Chemical Sampling Information
	Formaldehyde
Quick Links S&H Topics: Formaldehyde General Description Exposure Limits Health Factors Monitoring Search    [use word(s)/phrase] Table of Contents By Name A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z By CAS Number 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. (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: Store samplers in a refrigerator both before and after sampling. 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. Do not use these diffusive samplers if the ozone level is greater than 0.5 ppm. (Section 4.9) Do not use these diffusive samplers if the humidity is 10% or less. (Section 4.9) Place samples into manufacturer-supplied aluminized bags immediately after sampling 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 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) All Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 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