Formaldehyde Exposure Sends Six Haunted House Employees to the Hospital

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Cinnaminson, NJ, November 6, 2012
 
Last week, employees from a haunted house attraction in Essex, Maryland unexpectedly found themselves in a local hospital.  The evening started out normal until a display that housed formaldehyde was spilled. Firefighters were called to the scene and six of the employees who succumbed to the chemical fumes were then taken to a nearby hospital. 
 
Formaldehyde is a colorless and strong-smelling chemical. International production of formaldehyde was over 46 billion pounds in 2004, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).  Formaldehyde is perhaps best known as a preservative in medical laboratories and as an embalming fluid, but it is also used to make many building materials and household products.
 
Its primary use is in the production of resins and as a chemical intermediate. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) and phenol formaldehyde (PF) resins are used in foam insulations, as adhesives in the production of particle board and plywood, and in the treating of textiles.
 
Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer and exposure to it should be limited. The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has developed standards to address formaldehyde exposure with specific standards for general industry, shipyard employment and the construction industry.
 
One of the leading formaldehyde testing laboratories in North America is EMSL Analytical, Inc.  EMSL provides testing services to government agencies, manufacturers, product distributors and the public. 'Because formaldehyde is commonly used it is a concern for not just industrial workers, but also for homeowners who are surrounded by products that were manufactured with this chemical,' reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical.  'EMSL provides air testing services to ensure both workers and building occupants are not exposed to elevated levels of this carcinogen.' 
 
EMSL has sponsored a video about the hazards associated with formaldehyde in the indoor environment.  It can be seen at:
http://youtu.be/yD4pTC8GVpE
 
For information about testing for formaldehyde or other indoor air quality
services, please visit www.EMSL.com, email info@EMSL.com or call (800) 220-3675.
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of quality environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

— WebWireID164267 —


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