Health & Safety

For consumers

As the use of formaldehyde has increased in different sectors, regulations have also developed in order to ensure the safe use of the substance in all its applications. Formacare is committed to ensuring that the industry upholds the relevant health and safety laws and regulations.

In vaccines and other pharmaceutical uses where the product is either applied to the skin or injected into the body, the amounts of formaldehyde are too low to significantly affect the levels of formaldehyde naturally occurring within the body. The development and use of vaccines is governed by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

EU-wide legislation strictly regulates the use of chemical substances in cosmetics to guarantee consumer safety and formaldehyde is listed in the Cosmetics Directive as an approved substance.

Regulation exists around the world, limiting the amount of formaldehyde in clothes, however the levels differ from country to country.

In the workplace

Like most substances formaldehyde needs to be handled with care and precautions should be taken when working with the substance in an industrial setting. Direct contact with eyes or skin can cause irritation and inflammation. High concentrations of formaldehyde should not be inhaled or ingested as it can cause irritation of the respiratory system, nausea and disorientation.

More information about the different regulations can be found in our Regulatory section.

Indoor air

Due to its use in a myriad of household products formaldehyde can be found at low levels in indoor air. Industry innovation has led to a steady decrease in indoor air levels over the last 40 years with levels often so low that they cannot be detected.  A study by the World Health Organisation concluded that the average levels of formaldehyde in homes are already way below the recommended guideline and circumstances where formaldehyde levels exceed the recommended indoor guidelines are extremely rare.  A recent study by Salthammer et al estimates that 10-50% of the formaldehyde found in indoor air nowadays comes from organic uses such as candles, incense, cooking, outdoor air, gas heaters, indoor chemical reactions, cigarette smoke etc.