The Pros and Cons of Formaldehyde

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Formaldehyde is a compound with various properties that are both valuable and dangerous. Formaldehyde is made of made of one carbon, two hydrogen, and one oxygen atom. Formaldehyde is a colorless liquid, with a strong odor. The compound also is highly flammable and toxic. Safety precautions should be taking when working with the chemical. (ScienceLab.com, 2013) When exposed to formaldehyde there are several irritating factors, such as sore throats, cough, scratchy eyes, and nose bleeds. The most common places of finding formaldehyde are in “clothes, paints, paper, leathers, deodorants, dyes and cosmetics” (Coleman, Davis, 1987) as well as various building materials. Formaldehyde is used in everyday life in various products, but is also considered harmful and a cause of death. The benefits and disadvantages of formaldehyde need to be debated before using or continuing use.
Formaldehyde is beneficial despite other arguments, and should continue to be used. Formaldehyde is used in embalming dead bodies. Many funeral directors continue to use formaldehyde to embalm the bodies, amidst controversy. “Modern-day embalming fluid is a mixture of…up to 5 percent formaldehyde, while a more concentrated form – up to 50 percent formaldehyde – is injected into the body” (Martin, 2011). About three gallons of the formaldehyde embalming fluid is used per body. Formaldehyde is one of the best chemicals to use when preserving bodies—keeping the body looking well and preventing odor. The alternatives are not as effective, and precautionary measures are taken to ensure the well-being of everyone involved in the process. Methenamine is a urinary antiseptic which metabolizes into formaldehyde if the urine is acidic and generally taken with Vitamin C to...

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