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Chemical Sampling Information 

# Formaldehyde

General Description

Synonyms: Diesel Exhaust Component; Formalin; Methanal; Meth yl aldehyde; Methylene oxide; Rosin Core Solder Pyroly sis Product

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1290

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 50-00-0

NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identifica tion Number: LP8925000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and guide [2008 Emergency Response Guidebook, 2.5 MB PDF ]: 1198 132 - Formaldehyde, solution, flammable; 1198 132 - Formaldehyde, solutions, (Formalin); 2209 132 - Formaldehyde, solutions, (Formalin) (corrosive)

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Formaldehyde : chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazar dous incompatibilities, and

more 

### Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General I ndustry: 29 CFR 1910.1048 -- 0.75 ppm TWA; 2 ppm STEL; 0.5 ppm Action Level

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construct ion Industry: 29 CFR 1926.1148 requirements identical to 1910.1048.

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1048 requirements identical to 1910.1048.

American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygi enists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.3 ppm, 0.37 mg/m 3 Ceiling; SEN; Appendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcin ogen

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Heal th (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.016 ppm TWA, 0.1 ppm Ceiling (15 Minutes); Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens



### Health Factors

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic clas sification: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen [4 6 KB PDF , 2 pages]

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [4 MB, PDF , 287 pages]

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Conce ntration (IDLH): 20 ppm

Potential symptoms: Eye, nose, throat irritation; lacrimation; burns t o eyes, mucous membranes, skin; coughing, difficult y breathing, bronchial spasm, pulmonary edema; contac t dermatitis; headache; muscle or joint stiffness. INGESTION: nausea, vomiting (may be bloody), abdominal pain, diarrhea, hypotension, hypothermia, lethargy, dizziness, con vulsions, coma; acidosis, kidney inflammation, liver toxicity (carcinogenic)

Health Effects: : Irritation- Eye, Nose, Skin---Marked (HE14); Ast hma (HE9); Lung damage (HE11), Membranous nephropat hy (HE4); Mutagen (HE2)

Affected organs: Respiratory system, eye, skin.

Note: OSHA has a Fact Sheet on Formaldehyde. [43 KB, PDF , 2 pages]

Date Last Revised: 05/06/2003 (IARC changed 9/25/09)

Literature Basis:

 Sitting, M.: Formaldehyde. Handbook of Toxic and Ha zardous Chemical Carcinogens, 3 rd Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 833-836, 1991.

 (headache, acidosis, membranous nephropathy) Wax, P.M.: Antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilan ts. In, Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies , 6 th Ed., Goldfrank, L.R., Flomenbaum, N.E., Lewin, N.A., Weisman, R.S., Howla nd, M.A., Hoffman, R.S. eds. Connecticut: Appleton & Lange, pp.1359-1375,1998. Quick Links

 S&H Topics: Formaldehyde

 General Description

 Exposure Limits

 Health Factors

 Monitoring Search



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### OSHA

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# Page 1 of 3 Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde

9/29/2011 http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_242600.html (muscle or joint stiffness) U.S. Department of Health and Human services, Publi c Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substance and D isease Registry. Toxicological profile for formaldehyde, pp. 9-165, July 1999.


### Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

 sampling media: Coated XAD-2 Tube (150/75 mg sections, 20/60 mesh) ; coating is 10% (w/w) 2-(Hydroxymethyl) piperidine. analytical solvent: Toluene maximum volume: 24 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA) maximum volume: 3 Liters maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL) current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/NPD method reference: OSHA Manual of Analytical Methods ( OSHA 52 ) method classification: Fully Validated

 sampling media: Diffusive Sampler:

 Assay Technology ChemDisk Aldehyde Monitor 571;

 SKC UMEx 100 Passive Sampler; or

 Supelco DSD-DNPH Diffusive Sampling Device
analytical solvent: Acetonitrile sampling time: 15 to 240 Minutes current analytical method: Liquid Chromatography/UV detector; LC/IC method reference: OSHA Analytical Method ( OSHA 1007 ) method classification: Fully Validated notes: 1. Store samplers in a refrigerator both before and after sampling. 2. For quantitative sampling results, use an active sampling procedure such as OSHA Method 52 when moni toring exposures resulting from the use of formalin soluti ons. These diffusive samplers failed SLTC method va lidation requirements when formalin was the source of formal dehyde. A formalin solution is a solution of formal dehyde in water that is stabilized with methyl alcohol. 3. Do not use these diffusive samplers if the ozone level is greater than 0.5 ppm. (Section 4.9) 4. Do not use these diffusive samplers if the humidi ty is 10% or less. (Section 4.9) 5. Place samples into manufacturer-supplied aluminiz ed bags immediately after sampling 6. Persons using diffusive samplers to monitor workp lace air must ensure that the sampling devices are properly closed before transporting such devices to the labo ratory for analysis. The device will continue to sa mple until properly closed. Diffusive sampler accessories used for analysis of samplers must be included with tra nsported samples. Persons using such devices must provide sa mpling-site station barometric pressure and tempera ture to the analytical laboratory to improve accuracy of sa mpling results.

On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa model/type: 8014-171SB sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions upper measurement limit: 35 ppm detection limit: approx. 1 ppm overall uncertainty: unknown method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa model/type: 8014-171SA sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions upper measurement limit: 1500 ppm detection limit: approx. 20 ppm overall uncertainty: unknown method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa model/type: 8014-171SC sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions upper measurement limit: 4 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm overall uncertainty: unknown method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: AUER/MSA model/type: Formaldehyde-0,1 MSA P/N 497649, AUER P/N 5086-813 sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions upper measurement limit: 55 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm overall uncertainty: unknown method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Gastec model/type: 91 sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes 

# Page 2 of 3 Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde

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### www.OSHA.gov upper measurement limit: 100 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.5 ppm overall uncertainty: 25% for 2 to 6 ppm, 16.4% for 6 to 20 ppm method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Gastec model/type: 91M sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes upper measurement limit: 6400 ppm detection limit: approx. 4 ppm overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 8 to 200 ppm, 8.2% for 500 to 2000 ppm method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Gastec model/type: 91L sampling information: 1 to 2 strokes upper measurement limit: 40 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.05 ppm overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 0.1 to 0.5 ppm, 8.2% for 0.5 to 5 ppm method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Gastec model/type: 91LL sampling information: 5 strokes upper measurement limit: 1.0 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.03 ppm overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 0.05 to 0.3 ppm, 8.2% for 0.5 to 1 ppm method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Dräger model/type: Formaldehyde 0.2/a, order no. 67 33081 sampling information: 10 or 20 strokes upper measurement limit: 5 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm overall uncertainty: 33% method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

 device: Detector Tube manufacturer: Dräger model/type: Formaldehyde 2/a, order no. 81 01751 sampling information: 5 strokes upper measurement limit: 40 ppm detection limit: approx. 0.5 ppm overall uncertainty: 33% method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)

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# Page 3 of 3 Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde

9/29/2011 http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_242600.html