US EPA

1316491 

Technical Report 

Formaldehyde: Effects On Animal And Human Skin 

Maibach, H 

1983 

Maibach, H 

NIOSH/00158887 

Gibson 

166-174 

The effects of formaldehyde (50000) on skin are reviewed. Formaldehyde is known to penetrate human and animal skin. The potential for irradiation is acknowledged but little quantitative data exists. It is probable that formaldehyde at 300 parts per million or greater will induce clinical irritation. Formaldehyde produces allergic contact dermatitis. Some patients with allergic contact dermatitis have dermatitis in the area exposed to sunlight. The phototoxic potential of formaldehyde has not been studied to date. When allergic contact dermatitis is established, it is of practical importance to discover whether a given patient will cross/react to related aldehydes. Sensitization is easily induced in the guinea-pig but thresholds for sensitization are not known for humans. Most data obtained so far has been through occlusive patch tests. The provocative use test provides information more representative of ordinary use. In North America, reactivity to formaldehyde has been estimated at 4 percent of the population. The frequency of reaction in subjects without eczema is a question deserving close study. Exposures to formaldehyde are frequent and affect a large percentage of the general population. The author concludes that a better job could be done of setting standards for formaldehyde use if more information were available about its toxicology with quantitative background information. 

DCN-146615; Biological effects; Hazardous materials; Clinical symptoms; Dermatology; Ventilation; Chemical properties; Toxic effects; Allergens; Exposure levels; Quantitative analysis; Skin exposure