Recently, rumors circulated online that the dormitory for the hit show Sisters Who Make Waves 2026 had formaldehyde levels exceeding safety standards, causing several female celebrities to fall ill. The production team quickly issued a statement denying the claims and released certification proving the results met safety standards. What are the immediate reactions to inhaling formaldehyde? What are the symptoms of formaldehyde poisoning?
Yesterday, "Sisters dormitory formaldehyde" trended on mainland Chinese social media Weibo. Netizens noticed that several celebrities staying in the same dormitory – including Pets Tseng, Min Qingzi, Sun Yi, Xie Nan, and Christine Fan – had in succession developed symptoms like sore throat, hoarseness, recurring nosebleeds, and styes. Among them, Pets Tseng was diagnosed with acute laryngitis. She was also photographed suddenly having a nosebleed during practice, skillfully applying pressure to stop the bleeding, worrying fans. Medical professionals analyzing the situation pointed out that the typical reactions to short-term formaldehyde exposure are mucosal irritation and respiratory damage, which highly align with the aforementioned symptoms.
The production team stated that the dormitory is the luxurious St. Felix Hotel Villa, which has been used for many years, and the filming location is the Letian Zhizuo Malanshan Video Cultural and Creative Base. They had commissioned a third-party professional organization to conduct indoor air quality tests on April 2 and May 7. The results showed that formaldehyde levels were below the reference limit (0.08 mg/m³), and other substances like benzene, toluene, and xylene also met standards. The team emphasized that the contestants' health is their top priority and thanked the public for their oversight.
Formaldehyde is highly volatile and primarily enters the body through inhalation, followed by skin contact. It can cause acute or chronic allergic reactions, and long-term high-concentration exposure can increase cancer risk. According to the University of Hong Kong Medical Faculty, inhaling formaldehyde can cause the following symptoms:
Dr. Yang Zhen-chang, a toxicologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, analyzed that immediate bodily reactions vary depending on the concentration of formaldehyde inhaled:
| Formaldehyde Concentration | Immediate Reactions After Inhalation |
| 0.1 ppm | Itchy eyes, eye irritation, watery eyes, sore throat, dry mouth, cough, difficulty breathing |
| 0.1-0.3 ppm | Sensitive individuals may experience respiratory irritation and wheezing |
| 0.3-0.8 ppm | Most people will smell a pungent odor |
| 1-2 ppm | Everyone will feel mild irritation |
| 2-3 ppm | Stinging sensation in eyes, nose, throat |
| 4-5 ppm | Marked mucosal irritation; most people can tolerate for 10-30 minutes |
| 10 ppm | Most people can only tolerate for a few minutes |
| 10-30 ppm | Cough, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, asthma, excessive tearing |
| 50-100 ppm | Can cause pulmonary edema, pneumonia, chest tightness, headache, palpitations, eye burns within minutes; severe cases can be fatal |
Long-term inhalation of low-concentration formaldehyde can trigger asthma, respiratory irritation, and decreased lung function. It can also cause contact dermatitis (irritant or allergic), resulting in skin stinging, rashes, or eczema (commonly on elbows, feet, face, and neck). Swallowing formaldehyde can cause nausea, severe vomiting, mouth and stomach pain, diarrhea, blood in urine, dizziness, coma, and even death from respiratory failure.
Furthermore, formaldehyde increases cancer risk. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the United Nations, has classified formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen(carcinogenic to humans). It is linked to nasopharyngeal cancer and hematologic tumors.
It is recommended to leave a newly renovated unit vacant for a period and actively take the following measures to accelerate formaldehyde dissipation:
Sources: HKU Medical Faculty, Toxicologist Dr. Yang Zhenchang
