Testing for formaldehyde/formalin in a dried skin

[Mike_Siew]

Some people use formalin/formaldehyde to 'tan' animal skins and proceeded to mount them. The completed mounts will continue to out-gas formaldehyde, I was told. I wonder is there any method/equipment to test for formalin traces in these dried out skins?

Opinions really appreciated here. PM me if necessary. I really need to know the answers.

[cyclone]

http://www.galladechem.com/catalog/emd_teststrips/formaldehyde-test-strips-kit-10-100-ppm-em-quant--1-pk-of-100-hazmat-fee-incl.htm

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp111-c6.pdf

There are established methods and equipment that will indeed measure formaldehyde.

The strips measure aqueous formaldehyde..

The other link is a publication telling of various established methods for measuring the compound.

There are even "sniffers" that detect formaldehyde in low ppm concentrations..
http://www.formaldehydedetector.com/index.html?gclid=CM3t_-Hpj64CFUjd4AodJEbriA

There are other "aldehydes" in addition to formaldehyde used in the tanning process..Not all use formaldehyde..

[muscle20]

       Formalin is used in small amounts to add water resistence to tanned skins, also it is used for preservation of birds,  used in the manufacture of disinfectants,preservatives, and hundreds of industrial and consumer products such as adhesives,carpeting,paneling,foam insulation,drapery,fiber and partical board, too much to mention, oh yes tobacco. Yes you can obtain a (HCHO) detector.

[oldshaver]

Some people use formalin/formaldehyde to 'tan' animal skins and proceeded to mount them. The completed mounts will continue to out-gas formaldehyde, I was told. I wonder is there any method/equipment to test for formalin traces in these dried out skins?

Opinions really appreciated here. PM me if necessary. I really need to know the answers.

Some people? I havent heard of anyone being that stupid for decades!

Some of these "all natural" tanners that like to smoke their skins, might be able to help you find a source?

What are you fishing for here? Not being mean, I just feel a sence of urgency here?

If feel safe in saying, the only place you MIGHT find it, and I dont know this for sure, MIGHT be bird feet injections, antler velvet preservations, or maybe some type of fish or reptile tan??

[Mike_Siew]

Thanks Cyclone, that's most helpful. Most appreciated.

Muscle20, I aint talking about bird feet injection, it's a whole animal skin in formalin for sometimes months and then straight out to be mounted.

OldShaver, I respect your wisdom. However, there are really idiots that practice this in my part of the world! Some still use arsenic paste would you believe! You get away when no one else knows what the hell's going on. Hence, I needed unrefutable tests with equipments to expose these really really bad practices. Why are you so suspicious?

[oldshaver]

Not suspicious.

My wifes aunt passed away this past september from acute myloid lukemia. She worked as book binder for 30 years. Daily exposure to high levels of formaldehyde vapors from hot glue killed her.

Sweet lady.

[cyclone]

Some of these "all natural" tanners that like to smoke their skins, might be able to help you find a source?

The active compounds in smoke that most likely are responsible for "Tanning" are mostly aldehydes..of which formaldehyde is one and could be present.

It depends on the levels of formaldehyde that one is looking for.  You might just get positive responses from materials used in the mounting process without the hide ever being exposed to it during the tanning process..

and Mike...there aren't many analytical methods out there that are irrefutable..The best you can hope for is high confidence levels as determined by experts in their respective fields..

[oldfather]

In Some Methods of tanning is used A minimal amount of formaldehyde, But I think you hardly can mount a skin or cape that have been in strait formaldehyde for at least a few hours.....

[oldfather]

it will be too stiff to mount with no stretch at all!

[muscle20]

   I totally agree oldfather.

[oldshaver]

In Some Methods of tanning is used A minimal amount of formaldehyde, But I think you hardly can mount a skin or cape that have been in strait formaldehyde for at least a few hours.....

I agree too. I would think the drumming would be out of control on a cape tanned with nothin but the chems in question???

[oldshaver]

In Some Methods of tanning is used A minimal amount of formaldehyde, But I think you hardly can mount a skin or cape that have been in strait formaldehyde for at least a few hours.....

I agree too. I would think the drumming would be out of control on a cape tanned with nothin but the chems in question???