Symptom survey of residents of homes insulated with urea-formaldehyde foam

Journal Article · Tue Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1982 · Environ. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0013-9351(82)90034-2· OSTI ID:5144516

Thun, M J; Lakat, M F; Altman, R

Concern about the health effects of urea-formaldehyde foam insulation prompted a population-based, retrospective survey of 395 New Jersey households whose homes had been insulated with the product. Four hundred neighborhood homes were selected as controls, using reverse telephone directories. Families exposed to the foam reported no increase in the overall incidence of symptoms, but did report a significant excess of two specific symptoms, ''burning skin'' (P=0.04) and ''wheezing or difficulty breathing'' (P=0.01). In addition, a subgroup of 33 households who reported odor persisting for >7 days described an increased rate of new symptom occurrence, physician visits, and medications taken.

• Research Organization: New Jersey State Health Dept., Trenton
• OSTI ID: 5144516
• Journal Information: Environ. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Res.; (United States) Vol. 29:2; ISSN ENVRA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
552000 -- Public Health
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
BUILDINGS
COLLOIDS
DISPERSIONS
FEDERAL REGION II
FOAMS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
NEW JERSEY
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
PUBLIC HEALTH
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
THERMAL INSULATION
UREA-FORMALDEHYDE FOAMS
USA