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FORMALDEHYDE
CAS No: 50-00-0
I. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES (HSDB, 1998)
Molecular weight 30.03
Boiling point
-19.5°C
Melting point
-92°C
Vapor pressure
1.08 torr @ 26.1°C
Air concentration conversion 1 ppm = 1.24 mg/m 3 @ 25°C
II.
HEALTH ASSESSMENT VALUES
Unit Risk Factor: 6.0 E-6 (µg/m 3 ) -1
Slope Factor: 2.1 E-2 (mg/kg-day) -1
[Rat nasal squamous carcinoma incidence data (Kerns et al., 1983; U.S. EPA 1987), linearized
multistage procedure (OEHHA, 1992), with pharmacokinetic interpolation of molecular
dosimetry data to the tumor incidence data.]
III.
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS
Human Studies
Epidemiological studies have shown formaldehyde exposure to be significantly associated with cancer at
sites in the respiratory tract in workers and in the general population. Studies of embalmers, who have
used formaldehyde, have shown increased rates of brain cancer and of leukemia.
Many studies in the epidemiological literature support a link between formaldehyde and elevated risk of
cancers of the upper respiratory tract. Among the industrial cohort studies, Stayner (1988) reported a
relative risk of 3.4 (90% CI: 1.2-7.9) for buccal cancer, and Blair et al. (1986) reported a relative risk
of 3.00 (90% CI: 1.30-5.92) for nasopharyngeal cancer. Among industrial proportional mortality
studies, Liebling et al. (1984) reported a relative risk of 8.70 (90% CI: 1.50-27.33) for
buccal/pharyngeal cancer and Stayner et al. (1985) reported a relative risk of 7.5 (90% CI: 2.0-19) for
buccal cancer. In all of these studies the elevated risk was statistically significant. The population-based
case control studies reported statistically significant relationships between formaldehyde exposure and
upper respiratory cancers in three studies (Vaughan et al., 1986a, b; Hayes et al., 1986; Olsen et al.,
1984), although these cancers can appear in any of several sites.
In a subsequent report Blair et al. (1987) presented a summary of a further analysis resulting in a
significant association between nasopharyngeal cancer and simultaneous exposure to formaldehyde and
to particulate, indicating that such exposure may be a risk factor. Collins et al. (1988) have critiqued this
finding and have added data.
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