Austin Air Cleaners Help to Remove Formaldehyde
Going to a hair salon can be dangerous to your health. When you get there, there is mounting evidence that you may be exposed to formaldehyde gases emitted from salon hair treatment products. When inhaled, salon workers and their customers are exposed to health risks, sometimes serious ones. On a related front, recent analysis has linked these powerful fumes directly to asthma in children from many house sources.
Formaldehyde is dangerous! Protect yourself with air purifiers that remove this gaseous fume. Get the Austin Air Filter, the HealthMate Plus, an air cleaner from the family of Austin Air Purifiers.
Formaldehyde in Salons
Recently, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a report on their investigation into 45 manufacturers of hair straighteners. They found that many manufacturers don't sufficiently mark their products as containing formaldehyde, some labeled products as NOT containing formaldehyde but actually did, some contain as much as 11.8 percent formaldehyde, and most salons deny risks. In their report, they label formaldehyde as a human carcinogen and potent allergen made worse when blow drying hair at 450 degrees.
They go on to report that some salon clients have has severe allergic reactions, large hair loss, neck and face rashes, and blistering scalps. These conditions were labeled "adverse events" with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These kinds of concerns have prompted a "Hazard Alert" being issued by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) to salon workers who use these products.
Recently, the Los Angeles Times wrote, "State OSHA offices in California and Oregon began investigating the Brazilian Blowout and other hair smoothing products several months ago after a host of complaints from salon workers and clients reporting headaches, nosebleeds, blisters, burning eyes, vomiting, asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Several state-level agencies -- including those in California, Oregon and Connecticut -- issued warnings about the products. Health Canada issued an outright ban."
Asthma Link to Formaldehyde
In the March release of Environmental Health Perspectives, study results on "Formaldehyde Exposure and Asthma in Children" are presented. They write, "Conclusions: Results indicate a significant positive association between formaldehyde exposure and childhood asthma." They go on further to say, "Acute exposure to formaldehyde can cause eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, whereas long-term exposure has been associated with certain cancers (e.g., sinonasal) as well as asthma (Daisey et al. 2003). Exposure to formaldehyde occurs in certain occupational settings (e.g., embalmers), but exposure via formaldehyde-emitting products such as particle board, urea formaldehyde insulation, carpeting, and furniture is more common (Garrett et al. 1999)."
They also say "Much of the research regarding the health effects of formaldehyde has focused on cancer, whereas less attention has been paid to more common conditions such as asthma. In the United States, the prevalence of asthma is approximately 7% among adults and 9% among children (Akinbami et al. 2009; Moorman et al. 2007). Among adults, some studies have reported a positive association between formaldehyde and asthma (Wieslander et al. 1997), while others have not (Krzyzanowski et al. 1990). It has been suggested that certain groups, specifically children, may be particularly sensitive to formaldehyde exposure."
Conclusion
Formaldehyde, as a gaseous airborne contaminate is dangerous! It is found in salons and in our homes. Formaldehyde gases can be removed with high quality air cleaners - air purifiers that have the capacity to remove noxious gases. The HealthMate Plus, is the one for you from the Austin Air Purifiers family. The HealthMate Plus removes not only the health risks to you, but also the health risks that are linked to asthma for children.
