Formaldehyde is a very dangerous chemical. It is a colorless liquid or gas with a strong, distinctive odor. It is used in the manufacture of synthetic resins that are used in adhesives for plywood, particle board, coatings for paper and textiles, in molded plastics and for sound insulation. It is widely used in the textile and apparel industries to:

• make fabrics permanent press
• waterproof fabrics
• improve colorfastness of dyes
• make fabrics fire retardant

Fabrics treated with formaldehyde are made into clothing, carpets, and drapes. When the treated fabric is cut and sewn, the dust and lint released is contaminated with formaldehyde.

Any material treated with a formaldehyde-based resin gives off formaldehyde gas until it is washed or until the resin finishes "curing," a process that can take months or years.

Formaldehyde is also used in disinfectants, drugs and cosmetics, as a tanning agent for leather, as a laboratory and photographic chemical and in embalming fluids.

Formaldehyde is also a common pollutant in office buildings. It is found in furniture, new carpets, particle board, plywood, rubber cement and adhesives. As the resins "cure" they give off formaldehyde fumes which - even at low levels - can irritate the eyes and respiratory system.

The amount of formaldehyde to which a worker is exposed depends on many factors, including:

• how the formaldehyde was applied to the fabric or material
• the temperature and humidity
• how you are being exposed.
  
  

Health Effects of Formaldehyde

Studies have shown that even low levels of formaldehyde can have health effects. Low levels of exposure can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, cause skin problems, serious breathing problems and can increase your risk of certain kinds of cancer. OSHA regulates formaldehyde as a cancer-causing substance.

Respiratory Effects

Low levels of formaldehyde can irritate the nose and throat. Daily long-term exposure can also cause dry and sore throat, inflammation and swelling of lungs and bronchial tubes and other breathing problems. Formaldehyde can also cause asthma-like reactions when workers become sensitized to the chemical. This can happen after a short time or it can occur suddenly after years of apparently problem-free exposure. When a person becomes sensitized, even very low levels of formaldehyde, such as those emitted from clothes in a clothing store, may trigger severe reactions.

Skin Problems

Skin exposure to formaldehyde can cause severe skin irritation. Problems include:

• skin dries out
• skin becomes red and cracked
• skin blisters
• fingernails turn brown and soft
• irritations worsen with heat and sweat

These problems are caused by direct contact with formaldehyde-treated materials and are called contact dermatitis.

Eye Irritation

Eye irritation may occur from formaldehyde in the air or when workers who have been handling formaldehyde-treated cloth or other material rub or touch their eyes. Irritation may include itchy, watery eyes, runny nose and cold-like symptoms.

Government Standard for Formaldehyde

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's formaldehyde standard includes the following provisions:

• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): .75 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an eight-hour day. This means an average over the day of .75 parts of formaldehyde for every million parts of air is allowed on jobs where workers come into contact with formaldehyde.
• Action Level: 0.5 ppm, triggers certain OSHA regulations.

Government Standard for Formaldehyde

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's formaldehyde standard includes the following provisions:

• Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL): .75 parts per million (ppm) averaged over an eight-hour day. This means an average over the day of .75 parts of formaldehyde for every million parts of air is allowed on jobs where workers come into contact with formaldehyde.
• Action Level: 0.5 ppm, triggers certain OSHA regulations.

What the OSHA Standard Requires:

WHEN	EMPLOYER MUST
A worker feels any health effects of formaldehyde	Perform air monitoring to determine how much formaldehyde is in the air Provide results of this air testing to workers
Formaldehyde is being used but is below OSHA air levels	Provide training to workers on health hazards of formaldehyde Keep Material Safety Data Sheets on all materials containing formaldehyde
Air levels of formaldehyde are above 0.5 ppm, the OSHA action level	Conduct air monitoring every 6 months Notify workers in writing of monitoring results Provide medical questionnaires or medical exams to all workers Provide annual training to all workers
Air levels of formaldehyde are above the OSHA 0.75 ppm exposure limit	Conduct air monitoring every 6 months Notify workers in writing of monitoring results Develop a written plan to reduce air levels below 0.75 ppm Develop and carry out a medical surveillance program Provide workers with gloves, masks, and any other equipment necessary for protection against formaldehyde

What You Should Do If You Believe You Have Been Exposed To Formaldehyde 

If you believe that you are being exposed to formaldehyde or if you are experiencing any symptoms that are related to formaldehyde you should do the following:

• Request the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from your employer for anything you are using that could contain formaldehyde, particularly any fabric. You have a right to get MSDSs from your employer under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard. If your employer does not have an MSDS on the material, ask him to request one from the manufacturer. You may want to give him a print-out of this page.
• Let your employer know that you would like air testing done for formaldehyde. It is your right to have this testing done if anyone is experiencing symptoms related to formaldehyde exposure. The union has a right to observe how the formaldehyde testing is done.
• Request copies of the air testing results: also request copies of any medical records that the employer has. You have a right to all air monitoring records and medical records that your employer has under the OSHA Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records Standard.
• If the results of the air testing are above 0.5 ppm, then you should request medical surveillance and exams. These must be paid for by the employer.
• File a workers' compensation claim if you are experiencing health problems related to the formaldehyde exposure. You may need a lawyer if your workers' compensation claim is contested (denied) by the insurer. Your union or NYCOSH can refer you to a reputable workers' compensation lawyer in your area.

(Adapted from a factsheet produced by UNITE, 1997)

What's related:

Formaldehyde in the Workplace: Prevention Guide (Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, 2007)

Exposure to Formaldehyde in the Workplace - Wood Panel Manufacturing (Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, 2007)

Exposure to Formaldehyde in the Workplace - Wood Furniture Manufacturing (Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, 2007)

Exposure to Formaldehyde in the Workplace - Embalming (Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail, 2007)

Formaldehyde officially classified as a human carcinogen (International Agency for Researdch on Cancer, 2006)

Formaldehyde (2-page OSHA factsheet, 2002)

Formaldehyde (OSHA Preamble to Final Rule, 1992) An important collection of information about research on formaldehyde's effects and the development of the rule

Formaldehyde (OSHA standard, 1992)

ToxFAQs for Formaldehyde (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1999)