This training is required by OSHA for all employees exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater. Formaldehyde is one of the most common chemicals in use today.
Exposure is most common through inhalation although it can also occur through skin absorption.
Health care workers, and teachers and students who handle preserved specimens are potentially at risk. Consumers can receive exposures from building materials, cosmetics, home furnishings, and textiles. Short-term exposure to high levels of formaldehyde can be fatal. Chronic exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulty, eczema, and sensitization. Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen and has been linked to nasal and lung cancer, and with possible links to brain cancer and leukemia.