From: Rich Murray [rmforall@att.net] Sent: Monday, August 05, 2002 4:39 AM To: fdadockets@oc.fda.gov Subject: RTM: FDA (Section E) Professional House Doctors: Singer: EPA: CPSC: formaldehyde toxicity 6.10.1 rmforall RTM: FDA (Section E) Professional House Doctors: Singer: EPA: CPSC: formaldehyde toxicity 6.10.1 rmforall http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/628 June 10 2001 If in humans, as in rats, aspartame and its methanol component result in adducts of formaldehyde, bound to RNA, DNA, and proteins in many tissue cells, then aspartame reactors would probably react to other sources of formaldehyde. The first and second references here list many symptoms that are also reported by aspartame reactors. Living in a hot new mobile home in an area of high humidity, cooking with natural gas, smoking, and many deodorizers will increase exposure. ********************************************************** http://www.prohousedr.com/formfact.htm What Is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a colorless gas compound (HCHO) that can irritate eyes, mucous membranes and the upper respiratory system. It can be inhaled or absorbed by the skin. Formaldehyde is also a metabolic product of normal living cells. Formaldehyde is an excellent resin and binding agent and is very inexpensive to produce which contributes to it's wide usage (approximately 6 billion pounds are produced each year). The only way for you to know how much formaldehyde may be in your home is to test. Where Can Formaldehyde Be Found? Formaldehyde is found virtually everywhere, indoors and out, naturally occurring and man-made. It is a combustion product found in cigarette and wood smoke, natural gas, kerosene, exhaust from automobiles, incinerators and power plants. It is also widely used in building materials especially glue, Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation and pressed-wood products such as plywood, particle board, paneling and wood finishes. Many floor coverings contain formaldehyde such as carpet as well as furnishings. Also used in paper products, cosmetics, deodorants, shampoos, fabric dyes and permanent-press fabrics, inks, and disinfectants. Another common place to find formaldehyde that seems out of place is in products that are supposed to make our homes smell better such as air and carpet deodorizers. Mobile homes, motor homes, and travel trailers are known for high amounts of formaldehyde since so many of their components may be made from particle board or pressed-wood products. The number of products that contain formaldehyde are as astounding as it is depressing. What Are The Health Effects Of Formaldehyde? Symptoms of low-level exposure include; runny nose, sore throat, cough, dermatitis, sleeping difficulties, headache, fatigue, breathing difficulties, sinus irritation, chest pain, frequent nausea, bronchitis, and decreased lung capacity. Signs of acute exposure include; abdominal pain, anxiety, coma, convulsions, diarrhea, and respiratory problems such as bronchitis, pneumonia or pulmonary edema. How Do I Test For Formaldehyde? A Do-It-Yourself Test Kit is available from Professional House Doctors, Inc. that measures concentrations as low as 0.02 ppm, is easy to use, with complete instructions, and contains enough solution to run 3 separate tests. If There Is A Problem How Do I Fix It? Finding and removing the source is the most effective, but can be costly. Reducing the temperature and lowering the humidity level to approximately 35 percent can also help to diminish the effects. Formaldehyde tends to double its level of outgassing for every 10°F increase in temperature. There are also some surface barriers available to cover and reduce the formaldehyde outgassing from some components. Many other methods are available depending upon the source and amount of formaldehyde present. Further details are included with each test kit. For more information on formaldehyde problems and how to deal with them, or other indoor environmental/building science concerns, testing or consulting services, E-Mail us at info@prhousedr.com Professional House Doctors, Inc., Environmental & Building Science Specialists, providing scientific solutions to today's most challenging problems. **************************************************************** http://freespace.virgin.net/ppm.ltd/neges2.html Formaldehyde neurotoxicity Many people are not aware the formaldehyde is neurotoxic. Symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning may include headache, problems with memory, learning, concentration, sleep, personality changes, and other symptoms. People with significant exposure to formaldehyde with these symptoms may wish to have a neurobehavioral toxicity examination. Raymond Singer, Ph.D. Neurobehavioral Toxicology and Neuropsychology (Board Certified, ABPN) phone (505) 466-1100 fax (505) 466-1101 http://members.aol.com/neurosite/index.htm neurotoxicity information Posted by: Raymond Singer, Ph.D. on 3 March 1999 at 16:15 Next message in thread: Re: Formaldehyde neurotoxicity -- Maggie MacRaven 4/3/99 Return to the Formaldehyde Forum Singer, R. (1990). Formaldehyde neurotoxicity. Archives of Clinical Neurophychology, 5:2, 214. ********************************************* http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/formald2.html U.S. Environmental Protection Agency U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Washington, DC 20207 CPSC Document #725 (reprinted by the U.S. EPA) An Update on Formaldehyde: 1997 Revision What is Formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical used to make other chemicals, building materials, and household products. It is one of the large family of chemical compounds called volatile organic compounds or 'VOCs'. The term volatile means that the compounds vaporize, that is, become a gas, at normal room temperatures. Formaldehyde serves many purposes in products. It is used as a part of: the glue or adhesive in pressed wood products (particleboard, hardwood plywood, and medium density fiberboard (MDF)); preservatives in some paints, coatings, and cosmetics; the coating that provides permanent press quality to fabrics and draperies; the finish used to coat paper products; and certain insulation materials (urea-formaldehyde foam and fiberglass insulation). Formaldehyde is released into the air by burning wood, kerosene or natural gas, by automobiles, and by cigarettes. Formaldehyde can off-gas from materials made with it. It is also a naturally occurring substance. The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission has produced this booklet to tell you about formaldehyde found in the indoor air. This booklet tells you where you may come in contact with formaldehyde, how it may affect your health, and how you might reduce your exposure to it. Why Should You Be Concerned? Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm (parts in a million parts of air), it can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions. It has also been observed to cause cancer in scientific studies using laboratory animals and may cause cancer in humans. Typical exposures to humans are much lower; thus any risk of causing cancer is believed to be small at the level at which humans are exposed. Formaldehyde can affect people differently. Some people are very sensitive to formaldehyde while others may not have any noticeable reaction to the same level. Persons have developed allergic reactions (allergic skin disease and hives) to formaldehyde through skin contact with solutions of formaldehyde or durable-press clothing containing formaldehyde. Others have developed asthmatic reactions and skin rashes from exposure to formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is just one of several gases present indoors that may cause illnesses. Many of these gases, as well as colds and flu, cause similar symptoms. What Levels of Formaldehyde Are Normal? Formaldehyde is normally present at low levels, usually less than 0.03 ppm, in both outdoor and indoor air. The outdoor air in rural areas has lower concentrations while urban areas have higher concentrations. Residences or offices that contain products that release formaldehyde to the air can have formaldehyde levels of greater than 0.03 ppm. Products that may add formaldehyde to the air include particleboard used as flooring underlayment, shelving, furniture and cabinets; MDF in cabinets and furniture; hardwood plywood wall panels, and urea-formaldehyde foam used as insulation. As formaldehyde levels increase, illness or discomfort is more likely to occur and may be more serious. [Continued...] ************************************************ Serious symptom syndrome summary: Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Canderel, Benevia) is reported by scientific studies and case histories to be toxic: * headaches * many body and joint pains (or burning, tingling, tremors, twitching, spasms, cramps, or numbness) * fever, fatigue * "mind fog", "feel unreal", poor memory, confusion, anxiety, irritability, depression, mania, insomnia, dizziness, slurred speech, ringing in ears, sexual problems, poor vision, hearing, or taste * red face, itching, rashes, burning eyes or throat, dry mouth or eyes, mouth sores * hair loss * obesity, bloating, edema, anorexia, poor or excessive hunger or thirst * breathing problems * nausea, diarrhea or constipation * coldness * sweating * racing heart, high blood pressure, erratic blood sugar levels * seizures * birth defects * brain cancers * addiction * aggrivates diabetes, autism, ADHD, and interstitial cystitis (bladder pain). Almost all are typical of chronic methanol-formaldehyde toxicity: for detailed review http://www.dorway.com/barua.html Journal Of The Diabetic Association Of India 1995 Vol. 35, No. 4. Emerging Facts About Aspartame Dr. J. Barua (ophthalmic surgeon), Dr. Arun Bal (surgeon) (79 references) barua@giasbm01.vsnl.net.in "...the total amount of methanol absorbed will be approximately 10% of aspartame ingested. An EPA assessment of methanol states that methanol "is considered a cumulative poison due to the low rate of excretion once it is absorbed." The absorbed methanol is then slowly converted to formaldehyde..." "Reaction of formaldehyde with DNA has been observed, by spectrophotometry and electron microscopy, to result in irreversible denaturation." http://ww.presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html Trocho C, Pardo R, Rafecas I, Virgili J, Remesar X, Fernandez-Lopez JA, Alemany M ["Trok-ho"] Formaldehyde derived from dietary aspartame binds to tissue components in vivo. Life Sci 1998 Jun 26; 63(5): 337-49. Departament de Bioquimica i Biologia Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. http://www.presidiotex.com/barcelona/index.html Maria Alemany, PhD (male) alemany@porthos.bio.ub.es http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/830 RTM: Tholen: Diet Coke has 5 ppm formaldehyde from aspartame 5.29.2 rmforall For 6 cans of diet soda, this is 5 times the daily limit of 1 PPM for formaldehyde in drinking water, set by the EPA. ****************************************************** Rich Murray, MA Room For All rmforall@att.net 1943 Otowi Road, Santa Fe NM USA 87505 505-986-9103 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/messages for 862 posts http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/861 brief summary http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/862 long summary http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aspartameNM/message/860 RTM: FDA: objections to neotame approval (Section A) 8.4.2 rmforall ***********************************************************