pol published by: Lodz : Instytut Medycyny Pracy.

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by formaldehyde, a gas produced industrially in large quantities for a wide range of applications, including the production of glue or coatings for particle boards and plywood and the manufacturing of sterilizing and disinfecting agents, medicines, cosmetics, and a number of consumer goods. Other major man-made sources include automobile and aircraft exhaust emissions, natural gas, fossil fuels, waste incineration, and oil refineries. In view of the wide range and diversity of exposure sources, the book makes a clear distinction between outdoor exposures, occupational exposures, and exposures arising from the emission of formaldehyde into indoor air environments. Particular attention is given to the special case of hospitals and scientific facilities, where formaldehyde is used as a sterilizing and preserving agent, and certain living spaces, where uncontrolled emissions from tobacco smoking, building materials, and furniture may pose a particular health hazard. The book devotes most of its pages to the task of defining exposure levels and relating these to health hazards in humans. Concern about toxicological effects is addressed in a review of experimental data, which include observations of nasal tumours in rats and mice following long-term exposures to formaldehyde vapour. The section on health effects in man draws upon clinical and epidemiological studies to evaluate sensory, toxic, respiratory, dermal, genetic, and reproductive effects. Te book also cites evidence providing a relatively clear suggestion of a possible cancer risk for humans from exposure to formaldehyde. The book concludes that the carcinogenic potential is not high, that only nasal or nasalpharyngeal tumours are likely to be causally related to formaldehyde exposure, and that formaldehyde is not teratogenic. The final section presents a series of recommendations, including proposed maximum allowable air concentrations in different settings and precautions to be followed in hospitals.

eng.

pol.

WHODOC

WHO monograph

4