Formaldehyde, a toxic chemical found in many common products, poses an "unreasonable risk" to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a Jan. 2 report.
Five things to know:
1. Formaldehyde is widely used in the U.S. as a key ingredient in paints, plastics, adhesives, sealants and composite wood articles. Consumer products that contain the chemical include car waxes, crafting supplies, fabrics and leather goods.
2. The EPA analyzed 63 use cases for formaldehyde among consumers and workers. Short-term inhalation can cause eye and respiratory inflammation, while contact on skin can lead to allergic reactions, the agency found. Long-term exposure — most common among workers — can cause cancer and respiratory issues, such as asthma and reduced lung function.
3. While the EPA noted that those who work in places where formaldehyde is made or used are at greater risk of exposure, the agency's final report includes weaker industry standards than proposed in a previous draft, according to ProPublica. The EPA also determined that people living near formaldehyde-releasing facilities do not face unreasonable health risks from outdoor air exposure.
4. The EPA's final report comes about a month after ProPublica published an investigative report that found formaldehyde causes more cancer cases than any other air pollutant. About 320 million people live in communities where the lifetime cancer risk from outdoor exposure is 10 times higher than the EPA's standard, according to the publication's analysis of 2020 air quality data.
5. Industry groups have long opposed federal efforts to regulate formaldehyde. While the EPA is expected to draft restrictions to mitigate health risks identified in its final report, it is unclear how the incoming administration's regulatory priorities will influence the timeline or stringency of these measures.