Formaldehyde Resin

Do you ever find you have an itchy spot on your skin that, no matter how much you scratch, it just doesn’t go away? That itching might be caused by the stitching… of your clothes! Contact dermatitis can be caused by formaldehyde resin, a chemical that is used to help keep clothing resistant of weathering, wear-and-tear, and wrinkling1. It gives clothing water resistant properties, but it is still possible for some formaldehyde to leach out of the fabric due to sweating or washing of the item1,2. Contact with the skin can then cause redness and irritation1

So where have you heard the word formaldehyde before? It is used as a preservative in funeral homes and labs, and is a known toxin and carcinogen (cancer-causing)… so it is deadly in more ways than one3. However, during synthesis of the resin formaldehyde is reduced to a minimal amount, around 0,2% of the total resin composition3.  Formaldehyde resins have a lot of other practical uses, and can be found in adhesives, paper, and nail polish4. Ever touched the foamy insulation inside the walls of your house? The itchiness that you feel on your hands afterwards is due to the presence of formaldehyde resin.

But while chronic exposure can can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, these symptoms are usually only seen by workers who spend much of their time around products that contain the chemical1. Many companies are exploring the use of other non-harmful alternatives, and are trying out more bio-based platform chemicals so as to reduce or completely eliminate the use of formaldehyde in products. Clothing that tends to be stiffer, wrinkle resistant, or pigment-dyed are strong contenders for containing formaldehyde resins in their fibres1. Choosing loose and cool clothing that is made of denim, spandex, or soft flannels will reduce the risk of irritation for your skin. Washing clothing before wearing can also leach some of the resin out1. So don’t think you need to throw you favourite sweater away just yet! You can still be comfortable in your clothes and keep your body safe and happy from harm.

References:

1. Contactderm. Formaldehyde Resin Finish. https://www.contactderm.org/files/public/Patient%20Handouts/ZZ%20FORMALDEHYDE%20RESIN%20FINISH.pdf
2. Martin, S. ASEHA Qld. http://www.asehaqld.org.au/index.php/consumer-products/101-formaldehyde-in-clothing  (accessed Feb 4, 2019)
3. Know Your Ingredients: Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin. https://www.beautifulwithbrains.com/know-your-ingredients-tosylamideformaldehyde-resin/ (accessed Feb 4, 2019).
4. Urea-formaldehyde. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea-formaldehyde (accessed Feb 3, 2019)