Formaldehyde is common to the chemical industry. The National Toxicological Program's (NTP) 12th Report on Carcinogens classifies it as "known to be a human carcinogen" and reported US production at 10 billion pounds in 2006. International production was over 46 billion pounds in 2004, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). 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 (UF) and phenol formaldehyde (PF) resins are used in foam insulations, as adhesives in the production of particle board and plywood, and in the treating of textiles.

Exposures to formaldehyde are addressed in specific standards for the general, maritime, and construction industries.

OSHA Standards

This section highlights OSHA standards, preambles to final rules (background to final rules), directives (instructions for compliance officers), and standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards) related to formaldehyde.

Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.

General Industry (29 CFR 1910)

• 1910.1048, Formaldehyde
  • Appendix A, Substance technical guidelines for formalin
  • Appendix B, Sampling strategy and analytical methods for formaldehyde
  • Appendix C, Medical surveillance - Formaldehyde
  • Appendix D, Non-mandatory medical disease questionnaire
  • Appendix E, Qualitative and quantitative fit testing procedures

Shipyard Employment (29 CFR 1915)

• 1915.1048, Formaldehyde

Construction (29 CFR 1926)

• 1926.1148, Formaldehyde

Preambles to Final Rules

• Air Contaminants (1989)
  


• Formaldehyde (1992)
  


• Search all available preambles to final rules.

Directives

• Page Changes to OSHA Instruction CPL 2-2.52. CPL 02-02-052 [CPL 2-2.52 CH-1], (1991, October 7).
  


• Enforcement Procedure for Occupational Exposure to Formaldehyde. CPL 02-02-052 [CPL 2-2.52], (1990, November 20). Presents a history of the standard, industrial uses of formaldehyde, ways exposure occur, health effects, measurement and control of exposure, and enforcement of the standard.
  


• Search all available directives.

Standard Interpretations

• Protective equipment for formaldehyde exposure. (1998, March 25).
  


• OSHA rulemaking on formaldehyde exposure limits. (1998, March 13).
  


• Clarify issues related to the joint venture study and its use as objective data under the Formaldehyde Standard. (1995, March 22).
  


• Labeling requirements for Formaldehyde when used as an insecticide. (1993, August 9).
  


• Final rule on process safety management of highly hazardous chemicals, formaldehyde. (1992, July 28).
  


• Formaldehyde (37% by weight or greater) in the Process Safety Management Standard. (1992, June 28).
  


• Application of the formaldehyde standard, 1910.1048, to private medical school personnel. (1990, June 22).
  


• Formaldehyde standard and private medical school personnel. (1990, May 16).
  


• Medical surveillance requirements of the formaldehyde standard. (1990, August 8).
  


• Requirements under the formaldehyde standard for quick drench showers, eye wash facilities, emergency plans and sampling. (1989, December 12).
  


• Formaldehyde Standard Clarification. (1989, February 21).
  


• Cancer warning labels for formaldehyde and products containing formaldehyde. (1987, August 7).
  


• Labeling of Formaldehyde-Containing Products Under the Hazard Communication Standard. (1986, September 9).
  


• Search all available standard interpretations.

Hazard Recognition

Formaldehyde is classified as a human carcinogen. Short-term exposure to formaldehyde can be fatal. Long-term exposure to low levels of formaldehyde may cause respiratory difficulty, eczema, and sensitization. The following references aid in recognizing formaldehyde hazards in the workplace.

• Formaldehyde [43 KB PDF^*, 2 pages]. OSHA Fact Sheet, (2011). Provides information on the harmful effects of formaldehyde on workers and how employers can protect them.
  


• Formaldehyde. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Workplace Safety and Health Topic.
  


• Documentation for Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication, (1994, May).
  • Formaldehyde. Provides IDLH documentation.
  
  
• Report on Carcinogens (ROC). Identifies and discusses agents, substances, mixtures, or exposure circumstances that may pose a health hazard due to their carcinogenicity.
  • Formaldehyde [286 KB PDF, 11 pages].
  
  
• Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans [4 MB PDF, 287 pages]. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Volume 88 (2006).  Classifies formaldehyde as Group 1, carcinogenic to humans.  
  


• Basic Information: Formaldehyde. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Discusses health effects, exposures, controls, and provides links to additional information on formaldehyde.
  


• Formaldehyde (CASRN 50-00-0). Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).
  


• An Update on Formaldehyde: 1997 Revision. US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), (Revised 1997). Also available as a 38 KB PDF, 12 pages. Discusses formaldehyde and its health hazards using non-technical terminology. Discusses why formaldehyde is a concern, sources of exposure, and what levels are normal.
  


• Formaldehyde [501 KB PDF, 8 pages]. California Department of Health Services, Hazard Evaluation System and Information Service (HESIS), (2003, January). Describes the adverse effects of formaldehyde and how to avoid them.
  


• Indoor Air Quality in Florida: Formaldehyde [118 KB PDF, 2 pages]. The University of Florida Extension, Institution of Food and Agriculture Sciences, (2003, September). Covers hazards and control measures, especially for hot, humid areas.

Exposure Evaluation

Formaldehyde exposure is most common through gas-phase inhalation. However, it can also occur through liquid-phase skin absorption. Workers may be exposed during direct production, treatment of materials, and production of resins. Health care professionals; pathology and histology technicians; and teachers and students who handle preserved specimens are potentially at high risk. Consumers may receive exposures from building materials, cosmetics, home furnishings, and textiles. The following references provide information about the management of occupational exposures to formaldehyde.

• Dermal Exposure. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Addresses dermal hazards to chemicals that can cause dermatitis or otherwise damage the skin, as well as to chemicals that can enter the body through intact skin and cause other toxic effects.

Medical Management

• Medical Management Guidelines for Formaldehyde (HCHO). Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Includes routes of exposure, health effects, prehospital and emergency department management, as well as patient information.
  • Patient Information Sheet. Provides information for persons who may have been exposed to formaldehyde gas or solution (formalin).

Sampling and Analysis

• Formaldehyde. OSHA Chemical Sampling Information. Provides a summary of physical and chemical properties, health effects, and sampling and analysis procedures. Sampling Information for aldehydes in general is also available.
  


• Acrolein and/or Formaldehyde. OSHA Method 52, (1989, June). Includes validated sampling and analysis method for the determination of formaldehyde in workplace air.
  


• Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), (2003). NIOSH has developed the following methods for the determination of formaldehyde.
  • Formaldehyde [176 KB PDF, 7 pages]. Method No. 2016.
  • Formaldehyde by GC [29 KB PDF, 5 pages]. Method No. 2541.
  • Formaldehyde by VIS [31 KB PDF, 5 pages]. Method No. 3500.
  • Formaldehyde on Dust (Textile or Wood) [30 KB PDF, 5 pages]. Method No. 5700.
  
  
• Sampling and Analysis. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides chemical sampling and analysis information to aid occupational health and safety professionals to assess workplace contaminants and associated worker exposures.

Possible Solutions

Engineering and work practice controls are the first line of defense against formaldehyde hazards. For instances where engineering and work practice controls cannot reduce employee exposure, respirators and personal protective equipment (PPE) are used. The following references provide possible solutions for formaldehyde hazards in the workplace.

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides safety and health information about personal protective equipment (PPE) that is designed to prevent or lessen the severity of injuries to workers when engineering the administrative controls are not feasible or effective in reducing these exposures to acceptable levels.
  


• Ventilation. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Provides safety and health information about ventilation in the workplace. Ventilation is one of the most common engineering controls used to control chemical hazards in the workplace.
  


• Controlling Formaldehyde Exposures During Embalming. US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-149, (1998, October). Describes a local exhaust ventilation system for controlling exposures during embalming.
  


• U.S. Geological Survey Manual. US Geological Survey (USGS) SM 445-2-H.
  • Industrial Hygiene – Formaldehyde Protection Program. (2002, August 28). Outlines minimum Occupational Safety and Health Program requirements for providing personnel adequate protection from formaldehyde hazards.

Additional Information

Related Safety and Health Topics Pages

• Hazard Communication
  


• Hazardous and Toxic Substances

Training

Training is required at least annually for all employees exposed to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater. Training increases employees' awareness of specific hazards in their workplace and of the control measures employed. It also assists successful medical surveillance and medical removal programs. These provisions will only be effective if employees know what signs or symptoms are related to the health effects of formaldehyde, if they know how to properly report them to the employer, and if they are periodically encouraged to do so.

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