Formaldehyde (2024)

FAQs

Formaldehyde? ›

Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a colorless, highly toxic, and flammable gas at room temperature. It is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood, and some resins. It is also used as a food preservative and in household products, such as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics.

Formaldehyde is a highly toxic systemic poison that is absorbed well by inhalation. The vapor is a severe respiratory tract and skin irritant and may cause dizziness or suffocation. Contact with formaldehyde solution may cause severe burns to the eyes and skin.

Formaldehyde is a critical tool for funeral directors and embalmers. It is the primary – and most effective – preservative used in the majority of embalming fluids on the market today. The goal of embalming is to: Sanitize the body of someone who has died.

Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household products, and the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters.

Formaldehyde can be found naturally in food up to the levels of 300 to 400 mg/kg, including fruits and vegetables (e.g. pear, apple, green onion), meats, fish (e.g., Bombay-duck, cod fish), crustacean and dried mushroom, etc ( Appendix).

Formaldehyde is produced by thermal degradation in e-cigarettes. Dry puffs result from overheating and create an unpleasant taste that users avoid. In realistic conditions, formaldehyde in e-cigarettes is lower than cigarette smoke. High levels of formaldehyde are produced in unrealistic (dry puff) conditions.

What is formaldehyde? Formaldehyde is a colorless chemical, that packs a strong pickle-like odor, that is commonly used in the manufacturing process for many household items like furniture, flooring, glues, and pressed-wood.

Building materials and insulation; Household products such as glues, permanent press fabrics, paints and coatings, lacquers and finishes, and paper products; Preservatives used in some medicines, cosmetics and other consumer products such as dishwashing liquids and fabric softeners; and. Fertilizers and pesticides.

formaldehyde (HCHO), an organic compound, the simplest of the aldehydes, used in large amounts in a variety of chemical manufacturing processes. It is produced principally by the vapour-phase oxidation of methanol and is commonly sold as formalin, a 37 percent aqueous solution.

What gets rid of formaldehyde? ›

Regular ventilation can help to expel VOC's (volatile organic compounds) like benzene, ethylene glycol and formaldehyde, which are all present in homes. To reduce exposure to pollutants, open windows and doors periodically. In summer, we recommend ventilating the home in the evening, to promote cooler air in the home.

Charcoal. Activated charcoal can absorb formaldehyde.

Common names for formaldehyde include formalin, formic aldehyde, paraform, formol, formalin (methanol-free), FYDE, formalith, methanal, methyl aldehyde, methylene glycol, methylene oxide, tetraoxymethalene, oxomethane, and oxymethylene.

Formaldehyde irritates the nose, eyes and throat. These irritations can happen when exposed to low levels of formaldehyde. Other short-term effects include headache, runny nose, nausea and difficulty breathing. Exposure may cause wheezing, asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms.

IARC has concluded that formaldehyde is "carcinogenic to humans" based on sufficient evidence it can cause nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.

The federal agency proposed the ban in October 2023 and scheduled its implementation for April 2024. The FDA's proposed rule takes a large step in raising awareness about the potential harm that formaldehyde — a highly toxic gas — can cause to the many Black women who typically use straightening products.

Short Term Exposure Limit (STEL): The employer shall assure that no employee is exposed to an airborne concentration of formaldehyde which exceeds two parts formaldehyde per million parts of air (2 ppm) as a 15-minute STEL.