Stay informed

register your details here 

More information:
FormaCare Sector Group
tel.: +32 2 676 72 67
fax : +32 2 676 73 59


formaldehyde@cefic.be

Health and safety

FormaCare is committed to consumers‘ as well as workers‘ health and safety. Best practices in production and significantly decreased emissions make formaldehyde a safe choice for industry and consumers.

Inside buildings the persistence of formaldehyde in the air is low: the time needed for 50% of formaldehyde to disappear ("half-life") is less than 24 hours. This process can be accelerated by increasing sun radiation (for example in summer, middle of the day, etc). The half-life then falls to 2 hours. Indoors, the process can be increased dramatically by ensuring ventilation (e.g. by opening windows, doors etc). It is therefore very difficult for high levels of formaldehyde to accumulate.

The formaldehyde is transformed mainly into carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

The occupational health hazards of formaldehyde are mainly related to its irritant effects. It is irritant on inhalation, direct contact with skin or eyes and on ingestion.

Note that direct human exposure to high dosages is highly improbable because the odour is intolerable and the atmosphere unbreathable. 


Inhalation:

Formaldehyde vapour irritates the respiratory system. Individual sensitivity varies broadly, but irritancy can occur below 1 to 2 ppm (1 ppm = 1,2 mg/m³ at 25°C). Immediate strong discomfort is caused at a level of 10 ppm. Disorientation is possible.

Skin contact:

Formaldehyde solution is a moderate skin irritant and a repeated contact can cause hardening and cracking of skin. This may give rise to dermatitis. In addition there is a potential for skin sensitisation (allergy).

Eye contact:

Formaldehyde solution is a severe eye irritant. If it comes into contact with eyes, it may lead to permanent eye damage. Exposure to vapour or formaldehyde containing dust may cause inflammation of the eyelids.

Ingestion:

The swallowing of formaldehyde solution causes immediate irritation of the mouth, throat and stomach, resulting in nausea and vomiting. In extreme cases severe abdominal pain is experienced, possibly followed by loss of consciousness (by collapse).

   1. Formaldehyde is classified as a carcinogenic hazard. Two separate classifications have been published:
      International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified formaldehyde as 1 ("carcinogenic to humans"). The latest review on this was done in June 2004 (see our press release). IARC is a non-regulatory body.
      This classification is based on relatively rare nasopharyngeal cancers observed in workers exposed to high levels of formaldehyde some decades ago. A large number of human studies have provided no convincing evidence that formaldehyde produces cancer in man. However, exposure at the workplace has to be kept as low as reasonably practicable. Compliance with workplace occupational limit values should minimise the risk to health from inhalation of formaldehyde.
   2. In the EU countries formaldehyde is classified according to the Dangerous Substances Directive as a category 3 (C3) carcinogen leading to a risk phrase R 40 (Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect). This is the weakest class of carcinogenic hazard.


As with many other substances, there are indications that in the very unlikely event of prolonged exposure to very high emissions of formaldehyde one would encounter negative health effects, including possibly cancer.