The msds must identify formaldehyde in section 2, by the chemical abstract service cas number 50000. Behind the formaldehyde curtain name of the instructor annotated bibliography. For more information, call the atsdr information center at 18884228737. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford essay sample. Formaldehyde is a colorless, strongsmelling, flammable chemical that is produced industrially and used in building materials such as particleboard, plywood, and other pressedwood products. For example, in paragraph 2 she refers to the casket as a suitably costly container, but she does not really think the cost appropriate. In addition, it is commonly used as a fungicide, germicide, and disinfectant, and as a preservative in mortuaries and medical laboratories.
Since its accidental production by alexander mikhailovich butlerov in 1859 and subsequent discovery by a. Jessica mitford behind the formaldehyde curtain analysis essay example. O is a colorless, highly toxic, and flammable gas at room temperature. Therefore, products with phenol formaldehyde are widely. Small amounts of formaldehyde are naturally produced by plants, animals, and humans. Industrially, formaldehyde is an important chemical used to make other chemicals. Behind the formaldehyde curtain fessica mitford the drama begins to unfold with the arrival of the corpse at the mortuary. Jessica mitford, behind the formaldehyde curtain cause and effect purpose. What is the thesis of behind the formaldehyde curtain. Formaldehyde solution 37 ww, stablized with 1012% methanol classified as hazardous p201 obtain special instructions before use. Formaldehyde cancercausing substances national cancer. It is used as a component in glues and adhesives, and in paints and other coatings. The culprit is the adhesive urea formaldehyde which can break down and release the gas. Formaldehyde lab services formaldehyde offgassing testing from composite wood products recently, there has been an increased national awareness and growing concern for formaldehyde gas being released from manufactured laminated flooring and other composite wood products.
Ethos angloamerican memoirist, journalist, and social activist little formal education investigative reporter in 1960s talent for social criticism on american funeral industry mitford. In jessica mitfords diatribe, behind the formaldehyde curtain, she distastefully. If someone in your home smokes tobacco products, the smoke may be the greatest source of formaldehyde in your home. Learn more from the consumer product safety commission about products that contain formaldehyde pdf 12 pp, 607 k, about pdf more information for home and at work. The most famous or infamous thing jessica mitford wrote is the american way of death, a critique of the funeral industry. Mitfords focal point is relatively apparent from the very beginning. I can see why this book was a funeral industry shocker in its day, the 1960s. Allow 23 hours after fumigation has ceased before any reentry to the building. A violent reaction occurs when formaldehyde is mixed with strong oxidizers. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford. To many americans, they seem to prefer embalming their dead relatives. Behind the formaldehyde curtain in jessica mitfords behind the formaldehyde curtain published in the american way of death in 1963, the author portrays how funerals are for the living, not the dead. At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable. Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas that has a distinct, strong smell.
My childhood on the continent of africa david sedaris. Formaldehyde and formaldehydereleasing preservatives safe. The common name of this substance comes from its similarity and relation to formic acid formaldehyde is an important precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds. I mentioned in my last post, a long time ago ive been busy spring cleaning, that i would discuss oxidative stress next some background information first. Jessica mitford, the author, describes in this essay the process corpses go through while at the funeral parlor. These chemicals, which help prevent microbes from growing in waterbased products, can be absorbed through the skin and have been linked to cancer and allergic skin reactions. Everyone is exposed to small amounts of formaldehyde in the air and in some foods and manufactured products. As humans, we often find difficulty in dealing with the tragedy of death. Although differential individual sensitivity has been established, the mechanism for this increased sensitivity is unknown. The formaldehyde concentration in the aqueous phase should be measured. Although glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde share the chemical family name aldehyde, their chemical and toxicological properties are significantly different. Behind the formaldehyde curtain be advanced placement. The essay focuses closely on the process of embalming after the author gives a dramatic and symbolic introduction laden with an irony and almost satirical twists. Formaldehyde ranked the highest based on these criteria.
Almost every building component contains formaldehyde in some amount. Formaldehyde reacts with hydrochloric acid to form the potent carcinogen, bischloromethyl ether. Adequate controls for the proper use, handling and storage of formaldehyde reduce the risk of hazardous exposures and. This course focuses on the primary routes of exposure, the symptoms of exposure, the osha permissible exposure limit and action level and stel and the. This fact sheet is one in a series of summaries about hazardous substances and their health effects. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Robson formaldehyde is the simplest aldehyde with the chemical formula hcho. Increasing the rate of ventilation in your home, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the home, will also help in reducing formaldehyde levels. An essay is open to interpretation, and a good example of this is jessica mitfords essay behind the formaldehyde curtain.
An analysis of mitfords behind the formaldehyde curtain. Mitford achieves this feat by employing the rhetorical strategies of figurative. Jessica mitford offers a peculiar narrative in behind the formaldehyde curtain. Exposure to formaldehyde can irritate the skin, throat, lungs. This is one of the largest formals associated with mcmaster, and is always a great time for the faculty of science and guests to come together. Formaldehyde can cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and neurological effects.
Utilizing metaphor and potent imagery, mitford achieves her purpose, which is to expose the horrendous acts that occur in a funeral home. Formaldehyde is a chemical used in some building materials and household products like flooring, furniture, and fabric. It is a compilation of articles, chiefly centered on mortuary career condemnation. Formaldehyde is the simplest aldehyde with the chemical formula hcho. Jan 09, 2004 now, take an open step to the curtained window, with its dainteries and its beautiful veneer, and open those curtains, seeing i behind the formaldehyde curtain. Formaldehyde is a simple chemical made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Glutaraldehyde does not contain formaldehyde, nor does it release formaldehyde, even after.
Use formaldehyde neat and apply at a rate of 10 litre to each 10,000 square feet of floor space in the building to be treated. It is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and some resins. Ethos angloamerican memoirist, journalist, and social activist little formal education investigative reporter in 1960s talent for social criticism on american funeral industry organizational patterns purpose subject pathos diction the author assumes that embalming. Analytical essay formaldehyde cadaver essays scribd. A related adhesive, called phenol formaldehyde used in softwood plywood and orientedstrand board releases little, if any, formaldehyde. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford mitford also begins to question the purpose of embalming.
Formaldehyde is a colourless, irritating and unpleasant smelling gas and is usually. Mitford employs a considerable amount of verbal irony saying one thing but suggesting or meaning another. Formaldehyde is a complete carcinogen and appears to exert an effect on at least two stages of the carcinogenic process. Formaldehyde is not listed in schedule 14, however there remains a requirement to provide health monitoring if there is a significant risk to the worker, and there are valid techniques to detect effects on workers health cl 368. Formaldehyde is a dangerous chemical, both as a gas and as a liquid. It is viewed as peculiar considering the main theme adopted in the story, which is death. Safety data sheet of 8 infosafe no 1ch2t issue date. Always check that the atmospheric levels of formaldehyde are below the specified. Formaldehyde is a strongsmelling gas, used especially to preserve parts of animals or. Mitfords satiric expose of american funeral home practices led to public outrage. Behind the formaldehyde curtain analysis essays writers.
Her word choice is strong, taking you visually, step by step, through that process. Exposure to formaldehyde can occur in numerous industries and professions, such as manufacturers of formaldehyde and formaldehydebased resins, woodworking, and furniture making. Employers who use this chemical must have an exposure control plan in place. Specifically it will contain an analysis of the essay, including the writers point and the major ways the writer illustrates that point. The article was first printed in 1967 in the american way of death. Formaldehyde is a common chemical in our environment. The standard so lutions we re found to be sta ble with no dete cta ble loss for at least 10 week s and at least 12 week s, respectively. Formaldehyde and formaldehydereleasing preservatives frps are used in many personal care products, 1 particularly in shampoos and liquid baby soaps. Behind the formaldehyde curtain the most famous or notorious thing jessica mitford wrote is the american way of death. Formaldehyde systematic name methanal is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula ch 2 o h. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by courtney shearer on prezi.
Mitfords essay is a selection from her bestselling novel the american way of death. From the very first lines, i felt both excited and pushed away by the evident originality of the topic being discussed. At high levels of exposure to formaldehyde may even tumors. There are small amounts of formaldehyde in nearly all homes.
Air formaldehyde and solvent concentrations during surface. P202 do not handle until all safety precautions have been read and understood. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford by. Now, take an open step to the curtained window, with its dainteries and its beautiful veneer, and open those curtains, seeing ibehind the formaldehyde curtain. Jessica mitford skillfully expresses this concept in behind the formaldehyde curtain. The following essay is a selfcontained selection from it. It is naturally occurring and present all around us. The main idea of the behind the formaldehyde curtain written by jessica mitford. To demonstrate a point using casual analysis, that is, explaining the reasons why a particular situation or event came about, or explaining the consequences that follow from particular actions or situations.
Mar 15, 2010 summary of the behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford. Formaldehyde definition and meaning collins english. Headlines began to appear in the undertakers journals. Download as doc, pdf, txt or read online from scribd. Formaldehyde is made by the human body and occurs naturally in the air we breathe. By parting the formaldehyde curtain, mitford s descriptions, as gruesome, detailed and sarcastic as they are, serve to shock and horrify those who read them. The information and description of the services available through the american funeral home of times was fun to read about. Chang february 1987 a private report by the process economics program i stanford research institute. Its exactly this questioning that led to legal reform, requiring the funeral industry to get consent from family before embalming and charging for embalming. The common name of this substance comes from its similarity and relation to formic acid.
Formaldehyde is an important precursor to many other materials and chemical compounds. Along with its acute irritative effects, formaldehyde can cause allergic sensitization and cancer. Formaldehyde reacts with nitrogen dioxide, nitromethane, perchloric acid and aniline, or peroxyformic acid to yield explosive compounds. First published in 1963, by simon and schuster in new york, this book by jessica mitford discusses the american culture of embalming with rich satire and sarcasm. For those who have the stomach for it, let us part the formaldehyde curtain. Formaldehyde and formaldehydereleasing preservatives. Free breaking down the curtain essay exampleessays. My name is samantha luciani and i am beyond excited to be coordinating formaldehyde 2020. From the sewing of the mouth to the gluing of the eyes to the incisions. Jessica mitfords behind the formaldehyde curtain is a critique of the funeral industry and its barbaric ways of performing demisurgery on corpses, according to scribd. A colorless liquid with a distinctive odor, classified as a volatile organic compound because it can be emitted as a gas from certain solids and liquids, even at room temperature. The novel is a look into her dissatisfaction with the way americans treat the deceased, from the prices of funerals to the lack of. Morticians and laboratory workers may also be exposed to formaldehyde.
The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the essay behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford. Behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford by anne. It is also used as a food preservative and in household products, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics. Jun 23, 2016 standard solutions of formaldehydednph at 0.
When getting down to reading behind the formaldehyde curtain by jessica mitford, i was not expecting to face an essay of such a dark content. The main idea of the author is the subject to the practices of embalming, secrets surrounding these practices as well as a description of the procedures followed during the embalming process. Formaldehyde is commonly used as formalin, a mixture of 3050% formaldehyde and 1020% methyl alcohol in water. There were investigated 161 textile products intended to come into contact with the skin clothing for children, women, men, linen. Formaldehyde has been found in at least 29 of the 1,669 national priorities list sites identified by the environmental protection agency epa. She uses vivid imagery, describing scenes in detail so. Exposure to formaldehyde can occur in numerous industries and professions, such as manufacturers of formaldehyde and formaldehyde based resins, woodworking, and furniture making. Behind the formaldehyde curtain behind the formaldehyde.
The permissible exposure limit pel for formaldehyde in the workplace is 0. If only these people knew the process of embalming. An example of this is in mitford s step by step analysis of the embalmers duties on a mr. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasing preservatives frps are used in many personal care products, 1 particularly in shampoos and liquid baby soaps. Behind the formaldehyde curtain is an essay that was written by jessica mitford. Glutaraldehyde and formaldehyde glutaraldehyde is frequently confused with formaldehyde. Formaldehyde 2016 wikisource, the free online library. Curtain painting machine operators were exposed to the highest concentrations of both formaldehyde geometric mean 0. Hofmann in 1868, formaldehyde has become a major industrial product.
The authors point in this essay is quite clear from the start. And what questions do you think my teacher might ask on the essay. Behind the formaldehyde curtain is an essay written by jessica mitford. In the book, mitford criticizes the mortuary profession. Formaldehyde national institute of environmental health. Behind the formaldehyde curtain general discussion. What is jessica mitfords behind the formaldehyde curtain. How surprised he would be to see how his counterpart of today is whisked off to a funeral parlor and is in short order sprayed, sliced, pierced, pickled, trussed, trimmed, creamed, waxed, painted.
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