A REVIEW ON TOXIC EFFECT OF FORMALIN ON HUMANS

Lirin Mary M. K.*, Nipu Sam P. George and Kavya R.

ABSTRACT

Formaldehyde is colourless, highly flammable gas which is commercially available as 30-50% aqueous solution. It is highly reactive; readily under goes polymerization and other self-oxidation reactions. They are soluble in water, alcohols and other polar solvents. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer they classify formaldehyde as a carcinogen in humans. Formaldehyde is a good preserving agent. So they may be used in different consumer products and food products to prevent spoilage by microbial contamination. Increased concentration of formaldehyde in consumer products and food products like fish may affects the human body and causes serious health problems like cough, nose and eye irritation, headache irreversibly changes to brain cancer. And also they produce genetic effects in buccal or nasal mucosal cells and in lymphocytes peripheral. In order to decrease the consumption of formalin adulterated fish we can use formalin detection kit. The main advantage of formalin detection kit is the simple and economical, and can be performed by consumers itself, detects the contaminants within few minutes. Formaldehyde adulterated fish can be noticed by its physical appearance blackened gills, eyes become whitish or opaque and the muscles lost their tenderness.

Keywords: Formaldehyde, Fish, Consumer products, Formalin detection kit.