There is a chemical used in nearly every manufacturing process worldwide that should be of concern to us all — FORMALDEHYDE.  Formaldehyde is a pungent gas used in many chemical compounds, especially plastics and resins.  When added to water, it’s called formalin — often used in the manufacture of drugs and vaccines.  In 2005, world production was estimated to be 50 billion pounds.  The manufacture of formaldehyde is BIG BUSINESS.

On June 10, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued their 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) from the National Toxicology Program.   The RoC is a science-based, public health document, mandated by Congress.  Formaldehyde is on the list.  Why is this significant?  The RoC identifies toxic agents, substances, compounds, and exposure circumstances that are known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans.

Some of formaldehyde’s many uses include:  woodworking, cabinet making, glues that bond particle board, plywood, carpeting, sanitary paper products, facial tissue, table napkins, paper towels,  insulation, moulded products, paints, explosives, foams, bath products, baby products, counter tops, veneers, laminates, complex plastic and resin compounds, textiles, sizing, no-iron clothing, in the manufacture of automobiles, as a disinfectant because it kills most bacteria and fungi, in medicine to dry the skin such as wart remover, as a treatment for parasites, toxoid vaccines, urinary tract infection treatments, topical creams, cosmetics, personal hygiene products, shampoo, embalming agents, as a fixative for microscopy and histology, and the list goes on…

Have you ever suffered with any of these symptoms?

• Eye, nose, and throat irritations (inappropriately reasoned to be caused by the common cold)
• Headaches
• Skin rashes or hives
• Burnt esophagus
• Burnt stomach
• Hypotension
• Heart arrhythmia
• Irregular/difficulty breathing
• Restlessness
• Red blood cell destruction
• Unconsciousness
• Coma

These are ALL symptoms of FORMALDEHYDE POISONING.  Were you aware that these symptoms can be attributed to formaldehyde exposure, and even worse, that formaldehyde is KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER?  In view of formaldehydes widespread use, this should be of major concern to all people.

As can be expected, when the National Toxicology Program released the 12th RoC, formaldehyde manufacturers were greatly offended.  Perhaps offended isn’t the correct word.  Maybe alarmed might be more appropriate.  After all, the manufacture of formaldehyde is BIG BUSINESS.  Whenever a conglomerate’s mainstay is in question, of course they’re going to be concerned…

Here we see that the American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued a counter-attack, telling us how they think that formaldehyde is just peachy-keen.  But wouldn’t we expect manufacturers to sing the praises of their products?

On the ACC website back in 2011 after the 12th RoC was issued, they called for an immediate appeal of the carcinogen ruling, and even went so far as to say that the manufacture of formaldehyde produces hundreds of thousands of jobs each year — as if that’s supposed to appease the issue?  Well, apparently their appeal was heard by the FDA!  Leave it to the good, old FDA to look out for the welfare of the American people.  Yes, I’m being facetious.  After all, the FDA is BIG BUSINESS, too.

The ACC website has changed since last year after the U.S. Department of HHS issued a NTP Addendum leaving formaldehyde on the known to cause cancer list.  However, the ACC has another site, which they call formaldehydefacts.org, that once again sings the praises of formaldehyde.  But the question remains—whose “facts” can be trusted?  The manufacturer’s? Probably not.

I recently noticed increased lobbying efforts and large presidential campaign donations have been  bouncing around and flying under the radar this summer.  In fact, the FDA ruled earlier this year on Bisphenol A (BPA), which contain formaldehyde, as, how shall we say — safe — by stating, “The Food and Drug Administration’s assessment is that the scientific evidence at this time does not suggest that the very low levels of human exposure to BPA through the diet are unsafe.”   Really?  Not enough evidence?  Suggests?  Very low levels?  At this time?  Exactly whose data is the FDA reviewing?  The RoC is issued by a government organization based on science-based fact.  The FDA’s statement was proudly displayed on the ACCs website devoted to “their” facts about BPA.  Again, wouldn’t we expect a manufacturer to say their products are safe?  But just saying it doesn’t necessarily make it so!  Wouldn’t you think that the FDA would understand this simple truth?

In the meantime, Johnson & Johnson, which makes a wide range of personal care products including many baby products, announced that it would remove a host of harmful chemicals (including formaldehyde) from their product line by 2015.  They had “already pledged to remove certain chemicals from its baby products by 2013,” according to a NY Times article on August 15, 2012.

If BIG BUSINESS pledges to remove toxic chemicals from their products, wouldn’t this imply that there must be something wrong with the toxin?  No matter how many lobbying efforts and campaign contributions are made, the facts are the facts — toxic chemical compounds cause disorder and cancer.

I could go on and on regarding this subject, but I feel a need to close.  Fifteen years ago I suffered with over 35 diagnosed diseases and over 100 debilitating symptoms.  I also suffered with several bad cases of FORMALDEHYDE POISONING.  My experience from debilitating illness and weight gain to good health and natural weight loss are detailed in my new book WARNINGS of Disease: Your Body Uses Symptoms to Communicate; How Junk Food, Drugs, and Toxic Products Provide It with Plenty to Say.  It is available through DaKeMaNi Publishing or on Amazon.

The next time you suffer with ANY of the symptoms listed above, I hope you’ll remember that symptoms do not just happen—they happen for a reason.  The human body communicates through its symptoms whenever the body is exposed to an injury or a toxin.  If you can rule out injury, then exposure to toxic chemicals is the only thing that’s left.  Sometimes, we need to act as detectives to figure out what’s causing our illness by examining all of the clues.  (Another name for clue is warning.)   I changed my lifestyle and eating habits and over 35 diagnosed diseases and 100 symptoms simply went away, and I’ve been healthy ever since.  I listened to what my body was telling me—through its symptoms—and heeded my own warnings…