Are Aldehydes Bad for You

Aldehydes are carbonyl compounds found ubiquitously in the environment, derived from both natural and anthropogenic sources. As the aldehydes are reactive species, therefore, they are generally toxic to the body.

What does aldehydes do to the body?

Among the most toxic are acrolein and crotonaldehyde, which are known carcinogens. Aldehydes are known sensitizers for small populations of humans and serve to cause chemically induced allergic reactions. The effects of these reactions can be dramatic at rather low concentrations.

Are aldehydes a cancer causing agent?

For a large number of aldehydes (relevant) data on neither carcinogenicity nor genotoxicity are available. From epidemiological studies there is no convincing evidence of aldehyde exposure being related to cancer in humans.