Question

A pregnant woman who has just moved into a new home is worried about the potential adverse effects of long-term exposure to formaldehyde on her fetus and asks whether formaldehyde can cause fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

Answer

Formaldehyde is a toxic substance that primarily affects humans through abnormal sense of smell, irritation, allergies, pulmonary function abnormalities, and immune function abnormalities. For pregnant women, long-term exposure to high concentrations of formaldehyde may have adverse effects on the normal growth and development of the fetus, including fetal deformities, nuclear gene mutations, chromosomal abnormalities, and decreased intelligence and memory. Studies have shown that only when exposed to high concentrations of formaldehyde for a prolonged period can it affect fetal health. During the 16-20th week of pregnancy, the health status of the fetus can be assessed through tests such as Down syndrome screening and two-dimensional color Doppler ultrasound.