Formaldehyde gas

[Hope]

Apparently Damien Hirst's works have been releasing potentially dangerous formaldehyde fumes at the Tate Modern in London.  Scientists hasten to add that if you a member of the public making a one-off visit, there is probably no danger at all, but that curators and staff of the Tate, who have to co-exist with the pieces day in day out, might be at risk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rq3w1

[floo]

Apparently Damien Hirst's works have been releasing potentially dangerous formaldehyde fumes at the Tate Modern in London.  Scientists hasten to add that if you a member of the public making a one-off visit, there is probably no danger at all, but that curators and staff of the Tate, who have to co-exist with the pieces day in day out, might be at risk.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03rq3w1

It is strange that if this story is true it isn't headline news, and the health and safety brigade haven't closed Tate Modern.

[Rhiannon]

Formaldehyde is everywhere. Developing an allergy to it is common for workers in certain industries such as clothing and printing; it's also known to be a carcinogen. If you have particleboard, fire retardant sofas and carpets, read magazines and newspapers, wear clothes with fabric finishes, use toiletries or cosmetics and use standard household cleaning products you will be exposed to formaldehyde.

I'm allergic to it myself, although my allergy is at the milder end. Avoiding it is very difficult.