Carcinogenic effect of inhaled formaldehyde sufficiently documented

Formaldehyde is produced on a large scale around the world and is present in many consumer products. Small amounts of the substance are also formed during cell metabolism in man and animals. Formaldehyde is harmful; it irritates the mucous membranes and can trigger cancer in the nasopharynx when it is inhaled. These are the results of an assessment of new studies presented today by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment to the general public. The Institute believes that there is sufficient evidence that this substance can trigger tumours in the nasopharynx when inhaled. It, therefore, proposes a change to the current classification. The harmful action of formaldehyde depends on the concentration. "Scarcely any carcinogenic effect is to be expected at indoor air levels of or below 124 micrograms formaldehyde per cubic metre", said the President of the Federal Institute, Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. "However, repeated, clear exceeding of this value may entail risks to health."

Formaldehyde is a clear substance which is present in gaseous form at room temperature. It has a distinct pungent smell which is noticeable even at low concentrations. The substance has germicidal, preserving and disinfectant properties and is to be found in many articles of daily use like disinfectants, household cleaning agents, cosmetics, paints, varnishes and building materials.

Results from animal experiments pointed to a carcinogenic effect in man. However, in numerous epidemiological studies no elevated cancer risk could be detected. Formaldehyde was, therefore, classified as a substance with “a reasonable suspicion of carcinogenic potential”. More recent, highly comprehensive studies on workers in the USA have now, however, confirmed an elevated, exposure-related mortality rate caused by tumours in the nasopharynx. Cases of spontaneous tumours are rare in human beings with the exception of some occupational exposure situations. Following its reevaluation the International Agency on Research of Cancer, IARC, therefore proposed a reclassification of formaldehyde as a human carcinogen. It has not yet stated its reasons.

The study results prompted the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment to reassess the carcinogenic risks linked to formaldehyde. To this end, it commissioned an expert report from the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg. Like the report the Institute comes to the conclusion that this substance can trigger cancer in man if inhaled and suggests a corresponding classification. This estimation is shared by the agency in France responsible for assessing this existing substance.

The carcinogenic action of formaldehyde leads to a change in genetic information. In the past a “simplified approach” was used for the assessment of substances of this kind. Every level is deemed to be harmful and no threshold value is established. For its reassessment BfR chose a new conceptual approach which permits more differentiated consideration. The carcinogenic action of formaldehyde is based namely on two biological mechanisms: the cytotoxic effect to which the body responds with cell proliferation, and a change in genetic information. Both mechanisms develop joint action from a specific level upwards. Based on data obtained from animals and man, BfR has, therefore, established a so-called “safe level” on the basis of the two mechanisms of action. It is 0.124 milligram per cubic metre indoor air. An air concentration up to this level is deemed to be a concentration at and below which an elevated risk above the background risk is practically no longer to be expected. By contrast, repeated, clear exceeding of this level may entail health risks.

For the purposes of risk assessment from the consumer protection angle, an estimation of exposure of human beings in their home environment is needed. The available data show that pressboard sheets, along with other building materials, still rank amongst the more important sources of exposure to formaldehyde. Nevertheless, exposure has been considerably reduced in recent years. Textiles only contribute to a minor degree to contamination of indoor air. The use of disinfectants in the home can also clearly be ignored in terms of formaldehyde exposure. The same holds true for cosmetics. Overall, the data presented indicate that indoor air contamination has been reduced. It still cannot be stated with any certainty today whether this also applies to extreme degrees of exposure.

The European Commission will decide on the definitive classification of formaldehyde. Should the EU take up the proposal of France and the assessment by BfR, this could have an impact on the use of the substance in consumer products.

Further information on this subject can be accessed on www.bfr.bund.de, “Chemicals“.