What is Formaldehyde?
CAS#: 000050-00-0
At room temperature, formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable
gas that has a distinct, pungent smell. It is also known as
methanal, methylene oxide, oxymethyline, methylaldehyde, and
oxomethane. Formaldehyde is naturally produced in small amounts
in our bodies.
It is used in the production of fertilizer, paper, plywood,
and urea-formaldehyde resins. It is also used as a preservative
in some foods and in many products used around the house, such
as antiseptics, medicines, and cosmetics.
Related Resources for Formaldehyde
-
CERCLA Priority List of Hazardous Substances
Prioritization of substances based on a combination of their
frequency, toxicity, and potential for human exposure at
National Priorities List (NPL) sites.
-
FEMA Trailer Study
This is the central CDC/ATSDR repository for all public materials related to the CDC FEMA Trailer response, including links to materials for residents, for clinicians, and for the news media.
- Medical Management Guidelines (MMGs) for Acute Chemical
Exposures
Publication intended to aid emergency department physicians
and other emergency healthcare professionals who manage
acute exposures resulting from chemical incidents.
- Minimal Risk Levels (MRL)
The MRL is an estimate of the daily human exposure to a hazardous substance that is likely to be without appreciable risk of adverse, non-cancer health effects over a specified duration of exposure. The information in this MRL serves as a screening tool to help public health professionals decide where to look more closely to evaluate possible risk of adverse health effects from human exposure.
-
Public Health Statement
Summary about a hazardous substance taken from Chapter One
of its respective ATSDR Toxicological Profile.
-
ToxFAQ
Fact sheet that answers the most frequently asked questions
about a contaminant and its health effects.
-
Toxicological Profile
Succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health
effects information for a hazardous substance.
This page was updated on
09/22/2008
