Formaldehyde is a normal metabolite found at low levels in the blood of healthy individuals. It is an essential compound in intermediary metabolism and provides one-carbon units used in the synthesis of many important biomolecules. The purpose of this report is to examine the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of formaldehyde in an attempt to assess whether the intake of formaldehyde from food and environmental sources is likely to result in its accumulation in the body. The steps taken to determine the levels of formaldehyde in food and to subsequently estimate the per capita daily intake of formaldehyde are described. The available literature which describes the metabolism of formaldehyde in animals and man is summarized and pharmacokinetic data are used to assess the effects of ingested and inhaled formaldehyde on the formaldehyde blood and body pools.