Presentation1

FormaldehydeYumin JeonKevin PerrodinDeneshia WilliamsSarah Dantin

Outline

•Introduction•Toxicity•MOA•Hazard vs Exposure•OSHA Data•Benefits•Consequences•Conclusion

History•Formaldehyde was first

reported in 1859 by Alexander Mikhailovich Butlerov.

•Formaldehyde was not conclusively identified until 1868.

•August Wilhelm von Hofmann, a professor of chemistry identify formaldehyde and its structure.

Introduction • Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas with a

strong, pungent odor. • In outdoor air it can originate from many sources

such as:▫incinerators▫photo-chemical smog▫engine exhaust

• Atmospheric levels of formaldehyde have been reported to range from less than 0.005 ppm to 0.06 ppm near: ▫industrial outlets ▫areas of heavy smog

Introduction

•Formaldehyde is released to the atmosphere.▫Half is degraded in a few hours

•Additional formaldehyde is removed by rain.

• Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment.▫Biodegradable

What is formaldehyde used for?• Half of the formaldehyde produced is used to produce synthetic resins such as

urea- and phenol-formaldehyde resins. ▫ particleboard▫ fiberboard▫ Plywood

• Urea-formaldehyde concentrates are used in various coating processes:▫ paper products▫ making foams for thermal insulation

• The textile industry uses formaldehyde for producing:▫ creaseproof▫ crushproof ▫ flame resistant▫ shrin proof fabrics

• Acetal resins, made from formaldehyde, are used:▫ to mold plastic parts for automobiles▫ home appliances▫ hardware▫ garden ▫ sporting equipment

Formaldehyde Toxicity

Occupation Cohort Study•7680 men who have been employed

before 1965▫Plastic factories

Used formaldehyde to manufacture plastic▫No deaths from nasal cancer▫No excess mortality was found for cancers

Mechanism of Action• Formaldehyde is readily absorbed following inhalation and ingestion, but

poorly absorbed following dermal exposure• Formaldehyde is highly water-soluble and exists in water almost

exclusively in a reversible hydrated form (methanediol). Thus, less than 0.1% of formaldehyde can be considered “free” once it enters the body.

• Highly reactive at the site of entry and reacts readily with macromolecules, including DNA to form DNA-protein and DNA-DNA cross-links. 

• Formaldehyde is oxidized to formate by mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2(ALDH2) or via a two-enzyme system that converts nonenzymatically formed glutathione adducts(S-hydroxymethylglutathione) to the intermediate S-formylglutathione, which is then metabolized to formate and glutathione by S-formylglutathione hydrolase.

• Formaldehyde is produced as a normal metabolite and also in the oxidative demethylation of xenobiotics.

• Formaldehyde disappears from the plasma with a half-time of about 1–1.5 minutes, most of it being converted to carbon dioxide and exhaled from the lungs. Smaller amounts are excreted in the urine as formate salts and several other metabolites.

No Consensus, No Conspiracy• Findings on formaldehyde were not conducted

using scientific consensus

• The American Chemistry Council(ACC) had lack of scientific consent

• The National Toxicology Program (NTP) published twelfth Report on Carcinogens, and lists formaldehyde for the first time as a carcinogen

• Formaldehyde previously listed in “likely” category

Issues with the Report on Carcinogens?• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

had also released similar findings about formaldehyde being listed in the “likely” category.

Where the issue arises:• -The EPA’s report had just come under

scrutiny and criticism for its methods and conclusions in a review from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS).

• -Report on Carcinogens did not reflect the conclusions of the American Chemical Council about formaldehyde causing leukemia.

Issues with the Report on Carcinogens?•NAS goes on to say:

▫”There are some recurring methodological problems that are similar to those which have been reported over the last decade”

▫“The problems here are associated with the transparency of methods”

•Many non-industry people who know the RoC think that the RoC has problems and that it needs a review.

Evaluation of Reports

• Two changes needed in RoC:▫Strength vs. weight of evidence▫RoC review process itself

•An important word in these evaluations is “weight.”

•James Swenberg disagree’s with ACC looking solely at one criteria of study.

Amount of Exposure is Key

• Industry workers are mainly exposed to high levels of formaldehyde.

•According to NAS, the EPA did not contain a criteria on which to judge the quality of the exposure assessment

•Formaldehyde is absorbed primarily at the site f first contact which is the nose and upper throat, so it makes it highly unlikely to appear in the blood or bone marrow as an intact molecule to cause leukemia

Benefits

•Industrial applications•Disinfectant and biocide•Embalming agent•Drug testing•Cosmetics•Medicine & Vaccination

Benefits continued…

•Products that contain formaldehyde account for $127 billion in GDP for the U.S.

•Allows for more than 3.6 million jobs•To replace this chemical in production of

products would cost $17 billion per year.

Exposure• Small amounts can be found in fish, vegetable, air,

clothes, and in the home. • When a product is new formaldehyde vapors are at

a higher level but drop as the product ages. • Routs of exposure ingestion, inhalation, and

absorption• Occupations such as:

▫Oil field workers▫Textile workers▫Drug makers▫Botanists▫Etc.

Hazard

•Is a known irritant, corrosive substance and a flammable liquid.

•On contact can cause burns, ulcers, rapid breathing

• HPA states that the general population is unlikely to be exposed to cause adverse health effects.

Health Effects• Acute toxic effects via inhalation are:

▫Eye, nose and throat irritation▫Skin irritation▫Effects on the nasal cavity▫Coughing▫Wheezing▫Chest Pains▫Bronchitis▫Corrosion of the GI tract▫ Inflammation and ulceration of the mouth,

esophagus, and stomach

Hazards regulated

•With the use of formaldehyde there are many regulations

• OSHA▫PEL in the workplace is limited to 0.75 ppm

of air▫And a limit or 2ppm at a maximum

exposure for 15 minutes▫Records on exposure have to be kept for 30

years.

Treatment•There is no antidote for formaldehyde, but its

effects can be treated.•Specific tests to detect presence of formaldehyde

▫Blood and urine analyses ▫If seizures or convulsions have occurred

neurobehavioral toxicity testing may be conducted.

•Use of Neutralex is recommended since according to instructions it will reduce formaldehyde concentrations to well below 0.1%.

Can I reduce the amount of exposure in my home?• Higher formaldehyde levels are usually found in

newer homes with new construction• Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood

Products Act

• Steps to reduce exposure:▫Use “exterior-grade pressed wood products (lower

emitting because they contain phenol resins, not urea resins)

▫Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to maintain moderate temperature and reduce humidity levels

▫ Increase ventilation, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into home

Conclusion

•Due to inconsistencies in the EPA report and the criteria not being properly followed:▫The mode of action for formaldehyde-

induced leukemia has not been clearly established. Moreover, the highly limited systemic delivery of formaldehyde draws into question the biologic feasibility of causality between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia. Thus, substantial uncertainties remain.

Questions?

Reference• http://www.forbes.com/sites/emilywillingham/2012/10/10/is-indus

try-conspiring-to-suppress-that-formaldehyde-is-carcinogenic/2/• http://www.ehs.washington.edu/epohazreduce/formalin.shtm• https://

www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/formaldehyde-factsheet.pdf

• http://www.wisegeek.org/what-are-the-effects-of-formaldehyde-exposure.htm

• http://www.crios.be/Formaldehyde/toxicology.htm• http://

www.hpa.org.uk/webc/hpawebfile/hpaweb_c/1219908739327• http://

www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/formaldehyde.html

• http://www.healthcentral.com/allergy/c/question/39242/35074• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/formaldehyde• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6142316• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-111/

Reference• http://

www.cdc.gov/nceh/drywall/docs/whatyoushouldknowaboutformaldehyde.pdf

• http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/formalde.html• http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/chemtest/formaldehyde/• https://

www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/formaldehyde-factsheet.pdf

• http://www.hpa.org.uk/webc/hpawebfile/hpaweb_c/1219908741042

• http://www.nclabor.com/osha/etta/indguide/ig31.pdf• http://www.meridianeng.com/formalde.html• http://www.formaldehydefacts.org/health_safety• http://ehs.okstate.edu/training/OSHAFHYD.HTM• http://www.toxies.com/files/Formaldehyde.pdf• http://

www.shergarner.com/Publications/The-Next-Wave-of-Toxic-Tort-Litigation.pdf