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Chemical Sampling Information

Formaldehyde

General Description

Synonyms: Diesel Exhaust Component; Formalin; Methanal; Methyl 

aldehyde; Methylene oxide; Rosin Core Solder Pyrolysis Product 

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1290 

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

NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification 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 hazardous incompatibilities, and 

more 

Exposure Limits

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

ppm Action Level 

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction 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 Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.3 ppm, 0.37 

mg/m3 Ceiling; SEN; Appendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcinogen 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (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 classification: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen [46 

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 Concentration (IDLH): 20 ppm 

Potential symptoms: Eye, nose, throat irritation; lacrimation; burns to eyes, mucous membranes, skin; coughing, difficulty 

breathing, bronchial spasm, pulmonary edema; contact dermatitis; headache; muscle or joint stiffness. INGESTION: nausea, 

vomiting (may be bloody), abdominal pain, diarrhea, hypotension, hypothermia, lethargy, dizziness, convulsions, coma; acidosis, 

kidney inflammation, liver toxicity (carcinogenic) 

Health Effects: : Irritation- Eye, Nose, Skin---Marked (HE14); Asthma (HE9); Lung damage (HE11), Membranous nephropathy 

(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 Hazardous Chemical Carcinogens, 3rd Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 833-836, 1991. 

 (headache, acidosis, membranous nephropathy) 

Wax, P.M.: Antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants. In, Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 6th Ed., Goldfrank, L.R., 

Flomenbaum, N.E., Lewin, N.A., Weisman, R.S., Howland, 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 

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Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde Page 1 of 3

http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_242600.html 9/29/2011
 (muscle or joint stiffness) 

U.S. Department of Health and Human services, Public Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease 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 monitoring 

exposures resulting from the use of formalin solutions. These diffusive samplers failed SLTC method validation 

requirements when formalin was the source of formaldehyde. A formalin solution is a solution of formaldehyde 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 humidity is 10% or less. (Section 4.9) 

5. Place samples into manufacturer-supplied aluminized bags immediately after sampling 

6. Persons using diffusive samplers to monitor workplace air must ensure that the sampling devices are properly 

closed before transporting such devices to the laboratory for analysis. The device will continue to sample until 

properly closed. Diffusive sampler accessories used for analysis of samplers must be included with transported 

samples. Persons using such devices must provide sampling-site station barometric pressure and temperature to 

the analytical laboratory to improve accuracy of sampling 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 

Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde Page 2 of 3

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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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Chemical Sampling Information: Formaldehyde Page 3 of 3

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