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Formaldehyde
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General Description
    Synonyms: Diesel Exhaust Component; Formalin; Methanal; Methyl aldehyde; Methylene oxide; Rosin Core Solder Pyrolysis Product

    OSHA IMIS Code Number: 1290

    Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 50-00-0

    NIOSH, Registry of Toxic Effects (RTECS) Identification Number: LP8925000

    Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and guide [2008 Emergency Response Guidebook, 2.5 MB PDF]: 1198 132 - Formaldehyde, solution, flammable; 1198 132 - Formaldehyde, solutions, (Formalin); 2209 132 - Formaldehyde, solutions, (Formalin) (corrosive)

    NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Formaldehyde: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits
    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1048 -- 0.75 ppm TWA; 2 ppm STEL; 0.5 ppm Action Level

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.1148 requirements identical to 1910.1048.

    OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1048 requirements identical to 1910.1048.

    American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 0.3 ppm, 0.37 mg/m3 Ceiling; SEN; Appendix A2 - Suspected Human Carcinogen

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): 0.016 ppm TWA, 0.1 ppm Ceiling (15 Minutes); Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens
Health Factors
    National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen [46 KB PDF, 2 pages]

    International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 1, carcinogenic to humans [4 MB, PDF, 287 pages]

    NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 20 ppm

    Potential symptoms: Eye, nose, throat irritation; lacrimation; burns to eyes, mucous membranes, skin; coughing, difficulty breathing, bronchial spasm, pulmonary edema; contact dermatitis; headache; muscle or joint stiffness. INGESTION: nausea, vomiting (may be bloody), abdominal pain, diarrhea, hypotension, hypothermia, lethargy, dizziness, convulsions, coma; acidosis, kidney inflammation, liver toxicity (carcinogenic)

    Health Effects: : Irritation- Eye, Nose, Skin---Marked (HE14); Asthma (HE9); Lung damage (HE11), Membranous nephropathy (HE4); Mutagen (HE2)

    Affected organs: Respiratory system, eye, skin.

    Note: OSHA has a Fact Sheet on Formaldehyde. [43 KB, PDF, 2 pages]

    Date Last Revised: 05/06/2003 (IARC changed 9/25/09)

    Literature Basis:
    • Sitting, M.: Formaldehyde. Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemical Carcinogens, 3rd Ed., Vol. 1, pp. 833-836, 1991.
    • (headache, acidosis, membranous nephropathy)
      Wax, P.M.: Antiseptics, disinfectants, and sterilants. In, Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 6th Ed., Goldfrank, L.R., Flomenbaum, N.E., Lewin, N.A., Weisman, R.S., Howland, M.A., Hoffman, R.S. eds. Connecticut: Appleton & Lange, pp.1359-1375,1998.
    • (muscle or joint stiffness)
      U.S. Department of Health and Human services, Public Health Services, Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry. Toxicological profile for formaldehyde, pp. 9-165, July 1999.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA
    Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:

    • sampling media: Coated XAD-2 Tube (150/75 mg sections, 20/60 mesh); coating is 10% (w/w) 2-(Hydroxymethyl)piperidine.
      analytical solvent: Toluene
      maximum volume: 24 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.1 L/min (TWA)
      maximum volume: 3 Liters   maximum flow rate: 0.2 L/min (STEL)
      current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/NPD
      method reference: OSHA Manual of Analytical Methods (OSHA 52)
      method classification: Fully Validated


    • sampling media: Diffusive Sampler:
      • Assay Technology ChemDisk Aldehyde Monitor 571;
      • SKC UMEx 100 Passive Sampler; or
      • Supelco DSD-DNPH Diffusive Sampling Device
      analytical solvent: Acetonitrile
      sampling time: 15 to 240 Minutes
      current analytical method: Liquid Chromatography/UV detector; LC/IC
      method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1007)
      method classification: Fully Validated
      notes:
      1. Store samplers in a refrigerator both before and after sampling.
      2. For quantitative sampling results, use an active sampling procedure such as OSHA Method 52 when monitoring exposures resulting from the use of formalin solutions. These diffusive samplers failed SLTC method validation requirements when formalin was the source of formaldehyde. A formalin solution is a solution of formaldehyde in water that is stabilized with methyl alcohol.
      3. Do not use these diffusive samplers if the ozone level is greater than 0.5 ppm. (Section 4.9)
      4. Do not use these diffusive samplers if the humidity is 10% or less. (Section 4.9)
      5. Place samples into manufacturer-supplied aluminized bags immediately after sampling
      6. Persons using diffusive samplers to monitor workplace air must ensure that the sampling devices are properly closed before transporting such devices to the laboratory for analysis. The device will continue to sample until properly closed. Diffusive sampler accessories used for analysis of samplers must be included with transported samples. Persons using such devices must provide sampling-site station barometric pressure and temperature to the analytical laboratory to improve accuracy of sampling results.

    On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:

    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
      model/type: 8014-171SB
      sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
      upper measurement limit: 35 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 1 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
      model/type: 8014-171SA
      sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
      upper measurement limit: 1500 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 20 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
      model/type: 8014-171SC
      sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
      upper measurement limit: 4 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: AUER/MSA
      model/type: Formaldehyde-0,1 MSA P/N 497649, AUER P/N 5086-813
      sampling information: follow manufacturer’s instructions
      upper measurement limit: 55 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm
      overall uncertainty: unknown
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Gastec
      model/type: 91
      sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 100 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.5 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 25% for 2 to 6 ppm, 16.4% for 6 to 20 ppm
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Gastec
      model/type: 91M
      sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 6400 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 4 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 8 to 200 ppm, 8.2% for 500 to 2000 ppm
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Gastec
      model/type: 91L
      sampling information: 1 to 2 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 40 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.05 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 0.1 to 0.5 ppm, 8.2% for 0.5 to 5 ppm
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Gastec
      model/type: 91LL
      sampling information: 5 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 1.0 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.03 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 0.05 to 0.3 ppm, 8.2% for 0.5 to 1 ppm
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Dräger
      model/type: Formaldehyde 0.2/a, order no. 67 33081
      sampling information: 10 or 20 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 5 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.1 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 33%
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)


    • device: Detector Tube
      manufacturer: Dräger
      model/type: Formaldehyde 2/a, order no. 81 01751
      sampling information: 5 strokes
      upper measurement limit: 40 ppm
      detection limit: approx. 0.5 ppm
      overall uncertainty: 33%
      method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
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