Formaldehyde A recent, closely watched issue of concern to many in the industry is the potential danger of formaldehyde and the possibility of a movement away from its use for both environmental and worker protections. As early as 2004, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) released information suggesting that the use of formaldehyde may increase the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer or leukemia in embalmers. In November 2009, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published even more definitive and disturbing data regarding exposure to formaldehyde. The study found that death from myeloid leukemia grew with increasing years of embalming experience, confirming that the risk of cancer is associated with the duration Safety considerations for embalming As mentioned, the current trend is to move away from the use of hazardous chemicals in the embalming process. To date, formaldehyde is still the embalming fluid of choice because other nontoxic preservation fluids have not been developed that ensure similar results. OSHA and the NFDA continue to research and develop training and guidelines that warn of the hazards of formaldehyde and the precautions that must be taken to mitigate the harmful effects of the toxin on funeral personnel and the environment. OSHA has produced a fact sheet, summarized below, to explain the effects of formaldehyde exposure as well as precautions that must be in place to protect funeral staff at high risk for exposure to the dangerous chemical. The OSHA Formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) and equivalent regulations in states with OSHA-approved state plans protect workers exposed to formaldehyde and apply to all occupational exposures to formaldehyde from Harmful effects on workers The OSHA fact sheet identifies formaldehyde as a sensitizing agent that can cause an immune system response upon initial exposure and also as a cancer hazard. Acute exposure is highly irritating to the eyes, nose, and throat, and exposed individuals cough and wheeze. Subsequent exposure may cause severe allergic reactions of the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Ingestion of formaldehyde Routes of exposure OSHA clarifies that workers can inhale formaldehyde as a gas or vapor, or they can absorb it through the skin as a liquid. Groups at potentially high risk include mortuary How employers can protect workers Airborne concentrations of formaldehyde above 0.1 ppm can cause irritation of the respiratory tract. The severity of irritation intensifies as concentrations increase. In the event of an exposure, OSHA requires employers to do the following: ● Identify all workers who may be exposed to formaldehyde at or above the action level or STEL with initial monitoring and then determine their exposure. ● Reassign workers who suffer significant adverse effects from formaldehyde exposure to jobs with significantly less or no exposure until their condition improves. Reassignment may continue for up to six months until the worker is determined to be able to return to the original job or is deemed unable to return to work. ● Implement feasible engineering and work practice controls to reduce and maintain worker exposure to formaldehyde at or below the eight-hour TWA and the STEL. If these controls cannot reduce exposure to or
of employment, work practices, and estimated worker formaldehyde exposure levels. Funeral professionals and the organizations responsible for protecting their welfare continue to monitor the international, federal, and state regulatory landscape for changes and limits on the use of formaldehyde for embalming purposes in the U.S. Since the IARC and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) declared formaldehyde a carcinogen in 2009, in 2012, in 2015, and again in 2018, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) developed new regulations limiting the use of and exposure limits for formaldehyde. formaldehyde gas, its solutions, and materials that release formaldehyde. The OSHA information is as follows (OSHA, 2011): ● Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling chemical often used in aqueous, water-based solutions. It is commonly used as a preservative in medical laboratories and mortuaries. ● The permissible exposure limit (PEL) for formaldehyde in the workplace is 0.75 part formaldehyde per million parts of air (0.75 ppm) measured as an eight-hour time- weighted average (TWA). ● The standard includes a second PEL in the form of a short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2 ppm that is the maximum exposure allowed during a 15-minute period. ● The action level, which is the standard’s trigger for increased industrial hygiene monitoring and initiation of worker medical surveillance, is 0.5 ppm when calculated as an eight-hour TWA. can be fatal, and long-term exposure to low levels in the air or on the skin can cause asthma-like respiratory problems and skin irritation such as dermatitis and itching. Concentrations of 100 ppm are immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH). Note that the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) considers 20 ppm of formaldehyde to be IDLH.
workers as well as instructors and students who handle biological specimens preserved with formaldehyde.
below the PELs, employers must provide workers with respirators. ● Label all mixtures or solutions composed of greater than 0.1% formaldehyde and materials capable of releasing formaldehyde into the air at concentrations reaching or exceeding 0.1 ppm. For all materials capable of releasing formaldehyde at levels above 0.5 ppm during normal use, the label must contain the words “potential cancer hazard.” ● Train all workers regarding exposure to formaldehyde concentrations of 0.1 ppm or greater at the time of initial job assignment and whenever a new exposure potential is introduced into the work area. Repeat training annually. ● Select, provide, and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Ensure that workers use PPE such as impervious clothing, gloves, aprons, and chemical splash goggles to prevent skin and eye contact with formaldehyde.
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