Question
What chromosomal abnormalities can formaldehyde cause? Are these abnormalities limited to Down syndrome?
Answer
Hello, formaldehyde may cause chromosomal abnormalities that can affect various chromosomes, but it’s not certain which specific abnormalities will occur. A common approach is to perform a Down syndrome screening to determine if the condition is present. Guidance: Based on your description, formaldehyde can indeed cause chromosomal abnormalities, particularly under conditions where it may lead to DNA fragmentation. However, it’s not possible to determine which specific pair of DNA is affected. Therefore, if you are pregnant in a new home, it’s usually recommended to undergo a Down syndrome screening between the 16th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, which typically allows for detection.