The disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a fatal condition, which affects an impressive number of Americans each year. Most people who have ALS die from respiratory failure, within three to five years of diagnosis. .
Funeral Directors Are at Risk
In accordance with a new study, funeral directors may be at increased risk of getting the neurodegenerative disease called ALS because they are exposed to the formaldehyde in embalming fluids.
For the study, researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Mortality Study, a federal database that includes employment information on over 1 million U.S. adults.
The results of this brand-new study suggest that formaldehyde exposure may play an important role in getting ALS. Therefore, men who have certain jobs with a possible high exposure to formaldehyde seem to be three times more likely to die from ALS, compared to those who had no exposure to this chemical.
Funeral directors are in contact with formaldehyde, on a daily basis, since the chemical is used for embalming dead bodies. But they are not the only ones who might be in danger due to the consequences and risks the use of this chemical involves.
Not Just Funeral Directors — People Should Take Precautions
Formaldehyde is a chemical used not only for embalming dead bodies but also for a variety of other purposes. For example, making particleboard, wood products, as well as some glues, and even preservatives in shampoo are just some of the purposes this chemical has.
The fact that it is dangerous should is not something unknown since it has been classified as a possible human carcinogen at high exposures by the federal government. Therefore, all people who work close to formaldehyde are strongly advised to take as many precautions as possible and minimize their exposure to the substance. For instance, in the case of funeral directors, ventilating the rooms where embalming happens should be taken into consideration, as this procedure is a very effective way to reduce the formaldehyde exposure.
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