Contribution of formaldehyde to respiratory cancer

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.867023· OSTI ID:6785534

Nelson, N; Levine, R J; Albert, R E; Blair, A E; Griesemer, R A; Landrigan, P J; Stayner, L T; Swenberg, J A

This article reviews the available data on the carcinogenicity of formaldehyde from experimental and epidemiologic studies and makes recommendations for further research. Two definitive chronic inhalation bioassays on rodents have demonstrated that formaldehyde produces nasal cancer in rats and mice at 14 ppm and in rats at 6 ppm, which is within the domain of present permissible human exposure (8-hr time-weighted average of 3 ppm, a 5 ppm ceiling, and a 10 ppm short-term exposure limit). Biochemical and physiologic studies in rats have shown that inhaled formaldehyde can depress respiration, inhibit mucociliary clearance, stimulate cell proliferation, and crosslink DNA and protein in the nasal mucosa. No deaths from nasal cancer have been reported in epidemiologic studies of cohorts exposed to formaldehyde, but three case-control studies suggest the possibility of increased risk. Although excesses of lung cancer deaths have been observed in some studies at industrial plants with formaldehyde exposure, uncertainties in interpretation limit the evaluation of these findings. Excess cancers of the brain and of lymphatic and hematopoietic tissues have been reported in certain studies of industrial groups and in most studies of formaldehyde-exposed professionals, but whether these excesses are related to formaldehyde exposure is not known. Several properties of formaldehyde pose unique problems for future research: the mechanisms responsible for its nonlinear response; its probable mechanism of carcinogenic action as a cross-linking agent; its formation in tissues as a normal metabolite; its possible action as a promoter and/or a cocarcinogen; and the importance of glutathione as a host defense at low exposure.

• Research Organization: New York Univ. Medical Center, NY
• OSTI ID: 6785534
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States); ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
BIOASSAY
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOGENS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
DISEASE INCIDENCE
DISEASES
DOCUMENT TYPES
DRUGS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
EPIDEMIOLOGY
FORMALDEHYDE
GLUTATHIONE
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
METABOLISM
MICE
MUTAGENESIS
MUTAGENS
MUTATIONS
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PEPTIDES
POLYPEPTIDES
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RATS
RECOMMENDATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
REVIEWS
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
VERTEBRATES