposure to the chemical formaldehyde, present in a variety of workplaces, could greatly increase a person's chances of developing Lou Gehrig's disease.

The findings aren't definitive, and only a few thousand Americans are diagnosed with the condition -- also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) -- each year.

Still, the study results deserve attention, especially since formaldehyde hasn't been considered an ALS risk factor before, said study author Marc Weisskopf, an assistant professor of epidemiology and environmental health at Harvard School of Public Health. "It's a result that we view as very intriguing and worthy of follow-up."

The findings were scheduled to be released Wednesday at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, in Chicago.

AJC

FEMA trailers may have more to give.

[1776Forever]

1. Good to know that studies on this terrible disease has found some new information.

May help in other neurological diseases. Time will tell.

[KansDem]

2. The body coverts aspartame into formaldehyde

Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue components in vivo.

Adult male rats were given an oral dose of 10 mg/kg aspartame 14C-labelled in the methanol carbon. At timed intervals of up to 6 hours, the radioactivity in plasma and several organs was investigated. Most of the radioactivity found (>98% in plasma, >75% in liver) was bound to protein. Label present in liver, plasma and kidney was in the range of 1-2% of total radioactivity administered per g or mL, changing little with time. Other organs (brown and white adipose tissues, muscle, brain, cornea and retina) contained levels of label in the range of 1/12 to 1/10th of that of liver. In all, the rat retained, 6 hours after administration about 5% of the label, half of it in the liver. The specific radioactivity of tissue protein, RNA and DNA was quite uniform. The protein label was concentrated in amino acids, different from methionine, and largely coincident with the result of protein exposure to labelled formaldehyde. DNA radioactivity was essentially in a single different adduct base, different from the normal bases present in DNA. The nature of the tissue label accumulated was, thus, a direct consequence of formaldehyde binding to tissue structures. The administration of labelled aspartame to a group of cirrhotic rats resulted in comparable label retention by tissue components, which suggests that liver function (or its defect) has little effect on formaldehyde formation from aspartame and binding to biological components. The chronic treatment of a series of rats with 200 mg/kg of non-labelled aspartame during 10 days resulted in the accumulation of even more label when given the radioactive bolus, suggesting that the amount of formaldehyde adducts coming from aspartame in tissue proteins and nucleic acids may be cumulative. It is concluded that aspartame consumption may constitute a hazard because of its contribution to the formation of formaldehyde adducts.

Pub Med

Diet Coke, anyone?

[indepat]

5. Perhaps FEMA will graciously fund a study of the inhabitants of the formaldahyde-

laced trailers Katrina victims were housed in so graciously: good job Brownie. :D

[Clear Blue Sky]

3. I wonder if doctors and dentists have a higher incidence?

They are exposed to formaldehyde during their gross anatomy classes.

Pathologists and morgue workers even more so.

[whistle]

4. Where is the chemical formaldehyde actually found in the workplace?

...It has also found it's way into herbal medicines and alcoholic liquors over the years bringing on toxic reactions in people over using these substances such as gastrointestinal problems, acute auditory and visual hallucinations, epilepsy, brain damage, and increased risk of psychiatric illness and suicide.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Phenol-formaldehyde & urea-formaldehyde resins, mostly.

The former is used to make Bakelite and photoresists, and the latter was used to make insulating foams. Not everyone seems to have gotten the message that its use has been discontinued due to the health hazard. Melamine-formaldehyde is used to make plastic dinnerware, among other things.

A solution of formaldehyde in water, known as formalin, has been used as a preservative for biological and medical specimens for ages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenol_formaldehyde_resin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea-formaldehyde
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formalin

[whistle]

14. That last I remember from high school biology class and frog dissection

[cosmik debris]

15. formaldehyde is also found in smoked meat.

It is one of the curing agents in the smoke.

[truedelphi]

19. it is in many cosmetic and personal care items listed on the label under the

Name of "Quaternium such and such" (usually a number like quaternium 14)

so it is more than a workplace conern.

Just as importantly - RoundUp, the No one over the counter herbicide in the world, also contains formaldehyde. See here for more info:
http://tinyurl.com/4gzzg8

[yorkiemommie1]

6. My friend's husband is in the late stages of ALS

He is a machinist but I don't know what types of chemicals they are exposed to.

[LiberalEsto]

7. Particleboard furniture

Particleboard furniture outgasses formaldehyde. I imagine it's not a very good idea to buy particleboard bedroom furniture because then you spend 8 hours every night breathing the stuff. That is why I'd rather buy used solid wood furniture at yard sales and secondhand shops, than buy cheap new furniture that contains particleboard.

[girl gone mad]

8. You're right about that.

But I think we're one of the few western countries that doesn't regulate it. We bought our particleboard shelves from Ikea since all of their products meet European standards, which are very strict about off-gassing. I did have some other particleboard in the house, but I painted all sides of it with multiple coats of paint. We also try to open the windows fairly regularly since we live in an unpolluted exurb.

[juno jones]

11. Thank goodness you said that

I was about to tell MR Feb that his massive old fiberboard Ikea dresser was due for the dump, but if the european standards are stricter, I guess I'll let it live....for now.

[starroute]

12. Certain plants are said to absorb formaldehyde

From the two quotes I quickly googled up, it doesn't look like there's agreement as to which are best. But if anybody is going to be living in a new home or office, or one that has had remodeling or redecorating done or new carpets, I'd recommend some more serious investigation and a little plant investment.

(On edit -- I do know by personal experience that "golden pothos" grows wildly almost anywhere and is almost impossible to kill by neglect. I've got one right now that has send out a shoot that runs for five feet behind the couch and then tries to climb up the bookcase. I've been debating whether to cut it back or let it have its way. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epipremnum_aureum)

http://www.midcitynursery.com/houseplants/houseplantguide.htm

Based on studies by NASA, many houseplants help remove the three common pollutants - benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene - which are emitted from furnishings, office equipment, and some building materials. Some of the best absorbers of benzene are Dracaena and Spathiphyllum (Peace Lilies). The best plants to absorb formaldehyde are Philodendron, Bamboo Palm, Dracaena, Sansevieria, Golden Pothos, and Spider Plant. The best absorbers of trichloreoethylene are Dracaena and Spathiphyllum.

http://www.earthwitchery.com/pollution.html

Some plants, of course, are especially good at filtering certain pollutants. The areca palm, for example, is the most effective filter of xylene. Other plants, such as Boston ferns, chrysanthemums, and dwarf date palms, are better at removing formaldehyde.

[xynthee]

9. I can't imagine a more horrible disease than ALS

I hate to think of anyone suffering from this disease. Hopefully they'll have a cure/treatment soon.

[DesertRat]

16. Kicking

[Lochloosa]

13. Kick so that this dosn't sink with all the other crap on here

[whistle]

17. Kicking also

[truedelphi]

18. Yes formaldehyde is in RoundUp the ubiquitous subnstance

That every city district park system and many suburbanites use.

The substance is linked to Multiple Sclerosis and Lu Gehrigs


Please see my new posting here in Health forum