Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is common to the chemical industry. This ranked it 24 th overall. It is well known as a preservative in medical laboratories, as an embalming fluid, and as a sterilizer. Its primary use is in the production of resins and as a chemical intermediate. Urea-formaldehyde and phenolformaldehyde resins are used in foam insulations, as adhesives in the production of particle board and plywood, and in the treating of textiles.
Formaldehyde exposure is most common through gas-phase inhalation.
However, it can also occur through liquid-phase skin absorption. Workers can be exposed during direct production, treatment of materials, and production of resins. Consumers can receive exposures from building materials, cosmetics, home furnishings, and textiles. Long-term 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.