Weird Request - Formaldehyde Smell?

[douglisa]

First I would suggest reading this as it explains the possible side effects. Not to scare you but maybe this would change his career choice. Seems it is not a very nice chemical to deal w/ on a regular basis.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/formaldehyde.htm

I found this on the internet too explaining how to get chemicals out of clothes.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-new-smell-from-clothes-2.html

 

[bumbershoot]

First I would suggest reading this as it explains the possible side effects. Not to scare you but maybe this would change his career choice. Seems it is not a very nice chemical to deal w/ on a regular basis.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/formaldehyde.htm
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Sounds like he's just a student, just like I was. It's a limited-time thing, and dissection is an incredible learning method. And you don't want to dissect anything without the formaldehyde!


But other than that, yeah, formaldehyde is nasty. And it's in so many things...when my mom worked at Cost Plus Imports, they had to hold their breath when opening boxes of clothes and shoes, b/c the colors were "cured" in formaldehyde. Let's just say that she never let me wear the clothes that smelled like that.

googling..."formaldehyde resins used for textile finishes", "textile industry uses formaldehyde-based resins as finishers to make fabrics crease-resistant.", "Manufacturers use formaldehyde to treat clothes that have to be shipped a long way, say, from Asia to the United States, to prevent mildew", "residual quantities of formaldehyde may be found in several current vaccines" (that's from chop.edu), "used to produce glues used in the manufacture of particleboard, plywood, veneers, and other wood products, as well as spray-on insulating foams", and let's not forget the levels of it found in the FEMA-supplied trailers, sigh.

So it's not just found around certain professions, it's all over the place.

 

[nanadeb]

As for the shoe smell problem, this sounds like a perfect case for Crocs. They do make the professional style without the holes and some of them do have closed heels. The resin material is in closed cells and would therefore not absorb the odors as well. On the Crocs website, they even advocate washing the shoes in the dishwasher (I think I would do that without putting in any dishes!)
BTW, costco has Beach style Crocs for $21.99. Maybe not the best for anantomy class, but great for the rest of us!

 

[lilsweetpea]

First I would suggest reading this as it explains the possible side effects. Not to scare you but maybe this would change his career choice. Seems it is not a very nice chemical to deal w/ on a regular basis.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/formaldehyde.htm

I found this on the internet too explaining how to get chemicals out of clothes.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-new-smell-from-clothes-2.html

and

Sounds like he's just a student, just like I was. It's a limited-time thing, and dissection is an incredible learning method. And you don't want to dissect anything without the formaldehyde!


But other than that, yeah, formaldehyde is nasty. And it's in so many things...when my mom worked at Cost Plus Imports, they had to hold their breath when opening boxes of clothes and shoes, b/c the colors were "cured" in formaldehyde. Let's just say that she never let me wear the clothes that smelled like that.

googling..."formaldehyde resins used for textile finishes", "textile industry uses formaldehyde-based resins as finishers to make fabrics crease-resistant.", "Manufacturers use formaldehyde to treat clothes that have to be shipped a long way, say, from Asia to the United States, to prevent mildew", "residual quantities of formaldehyde may be found in several current vaccines" (that's from chop.edu), "used to produce glues used in the manufacture of particleboard, plywood, veneers, and other wood products, as well as spray-on insulating foams", and let's not forget the levels of it found in the FEMA-supplied trailers, sigh.

So it's not just found around certain professions, it's all over the place.

Yes he is just a student. So only about 8 more weeks of this and he's done!

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I will forward them to him.

 

[Va-bear]

First I would suggest reading this as it explains the possible side effects. Not to scare you but maybe this would change his career choice. Seems it is not a very nice chemical to deal w/ on a regular basis.

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/factsheets/formaldehyde.htm

I found this on the internet too explaining how to get chemicals out of clothes.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/remove-new-smell-from-clothes-2.html

Good info but I think most Universities now use a varient of formaldehyde that is not nearly so toxic, I know here they do. It still stinks, but believe it or not OP, not as much as what the students used 10+ years ago. (I work in the building w/ the gross labs - dont even get on the elevator w/ the students when lab lets out - imagine 20 of those stinky bodies in an enclosed place! ) I used to know they guy that ran the place - he used vinegar...after adding all the clothes, detergetn, vinegar, and water, cut it back off, let it all sit/soak for one hour, then turned it back on to wash. Good luck.