little-ginge

does anyone know what formaldehyde smells like??

I had to go for a consultants appointment at the local hospital today, and whilst waiting for a prescription to be filled, we noticed this really rancid smell. We weren't the only ones to smell it - it was like a really strong sewage smell.

I went and spoke to reception about it, thinking it was the toilets or something, and they said it was something they knew about, which happened every so often, and that it was preserving fluid. Then she mentioned formaldehyde - and it was obvious she had said something perhaps she shouldnt have to a member of the public!!

I said formaldehyde/preserving fluid? as in downstairs in the morgue? She confirmed it was! Having stood inhaling it and feeling quite sick, we went outside, but I did ask for a complaint form .. which apparently the hospital dont have? So i was asked to pick up a phone in reception and report it - it was the helpdesk who said they would send out the estates team - they thought I was a member of hospital staff!!

Whatever it was, sewage or the preserving of dead people in the bowels of the hospital, it was disgusting. NOt exactly what you want to be smelling/thinking about especially in a hospital!

Before I go wading in and sending emails etc, I need to know if this stuff does smell like tonnes of festering poop..

Trout

iTrader: (1)

Formaldehyde does not smell like poop at all.

It is a very chemical like smell, slightly sweet, that catches your throat a little. It is an organic liquid so more like benzene. It does not smell like petrol but I cannot ever imagine mistaking it for poop.

Bubba po

Formaldehyde is a chemical which presents mild health risks upon inhalation, which is probably why she looked a bit anxious about saying the word. It used to be used to preserve organic specimens, but there are non-hazardous alternatives in use today.

little-ginge

Thank you, oh great one.

I must have turned a very nice shade of green when she told me it was from the body bank... not that i prefer the thought of it being sewage, mind

tanyatriangles

iTrader: (2)

Not what I'd describe as a sweet smell, sharp, yes, slightly nauseating, yes. Once smelled, never forgotten

dpb

Like mothballs isnt it ?

- id rather take the formaldehyde

dpb

Smelt ?

dpb

Other than working iron

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Body Bank ?

Is that a Mortuary ?

Probably had a stinker in, a corpse that had been left to reduce down a little in the sun.

mart360

A lung full of formH, will leave you in pain,

watering eye,s and burning in the chest...

its not a nice chemical at all..

come accros it many times in one of my previous jobs

Mart

Leslie

Wot Trout said.

Les

hodgy0_2

dead people, in hospital -- whatever next

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

That's new labour for you

hodgy0_2

anyway I try and avoid Hospitals coz they are full of ill people

BOB.T

I've got some Rohypnol just could smell, just to compare/rule out obviously

vince-sti02

iTrader: (2)

I bet the receptionist looked the way she did as she may have just been for a No 2!.
This would also explain the smell