According to the latest existing assessment from the early 1990s, 971,000 workers were estimated to be exposed to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde is a skin-sensitizing agent that can cause an immune system response upon initial exposure. Acute exposure is highly irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat and can make anyone exposed cough and wheeze. Subsequent exposure may cause severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes and respiratory tract and can cause asthma-like respiratory problems and skin irritation such as dermatitis and itching. Formaldehyde is classified as Carcinogenic Category 1B in the CLP Regulation, which means it probably causes lung cancer in humans s (nasopharyngeal cancer and myeloid leukaemia).

Where risks occur

The industry that uses the largest volume of formaldehyde in Europe is the wood-based panel industry, as it is one of the components of the binders and adhesives that bind wood particles, fibres or veneers in different types of panels. In addition, exposure to formaldehyde occurs in health care, funeral, textile, leather and paper industry. Workers can inhale formaldehyde as a gas or vapor or absorb it through the skin as a liquid during the treatment of textiles and the production of resins, for instance. In addition to healthcare professionals and medical lab and laboratory technicians, groups at potentially high risk include mortuary workers as well as researchers and students who handle biological specimens preserved with formaldehyde or formalin.

More about the substance

Formaldehyde is a colourless, strong-smelling gas, which is highly volatile and highly flammable, often found in aqueous (water-based) solutions. Commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries, formaldehyde is also found in many products such as chemicals, particleboard, household products, glues, permanent press fabrics, paper product coatings, fibreboard, and plywood. It is also widely used as an industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant. Formaldehyde is generated naturally in various processes such as our cellular metabolism or the incomplete combustion of organic material, such as petroleum fuels, which means that there is always a background concentration in the environment.

How symptoms can affect you

More than 90% of formaldehyde is absorbed through the upper respiratory tract. Acute exposure to formaldehyde can cause headaches and irritation of the respiratory tract, skin and eyes. Chronic exposure, at low levels of airborne concentration, may cause respiratory problems similar to asthma and skin contact may cause irritation manifesting as dermatitis or itching. Some people are more susceptible to sensitising properties than others, so the effects of exposure may manifest themselves differently or not at all in some people.
Formaldehyde is known to cause cancer of the nose and throat. The higher the exposure concentration and the longer the exposure duration, the greater cancer risk. Exposure to formaldehyde might increase the chance of getting cancer even at levels too low to cause symptoms.

Latency between exposure and formaldehyde related nose-cancer varies strongly from 2 years for some acute types of cancer to up to 15 years.

What you can do

The most effective way to prevent exposure is to substitute products with formaldehyde-free alternatives were feasible (e.g. as disinfectant). If substitution is not possible, the best solution is to control exposure through design and engineering modifications, such as closed systems and installing local exhaust ventilation where emissions can occur. Label all mixtures or solutions containing formaldehyde above the limit for classification of the mixture according to CLP. Perform proper exposure measurements periodically so it is known when and where actions should be taken. Make workers continuously aware of the effects of exposure and inform train them on hazards, safe work practices and on effective hygiene measures. Involving an occupational physician is recommended and encourage workers to report respiratory symptoms. Personal protective equipment, such as respirators, is a short-term solution for reducing exposure and should only be used as last resort.

Sources: ECHA, IARC, SCOEL