IRIS

Formaldehyde

CASRN 50-00-0 | DTXSID7020637

IRIS Summary (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K)
EPA'S Workshop on Formaldehyde (April 2014)
Status: Formaldehyde is in step 5 at this time; see Quick Check.

Key IRIS
Values
Assessment
Status
Chemical
Documents
Other EPA
Information

Noncancer Assessment

Reference Dose for Oral Exposure (RfD) (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K) Last Updated: 09/01/1990

System	RfD (mg/kg-day)	Basis	PoD	Composite UF	Confidence
Urinary, Gastrointestinal, Other	2 x 10^-1	Reduced weight gain, histopathology in rats	NOAEL : 1.5 x 10¹ mg/kg-day	100	Medium

Reference Concentration for Inhalation Exposure (RfC) (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K)
Not assessed under the IRIS Program.

Cancer Assessment

Weight of Evidence for Cancer (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K) Last Updated: 05/01/1991

WOE Characterization	Framework for WOE Characterization
B1 (Probable human carcinogen - based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans)	Guidelines for Carcinogen Risk Assessment (U.S. EPA, 1986)

Basis:

Based on limited evidence in humans, and sufficient evidence in animals. Human data include nine studies that show statistically significant associations between site-specific respiratory neoplasms and exposure to formaldehyde or formaldehyde-containing products. An increased incidence of nasal squamous cell carcinomas was observed in long-term inhalation studies in rats and in mice. The classification is supported by in vitro genotoxicity data and formaldehyde's structural relationships to other carcinogenic aldehydes such as acetaldehyde.
This may be a synopsis of the full weight-of-evidence narrative.

Quantitative Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk from Oral Exposure (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K)

Not Assessed under the IRIS Program.

Quantitative Estimate of Carcinogenic Risk from Inhalation Exposure (PDF) (17 pp, 133 K)

Inhalation Unit Risk: 1.3 x 10^-5 per µg/m³
Extrapolation Method: Linearized multistage procedure, additional risk
Tumor site(s): Respiratory
Tumor type(s): Squamous cell carcinoma (Kerns et al., 1983)

Additional EPA toxicity information may be available by visiting the following sites:

Human Health Benchmarks for Pesticides (HHBP). This database provides human health benchmarks for pesticides that may be present in drinking water.
Office of Pesticide Programs Pesticide Chemical Search. This database provides links to health effects information and registration status for pesticides.
Chemistry Dashboard. This database provides information on chemical structures, experimental and predicted physicochemical, and toxicity data.

Formaldehyde is being reassessed.

Assessment Manager(s): Thomas Bateson (bateson.thomas@epa.gov), Andrew Kraft (kraft.andrew@epa.gov)

Step	Assessment Materials Released to the Public	Release Date	Public Meeting Date
1	Problem Formulation Materials	N/A	N/A
1	Preliminary Assessment Materials	N/A	N/A
4	Public Comment Draft	04/2022	06/2023
4	Peer Review Draft	10/2022	06/2023
7	Post Final Assessment	TBD