US EPA

5348420 

Book/Book Chapter 

Formaldehyde 

Budavari, S; O'Neil, MJ; Smith, A; Heckelman, PE 

1989 

Merck and Co., Inc. 

Rahway, NJ 

CIS/90/01976 

The Merck index: an encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals 

Distribution and Sales 

English 

is a chapter of 5185257 The Merck index: An encyclopedia of chemicals, drugs, and biologicals:

Workplace exposure to formaldehyde may occur during the production or handling of formaldehyde or products containing it. The vapour has a purgent odour, with eye and respiratory tract irritation occuring at levels of about 1mg/m|3|. Direct contact with formaldehyde solution may cause skin irritation, and long-term exposure can lead to allergic contact dermatitis. There is no convincing evidence that formaldehyde is a teratogen and no adverse effects on reproduction have been reported. Some excess of nasal or nasopharyngeal cancer has been reported in some studies. It is recommended that formaldehyde concentrations in workplace air should be below 1.2mg/m|3| (1ppm). Recommendations are given for formaldehyde use in cosmetics and in hospital procedures. 

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