What are the Toxic Effects of Formalin and How to prevent it ?

Formaldehyde is a colourless gas that is often used as an aqueous solution called formalin. Formalin solutions contain up to 40% formaldehyde and at least 15% methanol as a stabiliser. Both formaldehyde gas and solution have a strong, pungent, characteristic odour. These compounds are commonly used as disinfectants, preservatives, fixatives and chemical additives. Due to their wide range of applications, it is important to understand the health hazards and safety precautions when using this chemical. 

USES OF FORMALDEHYDE / FORMALIN

HEALTH HAZARDS

If the concentration of formaldehyde in the air exceeds 0.1 ppm, it can cause watery eyes, skin irritation, breathing difficulties, coughing, and some burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat.

Many scientific studies and animal studies have long indicated that long-term exposure to formalin may cause cancer and it has been classified as a “suspected carcinogen”! Trace amounts of formaldehyde are metabolised quickly in the human body and are not strongly residual, about 35% can be metabolised to formic acid and excreted in the urine as formic acid salts, the remaining 65% can continue to be metabolised to carbon dioxide and water and eliminated, but the biggest problem is: it may cause cell degeneration! However, the biggest problem is that it may cause cellular degeneration! A positive test for mutations in bacteria, human isolated cells or animal cells cannot exclude the possibility of biological malformation!

EXPOSURE AND PERMISSIBLE LIMITS

Formaldehyde is corrosive and an air concentration of 2 ppm may quickly cause eye irritation, while an air concentration of 20 ppm can cause permanent clouding of the cornea.

The OSHA formaldehyde standard (29 CFR 1910.1048) intends to protect workers from occupational exposure by setting the following permissible exposure limit (PEL):
1.PEL for formaldehyde in a workplace is 0.75 ppm measured in an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA).

2.Short-term exposure limit (STEL) of 2 ppm for a 15-minute period.

PROPER HANDLING AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Due to the health hazards associated with the use of formaldehyde and formalin, here are some recommendations for safe handling:

OLABO OFFERS THE RIGHT SOLUTION!

Laboratory applications involving this toxic chemical can now be accomplished safely and economically with OLABO Ductless Fume Hood. This ductless fume hood is designed to safely dispense formalin solutions while providing superior fume containment. The fume hood’s enhanced features provide the operator with a high level of usability, comfort, and safety.