In the
Champion Expanding Encyclopedia of Mortuary Practices article "Bleach in Embalming Rooms: Overrated and Overused Part 1" written by a chemist at The Champion Company:
Note, however, that formaldehyde in the Magic Eraser is not a separate chemical but one component of a polymer so will not be nearly as reactive with chlorine. Also, the above description of problems with chlorine and formaldehyde is talking about the mixing of concentrated solutions. Nevertheless, in some polymers there are often found small quantities of unreacted monomers (individual ingredients) though how much depends on the specifics of the chemical manufacturing process.
This patent, for example, describes formation of a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite resin (copolymer) that outgases less formaldehyde.
This MSDS for Magic Eraser says the following under Stability and Reactivity:
The bottom line is that the active chlorine concentration in our swimming pools is equivalent to less than 0.1 ppm FC with no CYA. You should not be worrying about reactions of chlorine with the Magic Eraser. Not only are such reactions minimal due to the polymer itself, but the very low chlorine concentration makes any such reactions occur very slowly. Adding concentrated bleach to a Magic Eraser would be more of a problem, though even then the reaction rate would be fairly slow. An acidic chlorine solution such as from Trichlor or the use of chlorine gas or use of a stronger oxidizer (e.g. ammonium permanganate, chromic acid, fluorine) would be more of a problem. Again,
chlorine at dilution amounts in swimming pools should not be an issue.
