Formaldehyde
What is formaldehyde?
Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas present in a variety of building and household products. Formaldehyde is commonly used in resins to make pressed wood products such as particleboard and wood paneling. When these products are used in home construction or in furniture, they may release formaldehyde into the air.
Formaldehyde is used to make fabrics in permanent-press clothing and draperies, and was in foam insulation products that were common during the 1970s. Formaldehyde may also be found in wallpaper and paints, some cosmetics and personal products, and is also produced when burning natural gas, kerosine, gasoline, wood, and tobacco.
How can people be exposed to formaldehyde?
People can be exposed to formaldehyde from air, direct contact, and drinking water.
Air
People may breathe formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, pressed wood products (such as plywood and particle-board), and unvented fuel burning appliances like wood burning stoves, kerosene heaters, and gas stoves. Small amounts of formaldehyde may also be in nail polishes and hair smoothing treatments. People can also be exposed to formaldehyde in air from using products that contain formaldehyde. Additionally, people who work in places where formaldehyde or products containing formaldehyde are made or used can be exposed to it in air.
People may also be exposed to formaldehyde from new wood products used in home construction. Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins are common in a variety of construction materials. Wood products made with UF resins give off more formaldehyde than wood products made with PF resins. UF resins are used in particleboard, hardwood plywood paneling and medium-density fiberboard. PF resins are used in softwood plywood paneling and materials produced for exterior construction.
Federal regulations and guidelines restrict the use of some building materials that give off large amounts of formaldehyde, especially in pre-fabricated and mobile homes. Formaldehyde emissions from wood products or fabrics decrease as products age. When these products are new, high temperature and humidity may increase the release of formaldehyde.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is aware of the reports of high levels of formaldehyde in certain types of laminate flooring made in China between 2012 and 2014 and sold by Lumber Liquidators stores. Lumber Liquidators reported to CDC/ATSDR that laminate flooring from China has not been sold in any Lumber Liquidators retail outlet since May 2015.
Wisconsin residents who have questions or concerns about formaldehyde exposures from their laminate flooring should review the information posted here along with the fact sheets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Exposure to elevated levels of formaldehyde can cause headaches, skin rashes and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Children, the elderly, and asthmatics may be more sensitive to the effects of formaldehyde. It is important to note that formaldehyde levels from laminate flooring are highest when flooring is new and will decrease over time.
If you or a family member are experiencing health effects that you believe may be related to old laminate flooring or other products in your home, please consult with your physician.
Direct contact
People who work in places where formaldehyde is used or made can make or use formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products can be exposed to formaldehyde through direct contact it gets on their skin.
Drinking water
People who live near places where formaldehyde is used or was spilled or disposed of in the past can be exposed to formaldehyde from drinking water.
How can formaldehyde affect my health?
When present in air at levels above 0.1 parts per million (ppm), formaldehyde may irritate the eyes, throat, and nose. Inhaling formaldehyde may trigger asthma symptoms, and skin contact may cause rashes or sensitization. Sensitive individuals may experience skin or asthmatic reactions at very low levels. Breathing in high levels of formaldehyde may lead to changes in lung function. Long term exposure to formaldehyde may cause some types of cancer.
While the biggest health concerns come from breathing formaldehyde, studies have shown that swallowing large amounts of formaldehyde can reduce body weight, cause stomach ulcers, and damage the liver and kidneys.
How can I protect myself from formaldehyde?
The main way people can be exposed to formaldehyde is by breathing it in. To reduce levels of formaldehyde in indoor air:
- Choose building materials that are low in formaldehyde for home remodeling and construction projects. Choose furniture or cabinetry made of solid wood or softwood plywood can help reduce exposure.
- Use building products such as solid lumber or metal instead of particleboard.
- Increase ventilation by opening windows and using fans to bring fresh air indoors when new sources of formaldehyde are brought into your home.
- Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels when you have new building materials in your home.
- Consider washing permanent-press clothes and fabrics before you use them if you are sensitive to formaldehyde.
- Avoid smoking in the house, in enclosed areas, and near children. Check our our help to quit page for resources on overcoming tobacco addiction.
- Vehicle exhaust is a common source of formaldehyde in air. Avoid leaving a gas-powered vehicle running in the garage, even if the garage door is open. If you need to warm a vehicle up, move it outside of the garage right after starting the engine.
When using products that contain formaldehyde, wear gloves and long sleeves and follow all directions on the product label.
If you get formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-containing product on your skin, wash the area with plenty of soap and water. Seek medical attention if skin irritation or a rash occurs.
If you get formaldehyde or a formaldehyde-containing product in your eyes, rinse with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do, and continue rinsing. Seek medical attention if eye irritation continues.
Public water users
Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC), which is a group of chemicals that easily evaporate into the air. Community water systems are required to test for VOCs on a regular basis. If the level of VOCs is above Wisconsin's drinking water standards, your water system will issue a public notice.
Read your annual consumer confidence report from your water supplier to learn more your drinking water quality and where your water comes from.
Private well users
Private well users should test for formaldehyde if they live near an industrial site that produces or uses formaldehyde, a dry cleaner, or are concerned about contamination from a nearby source of chlorinated water.
When testing, it's best to use a Wisconsin certified lab.
If the formaldehyde level equals or is greater than 1000 micrograms per liter (µg/L):
- Use a different source of water for drinking and preparing foods that take up a lot of water. Options include bottled water, water from a well without issues, and water from a public system without violations.
- Find a long-term solution. Options include installing a certified treatment device and drilling a new well.
Our Water Treatment Devices for Private Well Contaminants fact sheet, P-03494 (available in English, Spanish, Hmong), has information on common certified treatment devices and instructions for how to find them, including VOCs like formaldehyde.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) well compensation grants provide funds to address public health hazards in private wells.
Who regulates formaldehyde?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates how much formaldehyde can be released into the air and groundwater in Wisconsin.
DNR regulates how much formaldehyde can be in water served by public water systems and oversees the clean up of contaminated sites.
Related topics
Our groundwater standards page has information on how Wisconsin's groundwater standards are set, DHS' role in the process, and a summary of the current and recommended standards, including formaldehyde.
The Wisconsin Groundwater Coordinating Council's annual report to the Legislature summarizes the operations and activities occurring within the state to address groundwater issues including information on volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The DNR's Bureau of Remediation and Redevelopment Tracking System on the Web (BRRTs on the Web) provides information on contaminated properties and other cleanup and redevelopment activities in Wisconsin.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's ToxFAQs page has more information on chloroform exposure routes and health effects.