Formaldehyde: assessing the risk

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1984 · Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00125a603· OSTI ID:6108813

Hileman, B

The US Environmental Protection Agency has listed formaldehyde as a priority chemical for regulatory assessment under section 4 (f) of the Toxic Substances Control Act. They will give priority consideration to human formaldehyde exposure in two areas because of the large numbers of people involved: clothing workers who handle textiles treated with formaldehyde-based resins and residents of mobile homes that contain formaldehyde-based resins in construction materials such as foam insulation. Much of the scientific data for determining risks associated with formaldehyde is conflicting and ambiguous, due in part to its presence as a normal metabolite in human biochemistry. Although the chemical induces squamous cell carcinoma in rats, epidemiological studies in occupationally exposed groups show no strong evidence of a causal relationship between formaldehyde and cancer. Dose-response data from an experiment sponsored by the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology are used as the primary basis in constructing risk assessments for the human population. The most conservative model and the one chosen by EPA is the linearized multistage model. When the results of this model are examined, most of the groups studied are subject to an unacceptable risk.

• OSTI ID: 6108813
• Journal Information: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Sci. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 18:7; ISSN ESTHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560305 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
BODY
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
COLLOIDS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DISPERSIONS
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FOAMS
FORMALDEHYDE
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
LAWS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
PHARYNX
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RATS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT
TOXICITY
UREA-FORMALDEHYDE FOAMS
US EPA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES