How are you exposed to Formaldehyde?
The main route of exposure to formaldehyde is by inhalation. The liquid form can be absorbed through the skin. People can also be exposed to small amounts by eating foods or drinking liquids containing formaldehyde.
Our bodies produce a small amount of formaldehyde naturally. When exposed to environmental formaldehyde (indoor or outdoor), enzymes in the body break down formaldehyde into formate (formic acid). Most inhaled formaldehyde is broken down by the cells lining the mouth, nose, throat, and airways, so that less than a third is absorbed into the blood.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, formaldehyde is normally present at low levels (less than 0.03 ppm or 30 ppb) in both indoor and outdoor air. Materials containing formaldehyde can release it as a gas or vapor into the air. Automobile exhaust is a major source of formaldehyde in outdoor air.
