PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT

Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for
Formaldehyde. It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and
their health effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQsTM is also available. This information is
important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous
substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and
whether other chemicals are present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center
at 1-800-232-4636.
____________________________________________________________________________________
This public health statement tells you about formaldehyde and the effects of exposure to it.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in
the nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for
long-term federal clean-up activities. Formaldehyde has been found in at least 29 of the
1,699 current or former NPL sites. Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this
substance is not known, the possibility exists that the number of sites at which formaldehyde is
found may increase in the future as more sites are evaluated. This information is important
because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to this substance may harm you.

When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a
container, such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always
lead to exposure. You can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it.
You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact. There
are other sources of formaldehyde that may lead to exposure, such as consumer products, that are
indicated in the document.

If you are exposed to formaldehyde, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed.
These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in
______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

contact with it. You must also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age,
sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health.

1.1 WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE?

Description Formaldehyde:

• is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature,

• has a pungent, distinct odor, and
• may cause a burning sensation to the eyes, nose, and lungs at high
concentrations.

Sources Formaldehyde is a gaseous pollutant produced by both human activity and

natural sources.

• Combustion processes account directly or indirectly for most of the

formaldehyde entering the environment.
• Large amounts are produced in the United States during
manufacturing processes and as components of many end-use
products.
• Small amounts are produced naturally by plants, animals, and
humans.

Formaldehyde can mostly be found in the air.

• Outdoor air releases include:

○ power plants,
○ manufacturing facilities, and
○ automobile exhausts.
• Indoor air releases include:
○ building materials,
○ consumer products, and
○ tobacco smoke.

Formaldehyde can also be found in rain water and surface water after
release from the manufacture, use, and disposal of formaldehyde-based
products.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Uses

• Manufacturing Formaldehyde is widely used to make resins for wood products.

• Consumer Consumer products containing formaldehyde include (IARC 2006):

products
• antiseptics and cleaning agents,
• carpets and permanent press fabrics,
• cigarettes,
• cosmetics,
• fertilizers,
• insulation for electrical uses (i.e., wiring and appliances),
• manufactured wood products (i.e., furniture, plywood, particle-board),
• medicines and vitamins,
• paints and varnishes, and
• preserved foods.

These consumer oriented products mainly contain aqueous solutions of

formaldehyde.

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO FORMALDEHYDE WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT?

Break down
• Air Formaldehyde is quickly broken down in the air, usually within hours.

• Water and soil Formaldehyde in water may be broken down by bacteria or other
microorganisms.

Formaldehyde evaporates from shallow soils.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO FORMALDEHYDE?

Air—primary The primary way you can be exposed to formaldehyde is by breathing air
source of containing it. Releases of formaldehyde into the air occur from:
exposure
• industries using or manufacturing formaldehyde,
• wood products (i.e. particle-board, plywood, furniture),
• automobile exhaust,
• cigarette smoke,
• paints and varnishes, and
• carpets and permanent press fabrics.

Rural or suburban air generally contains lower concentrations of

formaldehyde than urban air. Indoor air often contains higher levels of
formaldehyde than outdoor air. Examples of concentrations of
formaldehyde:

• 0.0002–0.006 parts per million (ppm) in rural and suburban outdoor air
• 0.0015–0.047 ppm in urban outdoor air
• 0.020–4 ppm in indoor air

A ppm in air represents the fraction of volume of air occupied by

formaldehyde. 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 unit volume of formaldehyde per
1,000,000 units of air.

Workplace air A large number of workers are potentially exposed to formaldehyde.

• The highest potential exposure occurs in the formaldehyde-based

resins industry, where workers may be exposed to high air
concentrations and also have dermal exposure from liquid formaldehyde.
• Other types of employees at risk for exposure to formaldehyde include:
○ dentists,
○ doctors,
○ embalmers,
○ nurses,
○ pathologists,
○ teachers and students who handle preserved specimens in
laboratories,
○ veterinarians, and
○ workers in the clothing industry or in furniture factories.

Water and soil Formaldehyde is occasionally detected in rain water and fogwater.

Formaldehyde has not been detected in soils, likely due to its high removal
rate when released to soils.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Food Low levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in a variety of foods, such as
fruits. Food may contain small amounts of formaldehyde from its use as a
fumigant, fertilizer, or preservative.

1.4 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?

Enter your body

• Inhalation When you breathe air containing formaldehyde, most of the formaldehyde is
quickly broken down in the cells lining your respiratory tract and breathed
out. Only at high levels does formaldehyde enter your blood.
• Ingestion
Formaldehyde in food or water may also rapidly enter your body through the
digestive tract.
• Dermal contact
A very small amount may enter through your skin when you come into
contact with liquids containing formaldehyde.

Leave your body Once in your body, formaldehyde is rapidly broken down into other
chemicals.

Most of these other chemicals quickly leave your body in the urine.

Formaldehyde can also be converted to carbon dioxide and breathed out of

the body.

1.5 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE AFFECT MY HEALTH?

This section looks at studies concerning potential health effects in animal and human studies.
Formaldehyde is a highly reactive molecule that can be directly irritating to tissues with which it
comes into contact. Human and animal studies indicate that formaldehyde, at certain exposure
levels, can be irritating to the upper respiratory tract and eyes with inhalation exposure, to the
skin with dermal exposure, and to the gastrointestinal tract with oral exposure. Formaldehyde-
induced noncancer and cancer effects appear to occur only at portals-of-entry (i.e., upper
respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and skin). Figure 1-1 illustrates the health effects of
breathing formaldehyde in humans and laboratory animals and the range of air concentrations at

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

which these effects were seen. Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans
(MRLs) are also presented in the figure. An MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure
that is likely to be safe over a certain period of exposure. MRLs are not intended to define clean-
up or action levels, but are intended only to serve as a screening tool to help public health
professionals decide where to look more closely. Therefore, MRLs are set at levels well below
where effects have been observed. Figure 1-2 shows the health effects of formaldehyde
ingestion in laboratory animals and the dose ranges at which these effects occur. Estimates of
oral dose levels posing minimal risk to humans (MRLs) are also presented in Figure 1-2.

Workers and The most common health problems in people exposed to formaldehyde
residents include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.

• Inhalation Formaldehyde may cause occupational asthma, but this seems to be rare.

Laboratory
animals
• Inhalation Animal studies have shown that inhalation of formaldehyde can result in
irritation and damage to the lining of the nose and throat. High
concentrations can also affect the lung.

Impaired learning and changes in behavior have been observed in rats after
high concentrations of formaldehyde.

• Oral Stomach damage has been observed in rats exposed to high oral doses of
formaldehyde.

Cancer Some studies of humans exposed repeatedly to formaldehyde in workplace

air found more cases of nose and throat cancer than expected. Animal
studies of laboratory rats exposed for life to formaldehyde in air found that
some rats developed nose cancer.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have characterized
formaldehyde as a human carcinogen based on studies of inhalation
exposure in humans and laboratory animals.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Figure 1-1. Health Effects of Breathing Formaldehyde

Concentration in Air (ppm) Effects in Humans Effects in Animals

>50 no studies bloody nasal discharge, pulmonary

edema

11 to 50 no studies nasal and eye irritation, nasal ulceration,

change in pulmonary functionc,
neurological effectsd, liver effectse
decreased body weight, decreased fetal
weight, nasal tumors, reduced survival

6.0 to 10.9 nasal, eye, throat and skin irritation, nasal and eye irritation, nasal ulceration,
headache, nausea, discomfort in change in pulmonary functionc, liver
breathing, cough effectse, testicular effectsf, nasal tumors,
reduced survival

2.0 to 5.9 nasal, eye and throat irritation, eczema or nasal and eye irritation, throat irritation,
skin irritation, change in pulmonary change in pulmonary functionc,
functiona decreased body weight, enhanced
allergic responses, neurological effectsg,
liver effectse, testicular effectsf

0.6 to 1.9 nasal and eye irritation, eczema, change change in pulmonary functionc,
in pulmonary functiona neurological effectsg

0.1 to 0.5 nasal and eye irritation, neurological change in pulmonary functionc, enhanced
effectsb, increased risk of asthma allergic responses, neurological effectsg
and/or allergies

0.04 ppm Acute MRL

0.03 ppm Intermediate MRL

0.02 ppm Chronic MRL

achanges in pulmonary variables from spirometry testing (FEV, FVC)

bdecreased performance on short-term memory tests
cdecrease breathing rate and/or increased airway resistance
dlistlessness, hunched appearance, uncoordinated movement, ataxia
ealtered serum biochemistry and/or liver histopathology
fdecreased testicular weight, testicular atrophy, altered sperm motility/morphology, decreased serum testosterone, decreased

diameter of seminiferous tubules

gdecreased motor activity, altered open field behavior, impaired learning and memory

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Figure 1-2. Health Effects of Ingesting Formaldehyde

Dose (mg/kg/day) Effects in Animals

251 to 300 decreased food and water intake,

decreased body weight, gastrointestinal
effectsa, liver effectsb, kidney effectsc,
decreased survival

201 to 250 no studies

151 to 200 testicular effectsd

101 to 150 decreased food and water intake,

decreased body weight, gastrointestinal
effectsa, liver effectsb, kidney effectsc

50 to 100 decreased food intake, decreased body

weight, gastrointestinal effectsa, liver
effectsb, kidney effectsc

0 to 49 no effects

0.3 mg/kg/day Intermediate MRL

0.2 mg/kg/day Chronic MRL

aerosions and ulcers, histopathological changes

baltered serum biochemistry and histopathology
coccult blood, changes in urine density and volume, kidney weight and histopathology
daltered sperm morphology

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

1.6 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE AFFECT CHILDREN?

This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from
conception to maturity at 18 years of age. Children are not small adults. They differ from adults
in their exposures and may differ in their susceptibility to hazardous chemicals. Children’s
unique physiology and behavior can influence the extent of their exposure.

Effects in children A small number of studies have looked at the health effects of formaldehyde
in children. It is very likely that breathing formaldehyde will result in nose
and eye irritation (burning feeling, itchy, tearing, and sore throat). We do
not know if the irritation would occur at lower concentrations in children than
in adults.

There is some evidence of asthma or asthma-like symptoms for children

exposed to formaldehyde in homes.

Birth defects Studies in animals suggest that formaldehyde will not cause birth defects in
humans.

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE?

Avoid tobacco Formaldehyde is a component of tobacco smoke.

smoke
Avoid smoking in enclosed spaces such as inside the home or car in order
to limit exposure to children and other family members.

Keep house Formaldehyde is released into indoor air from construction materials and a
ventilated variety of consumer products.

• Formaldehyde levels can be reduced by bringing fresh air into the

home.
• Limit the use of pressed wood in homes or seal uncovered pressed
wood products.
• Families should keep houses well ventilated by opening windows or
using ventilation fans when levels are known to be high.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Wash new clothes Some permanent press fabrics emit formaldehyde.

• Washing these new clothes before wearing them will usually lower the
amount of formaldehyde released from permanent press fabrics and
reduce exposure to families.

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO

FORMALDEHYDE?

Scientists use many tests to protect the public from harmful effects of toxic chemicals and to find
ways for treating persons who have been harmed.

Detecting Formaldehyde cannot be reliably measured in blood, urine, or body tissues

exposure following exposure. Formaldehyde is produced in the body and would be
present as a normal constituent in body tissues.

Measuring Antibodies to formaldehyde-bound proteins can be found in the blood of

exposure people exposed to formaldehyde; however, this test cannot be used to
determine the extent of exposure or the kind of health effects that might
develop from exposure.

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH?

The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health.
Regulations can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal
agencies that develop regulations for toxic substances. Recommendations provide valuable
guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop recommendations for toxic
substances.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as “not-to-exceed” levels, that is, levels of a
toxic substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value that is usually based
on levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans.
Sometimes these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used
different exposure times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other
factors.

Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes
available. For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that
provides it. Some regulations and recommendations for formaldehyde include the following:

Drinking water The EPA has determined that lifetime exposure to 1 ppm formaldehyde in
drinking water is not expected to cause any adverse effects.

The EPA has also determined that exposure to formaldehyde in drinking

water at concentrations of 10 parts per million (ppm) for 1 day or 5 ppm for
10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child.

Workplace air OSHA set a legal limit of 0.75 ppm formaldehyde in air averaged over an
8-hour work day.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) set

standards for formaldehyde emissions in manufactured housing of less than
0.2 ppm for plywood and 0.3 ppm for particle board. The HUD standards
are designed to provide an ambient level of 0.4 ppm or less in manufactured
housing.

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or
environmental quality department, or contact ATSDR at the address and phone number below.

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]

 PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT
Formaldehyde
CAS # 50-00-0

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These
clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses that result from exposure to
hazardous substances.

Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You
may request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfilesTM CD-ROM by calling the toll-free information
and technical assistance number at 1-800-CDCINFO (1-800-232-4636), by e-mail at
[email protected], or by writing to:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine
1600 Clifton Road NE
Mailstop F-32
Atlanta, GA 30333
Fax: 1-770-488-4178

Organizations for-profit may request copies of final Toxicological Profiles from the following:

National Technical Information Service (NTIS)

5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Phone: 1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-605-6000
Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/

______________________________________________________________________________
DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: [email protected]