Formaldehyde | Last updated: 21/02/2024 |
|
(Also known as: formalin; methanal; methyl aldehyde; methylene oxide; paraformaldehyde) |
SUMMARY |
Data alerts |
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Environmental fate | Ecotoxicity | Human health |
---|---|---|
|
|
Used as a disinfectant for soil, equipment, yards etc. Also used as an animal husbandry fungicide. Can also be a pesticide transformation product | |
---|---|---|
|
Most bacteria and fungi | |
|
Non-cropped areas; Growing media; Equipment; Flower tubers & bulbs | |
|
- | |
|
Current | |
|
1888, introduced |
UK regulatory status |
|
Not approved | ||
---|---|---|---|
|
Expired | ||
|
No UK approval for use |
EC Regulation 1107/2009 (repealing 91/414) |
|
Not approved | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Expired | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
- | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Additional information |
|
USA |
---|
Chemical structure |
|
None | |
---|---|---|
|
CH₂O | |
|
C=O | |
|
No data | |
|
WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N | |
|
InChI=1S/CH2O/c1-2/h1H2 | |
|
Yes |
|
Common Name | Relationship | Link |
---|---|---|
formaldehyde | - |
General status |
|
Fungicide, Bactericide, Metabolite, Other substance | |
---|---|---|
|
Soil, Surface water | |
|
Inert solvent | |
|
Unclassified gas | |
|
- | |
|
- | |
|
Synthetic | |
|
Acts by protein denaturation | |
|
50-00-0 | |
|
200-001-8 | |
|
156 | |
|
043001 | |
|
712 | |
|
605-001-00-5 | |
|
30.03 | |
|
- | |
|
formaldehyde | |
|
formaldehyde | |
|
Listed on USA Toxic Release Inventory; Registered as a UK Commodity Substance; Subject to the provisions of the UK Poisons Act 1972 | |
|
UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life in fresh surface water: 5 µg l⁻¹ as annual average, 50 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc. | |
|
Not applicable | |
|
Not applicable | |
|
Not applicable | |
|
Not applicable | |
|
- | |
|
Gas |
Can be a metabolite of: |
|
|
|
|
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
bronopol | Soil | - | - | |||||
dazomet | Soil | 0.205 | Major fraction | |||||
trioxymethylene | Acid soil | - | Major fraction |
Formulations |
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
- | |||
|
|
|||
|
Often used as a dip, drench or spray treatment. May also be used as a fumigant to sterilise animal houses. |
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
550000 |
C4 C = AGRITOX dataset. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data |
High | ||||||||
|
Miscible |
C4 C = AGRITOX dataset. Dataset is no longer available. Acetone4 = Verified data |
- | ||||||||
|
-92 |
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP Evaluation Documents / and other DEFRA (UK) documents; Also Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
|
-19.2 |
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP Evaluation Documents / and other DEFRA (UK) documents; Also Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK (click here ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
50 |
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- | ||||||||
|
|
2.24 X 1000 | Calculated | - | |||||||
|
0.35 |
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Low | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
0.82 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- | ||||||||
|
13.27 |
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
- | ||||||||
Strong base | |||||||||||
|
53300000 |
C4 C = AGRITOX dataset. Dataset is no longer available. 4 = Verified data |
Highly volatile. If applied directly to plants or soil, drift is a concern & mitigation is advisable | ||||||||
|
3.41 X 10-02 |
V3 V = ChemID Online Databases; Chemspider; PubChem. (ChemID ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Non-volatile | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - |
Degradation |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
- | ||||||||||
|
|
6 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
Non-persistent | |||||||
|
1.9 |
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Non-persistent | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
Other sources: DT₅₀ 2-20 days | ||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
|
Stable |
P2 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators 2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
Stable | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
As this parameter is not normally measured directly, a surrogate measure is used: ‘Photochemical oxidative DT₅₀’. Where data is available, this can be found in the Fate Indices section below. |
Soil adsorption and mobility |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
- |
A3 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 3 = Unverified data of known source |
Mobile | |||||||
|
37 | ||||||||||
|
Other sources: DT₅₀ 2-20 days | ||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- |
Fate indices |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0.68 | Calculated | Low leachability | ||||||||
|
|
1.64 X 10-03 | Calculated | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
Low | Calculated | - | ||||||||
|
Mobile | Calculated | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
|
0.2 |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
Low potential | |||||||
|
Not available | - |
Known metabolites |
None
|
Terrestrial ecotoxicology |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
> 550 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources Rat3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
|
- |
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous data from online sources Unknown species2 = Unverified data of unknown source |
- | |||||||
|
50 | - | |||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
> 5000 |
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) Anas platyrhynchos4 = Verified data |
Low | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
- | - | - | |||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
- | |||||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
- | |||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - |
Aquatic ecotoxicology |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
> 1.84 |
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Oncorhynchus mykiss5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
41.0 |
F3 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) Danio rerio3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
> 0.43 |
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Daphnia magna5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
> 11.4 |
F4 F = U.S. EPA ECOTOX database / U.S. EPA pesticide fate database / Miscellaneous WHO documents / FAO data, IPCS INCHEM data (US EPA Databases Related to Pesticide Risk Assessment ) Ceriodaphnia dubia4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
> 0.88 |
A4 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) Unknown species4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
> 0.1 |
P4 P = Other non-EU, UK or US Governments and Regulators Phyllospora comosa4 = Verified data |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
|
- | - | - | |||||||
|
- | - | - |
|
General |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Low (class I) | - | - | ||||||||
|
> 550 |
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources Rat3 = Unverified data of known source |
Moderate | ||||||||
|
270 |
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP Evaluation Documents / and other DEFRA (UK) documents; Also Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK (click here ) Rabbit5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
|
> 0.6 |
B5 B = UK CRD and ACP Evaluation Documents / and other DEFRA (UK) documents; Also Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive (HSE), UK (click here ) Rat 4 hr5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes |
- | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
|
Most probable exposure route is via inhalation | |||||||||
|
Most probable exposure route is via inhalation - PPE/PPC essential | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
- | ||||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - | ||||||||
|
- | - | - |
Health issues |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IARC Group 1 carcinogen, UK HSE - carcinogen; CLP data - known human carcinogen; US NTP - known carcinogen; OSHA - known human carcinogen; US EPA - probable human carcinogen Severe obstructive tracheobronchitis may result from inhalation causing throat spasms and a build up of fluid in the lungs, leading to death Suspected of causing genetic defects May cause serious damage of the gastrointestinal tract |
Handling issues |
|
|
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Flammable gas Reacts explosively with peroxides and performic acid IMDG Tranport Class 3 |
|||
|
Health: H301, H311, H314, H317, H331, H341, H350 | |||
|
Not classified: Fumigant (Not classified: Fumigant) | |||
|
UN1198 | |||
|
Packaging Group III (minor danger) | |||
|
- |
|
|
|
||
---|---|---|---|
|
formaldehyde | ||
|
formaldehyde | ||
|
Formaldehyd | ||
|
formaldehyd | ||
|
formaldeide | ||
|
formaldehído | ||
|
- | ||
|
formaldehyd | ||
|
- | ||
|
- | ||
|
formaldehyde | ||
|
- |
Record last updated: | 21/02/2024 |
Contact: | aeru@herts.ac.uk |
Please cite as: | Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242 |