- The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has found that several studies of laboratory rats exposed for life to high amounts of formaldehyde in air found that the rats developed nose cancer.  Some studies of humans exposed to lower amounts of formaldehyde in workplace air found more cases of cancer of the nose and throat (nasopharyngeal cancer) than expected, but other studies have not found nasopharyngeal cancer in other groups of workers exposed to formaldehyde in air. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that formaldehyde may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen (NTP).  The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that formaldehyde is probably carcinogenic to humans.  This determination was based on specific judgments that there is limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in laboratory animals that formaldehyde can cause cancer.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen based on limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in laboratory animals. (For more information on this article, visit (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs111.html)

Formaldehyde is a probable human carcinogen. Levels of formaldehyde in air as low as 0.1ppm (0.1 part formaldehyde per million parts of air) can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, stuffy nose, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes and allergic reactions. (Source: U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission)