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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

This Public Health Statement is the summary chapter from the Toxicological Profile for 

Formaldehyde. It is one in a series of Public Health Statements about hazardous substances and 

their health effects. A shorter version, the ToxFAQsTM is also available. This information is 

important because this substance may harm you. The effects of exposure to any hazardous 

substance depend on the dose, the duration, how you are exposed, personal traits and habits, and 

whether other chemicals are present. For more information, call the ATSDR Information Center 

at 1-800-232-4636. 

This public health statement tells you about formaldehyde and the effects of exposure to it. 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies the most serious hazardous waste sites in 

the nation. These sites are then placed on the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for 

long-term federal clean-up activities. Formaldehyde has been found in at least 29 of the 

1,699 current or former NPL sites. Although the total number of NPL sites evaluated for this 

substance is not known, the possibility exists that the number of sites at which formaldehyde is 

found may increase in the future as more sites are evaluated. This information is important 

because these sites may be sources of exposure and exposure to this substance may harm you. 

When a substance is released either from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a 

container, such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. Such a release does not always 

lead to exposure. You can be exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it. 

You may be exposed by breathing, eating, or drinking the substance, or by skin contact. There 

are other sources of formaldehyde that may lead to exposure, such as consumer products, that are 

indicated in the document. 

If you are exposed to formaldehyde, many factors will determine whether you will be harmed. 

These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

contact with it. You must also consider any other chemicals you are exposed to and your age, 

sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health. 

1.1 WHAT IS FORMALDEHYDE? 

Description Formaldehyde: 

• is a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature, 

• has a pungent, distinct odor, and

 • may cause a burning sensation to the eyes, nose, and lungs at high 

concentrations. 

Sources Formaldehyde is a gaseous pollutant produced by both human activity and 

natural sources.

 • Combustion processes account directly or indirectly for most of the 

formaldehyde entering the environment.

 • Large amounts are produced in the United States during 

manufacturing processes and as components of many end-use 

products. 

• Small amounts are produced naturally by plants, animals, and 

humans. 

Formaldehyde can mostly be found in the air. 

• Outdoor air releases include: 

○ power plants, 

○ manufacturing facilities, and 

○ automobile exhausts.

 • Indoor air releases include: 

○ building materials, 

○ consumer products, and 

○ tobacco smoke. 

Formaldehyde can also be found in rain water and surface water after 

release from the manufacture, use, and disposal of formaldehyde-based 

products. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Uses 

 • Manufacturing 

• Consumer 

 products 

Formaldehyde is widely used to make resins for wood products. 

Consumer products containing formaldehyde include (IARC 2006): 

• antiseptics and cleaning agents, 

• carpets and permanent press fabrics,

 • cigarettes, 

• cosmetics,

 • fertilizers, 

• insulation for electrical uses (i.e., wiring and appliances),

 • manufactured wood products (i.e., furniture, plywood, particle-board), 

• medicines and vitamins,

 • paints and varnishes, and

 • preserved foods. 

These consumer oriented products mainly contain aqueous solutions of 

formaldehyde. 

1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO FORMALDEHYDE WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT?
 

Break down

 • Air 

• Water and soil 

Formaldehyde is quickly broken down in the air, usually within hours. 

Formaldehyde in water may be broken down by bacteria or other 

microorganisms. 

Formaldehyde evaporates from shallow soils. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO FORMALDEHYDE?
 

Air—primary The primary way you can be exposed to formaldehyde is by breathing air 

source of containing it. Releases of formaldehyde into the air occur from: 

exposure 

• industries using or manufacturing formaldehyde, 

• wood products (i.e. particle-board, plywood, furniture), 

• automobile exhaust, 

• cigarette smoke,

 • paints and varnishes, and

 • carpets and permanent press fabrics. 

Rural or suburban air generally contains lower concentrations of 

formaldehyde than urban air. Indoor air often contains higher levels of 

formaldehyde than outdoor air. Examples of concentrations of 

formaldehyde: 

• 0.0002–0.006 parts per million (ppm) in rural and suburban outdoor air 

• 0.0015–0.047 ppm in urban outdoor air 

• 0.020–4 ppm in indoor air 

A ppm in air represents the fraction of volume of air occupied by 

formaldehyde. 1 ppm is equivalent to 1 unit volume of formaldehyde per 

1,000,000 units of air. 

Workplace air A large number of workers are potentially exposed to formaldehyde. 

• The highest potential exposure occurs in the formaldehyde-based 

resins industry, where workers may be exposed to high air 

concentrations and also have dermal exposure from liquid formaldehyde. 

• Other types of employees at risk for exposure to formaldehyde include: 

○ dentists, 

○ doctors, 

○ embalmers, 

○ nurses, 

○ pathologists, 

○ teachers and students who handle preserved specimens in 

laboratories, 

○ veterinarians, and 

○ workers in the clothing industry or in furniture factories. 

Water and soil Formaldehyde is occasionally detected in rain water and fogwater. 

Formaldehyde has not been detected in soils, likely due to its high removal 

rate when released to soils. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Food Low levels of formaldehyde occur naturally in a variety of foods, such as 

fruits. Food may contain small amounts of formaldehyde from its use as a 

fumigant, fertilizer, or preservative. 

1.4 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY?
 

Enter your body

 • Inhalation 

 • Ingestion 

• Dermal contact 

When you breathe air containing formaldehyde, most of the formaldehyde is 

quickly broken down in the cells lining your respiratory tract and breathed 

out. Only at high levels does formaldehyde enter your blood. 

Formaldehyde in food or water may also rapidly enter your body through the 

digestive tract. 

A very small amount may enter through your skin when you come into 

contact with liquids containing formaldehyde. 

Leave your body Once in your body, formaldehyde is rapidly broken down into other 

chemicals. 

Most of these other chemicals quickly leave your body in the urine. 

Formaldehyde can also be converted to carbon dioxide and breathed out of 

the body. 

1.5 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE AFFECT MY HEALTH? 

This section looks at studies concerning potential health effects in animal and human studies. 

Formaldehyde is a highly reactive molecule that can be directly irritating to tissues with which it 

comes into contact. Human and animal studies indicate that formaldehyde, at certain exposure 

levels, can be irritating to the upper respiratory tract and eyes with inhalation exposure, to the 

skin with dermal exposure, and to the gastrointestinal tract with oral exposure. Formaldehydeinduced noncancer and cancer effects appear to occur only at portals-of-entry (i.e., upper 

respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, and skin). Figure 1-1 illustrates the health effects of 

breathing formaldehyde in humans and laboratory animals and the range of air concentrations at 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

which these effects were seen. Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans 

(MRLs) are also presented in the figure. An MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure 

that is likely to be safe over a certain period of exposure. MRLs are not intended to define cleanup or action levels, but are intended only to serve as a screening tool to help public health 

professionals decide where to look more closely. Therefore, MRLs are set at levels well below 

where effects have been observed. Figure 1-2 shows the health effects of formaldehyde 

ingestion in laboratory animals and the dose ranges at which these effects occur. Estimates of 

oral dose levels posing minimal risk to humans (MRLs) are also presented in Figure 1-2. 

Workers and 

residents

 • Inhalation 

The most common health problems in people exposed to formaldehyde 

include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. 

Formaldehyde may cause occupational asthma, but this seems to be rare. 

Laboratory 

animals 

• Inhalation 

 • Oral 

Animal studies have shown that inhalation of formaldehyde can result in 

irritation and damage to the lining of the nose and throat. High 

concentrations can also affect the lung. 

Impaired learning and changes in behavior have been observed in rats after 

high concentrations of formaldehyde. 

Stomach damage has been observed in rats exposed to high oral doses of 

formaldehyde. 

Cancer Some studies of humans exposed repeatedly to formaldehyde in workplace 

air found more cases of nose and throat cancer than expected. Animal 

studies of laboratory rats exposed for life to formaldehyde in air found that 

some rats developed nose cancer. 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the 

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) have characterized 

formaldehyde as a human carcinogen based on studies of inhalation 

exposure in humans and laboratory animals. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Figure 1-1. Health Effects of Breathing Formaldehyde 

Concentration in Air (ppm) 

>50 

11 to 50 

6.0 to 10.9 

2.0 to 5.9 

0.1 to 0.5 

0.6 to 1.9 

0.04 ppm 

0.03 ppm 

0.02 ppm 

Effects in Humans 

no studies 

no studies 

nasal, eye, throat and skin irritation, 

headache, nausea, discomfort in 

breathing, cough 

nasal, eye and throat irritation, eczema or 

skin irritation, change in pulmonary 

functiona 

nasal and eye irritation, eczema, change 

in pulmonary functiona 

nasal and eye irritation, neurological 

effectsb, increased risk of asthma 

and/or allergies 

Acute MRL 

Intermediate MRL 

Chronic MRL 

Effects in Animals 

bloody nasal discharge, pulmonary
 

edema
 

nasal and eye irritation, nasal ulceration, 

change in pulmonary functionc, 

neurological effectsd, liver effectse 

decreased body weight, decreased fetal 

weight, nasal tumors, reduced survival 

nasal and eye irritation, nasal ulceration, 

change in pulmonary functionc, liver 

effectse, testicular effectsf

, nasal tumors, 

reduced survival 

nasal and eye irritation, throat irritation, 

change in pulmonary functionc, 

decreased body weight, enhanced 

allergic responses, neurological effectsg, 

liver effectse, testicular effectsf 

change in pulmonary functionc, 

neurological effectsg
 

change in pulmonary functionc, enhanced 

allergic responses, neurological effectsg 

achanges in pulmonary variables from spirometry testing (FEV, FVC) 

bdecreased performance on short-term memory tests 

cdecrease breathing rate and/or increased airway resistance 

dlistlessness, hunched appearance, uncoordinated movement, ataxia 

ealtered serum biochemistry and/or liver histopathology 

f

decreased testicular weight, testicular atrophy, altered sperm motility/morphology, decreased serum testosterone, decreased 

diameter of seminiferous tubules 

gdecreased motor activity, altered open field behavior, impaired learning and memory 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Figure 1-2. Health Effects of Ingesting Formaldehyde 

Dose (mg/kg/day) Effects in Animals 

0 to 49 

50 to 100 

101 to 150 

201 to 250 

251 to 300 

no effects 

decreased food intake, decreased body 

weight, gastrointestinal effectsa, liver 

effectsb, kidney effectsc 

decreased food and water intake, 

decreased body weight, gastrointestinal 

effectsa, liver effectsb, kidney effectsc 

testicular effectsd 

decreased food and water intake, 

decreased body weight, gastrointestinal 

effectsa, liver effectsb, kidney effectsc, 

decreased survival 

0.2 mg/kg/day Chronic MRL 

0.3 mg/kg/day Intermediate MRL 

151 to 200 

no studies 

aerosions and ulcers, histopathological changes 

baltered serum biochemistry and histopathology 

coccult blood, changes in urine density and volume, kidney weight and histopathology 

daltered sperm morphology 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

1.6 HOW CAN FORMALDEHYDE AFFECT CHILDREN? 

This section discusses potential health effects in humans from exposures during the period from 

conception to maturity at 18 years of age. Children are not small adults. They differ from adults 

in their exposures and may differ in their susceptibility to hazardous chemicals. Children’s 

unique physiology and behavior can influence the extent of their exposure. 

Effects in children A small number of studies have looked at the health effects of formaldehyde 

in children. It is very likely that breathing formaldehyde will result in nose 

and eye irritation (burning feeling, itchy, tearing, and sore throat). We do 

not know if the irritation would occur at lower concentrations in children than 

in adults. 

There is some evidence of asthma or asthma-like symptoms for children 

exposed to formaldehyde in homes. 

Birth defects Studies in animals suggest that formaldehyde will not cause birth defects in 

humans. 

1.7 HOW CAN FAMILIES REDUCE THE RISK OF EXPOSURE TO FORMALDEHYDE?
 

Avoid tobacco 

smoke 

Formaldehyde is a component of tobacco smoke. 

Avoid smoking in enclosed spaces such as inside the home or car in order 

to limit exposure to children and other family members. 

Keep house 

ventilated 

Formaldehyde is released into indoor air from construction materials and a 

variety of consumer products. 

• Formaldehyde levels can be reduced by bringing fresh air into the 

home. 

• Limit the use of pressed wood in homes or seal uncovered pressed 

wood products. 

• Families should keep houses well ventilated by opening windows or 

using ventilation fans when levels are known to be high. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Wash new clothes Some permanent press fabrics emit formaldehyde. 

• Washing these new clothes before wearing them will usually lower the 

amount of formaldehyde released from permanent press fabrics and 

reduce exposure to families. 

1.8 IS THERE A MEDICAL TEST TO DETERMINE WHETHER I HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO 

FORMALDEHYDE? 

Scientists use many tests to protect the public from harmful effects of toxic chemicals and to find 

ways for treating persons who have been harmed. 

Detecting 

exposure 

Formaldehyde cannot be reliably measured in blood, urine, or body tissues 

following exposure. Formaldehyde is produced in the body and would be 

present as a normal constituent in body tissues. 

Measuring 

exposure 

Antibodies to formaldehyde-bound proteins can be found in the blood of 

people exposed to formaldehyde; however, this test cannot be used to 

determine the extent of exposure or the kind of health effects that might 

develop from exposure. 

1.9 WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS HAS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TO 

PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH? 

The federal government develops regulations and recommendations to protect public health. 

Regulations can be enforced by law. The EPA, the Occupational Safety and Health 

Administration (OSHA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are some federal 

agencies that develop regulations for toxic substances. Recommendations provide valuable 

guidelines to protect public health, but cannot be enforced by law. The Agency for Toxic 

Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety 

and Health (NIOSH) are two federal organizations that develop recommendations for toxic 

substances. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

Regulations and recommendations can be expressed as “not-to-exceed” levels, that is, levels of a 

toxic substance in air, water, soil, or food that do not exceed a critical value that is usually based 

on levels that affect animals; they are then adjusted to levels that will help protect humans. 

Sometimes these not-to-exceed levels differ among federal organizations because they used 

different exposure times (an 8-hour workday or a 24-hour day), different animal studies, or other 

factors. 

Recommendations and regulations are also updated periodically as more information becomes 

available. For the most current information, check with the federal agency or organization that 

provides it. Some regulations and recommendations for formaldehyde include the following: 

Drinking water The EPA has determined that lifetime exposure to 1 ppm formaldehyde in 

drinking water is not expected to cause any adverse effects. 

The EPA has also determined that exposure to formaldehyde in drinking 

water at concentrations of 10 parts per million (ppm) for 1 day or 5 ppm for 

10 days is not expected to cause any adverse effects in a child. 

Workplace air OSHA set a legal limit of 0.75 ppm formaldehyde in air averaged over an 

8-hour work day. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) set 

standards for formaldehyde emissions in manufactured housing of less than 

0.2 ppm for plywood and 0.3 ppm for particle board. The HUD standards 

are designed to provide an ambient level of 0.4 ppm or less in manufactured 

housing. 

1.10 WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION? 

If you have any more questions or concerns, please contact your community or state health or 

environmental quality department, or contact ATSDR at the address and phone number below. 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov 
 

 

 

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PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 

Formaldehyde 

CAS # 50-00-0 

Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine September 2008 

ATSDR can also tell you the location of occupational and environmental health clinics. These 

clinics specialize in recognizing, evaluating, and treating illnesses that result from exposure to 

hazardous substances. 

Toxicological profiles are also available on-line at www.atsdr.cdc.gov and on CD-ROM. You 

may request a copy of the ATSDR ToxProfilesTM CD-ROM by calling the toll-free information 

and technical assistance number at 1-800-CDCINFO (1-800-232-4636), by e-mail at 

cdcinfo@cdc.gov, or by writing to: 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

 Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine 

1600 Clifton Road NE 

 Mailstop F-32 

 Atlanta, GA 30333 

 Fax: 1-770-488-4178 

Organizations for-profit may request copies of final Toxicological Profiles from the following: 

National Technical Information Service (NTIS) 

5285 Port Royal Road 

 Springfield, VA 22161 

 Phone: 1-800-553-6847 or 1-703-605-6000 

 Web site: http://www.ntis.gov/ 

DEPARTMENT of HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, Public Health Service
 

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 

www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Telephone: 1-800-232-4636 Fax: 770-488-4178 E-Mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov