Last update Aug. 1, 2024

Formaldehyde

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

Formaldehyde, formalin or formaldehyde is a very volatile gas, respiratory, eye and skin irritant. The olfactory level is so low that it can prevent intoxication. It is used in many industrial applications (wood, cosmetics, paint, plastics, resins, chemicals, textiles, photography) and in the preservation of histological samples and corpses, as a disinfectant and in hairdressing products used for hair straightening. The major source of exposure is combustion processes (ATSDR 2008 and 1999).

Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen, especially nasopharyngeal (USDHHS 2016, INSHT 2015, NCI 2011).

Discrete hormonal alterations have been observed in women occupationally exposed to mixtures of organic solvents among which formaldehyde was found.(Hassani 2014)

At the level of occupational risk to the nursing mother (INSHT 2024, UN 2011, EC Regulation 2008), the risk phrases (former R-phrases, currently H-phrases for Hazard, danger) or precautionary phrases (P-phrases) that must appear on the safety data sheet of a product are only two:

  • H362 (ant. R64): “May harm breastfed infants.”
  • P263: “Avoid contact during pregnancy and lactation”.

Six other phrases to consider during breastfeeding relate to the carcinogenic, mutagenic or cumulative power of a product:

  • H350 (ant.R45 and R49): 'May cause cancer'”.
  • H351 (ant. R40): “Possible carcinogenic effects”.
  • H370 (ant. R39): “Causes damage to organs”.
  • H371 (ant. R68): “May cause damage to organs”.
  • H372 (ant R48): “Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure”.
  • H373 (ant. R33): “May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure”.

This product has the phrase H350 (“May cause cancer”). (INSHT 2024)

According to current European regulations (EC Regulation 2008) when a product is carcinogenic and/or mutagenic, working nursing mothers should not be exposed to mixtures, whether of solids, liquids or gases, with concentration limits above 0.3%.

There is a growing concern of occupational exposure to formaldehyde in nursing mothers. (Grajewski 2016)

It is rapidly destroyed in plasma and tissues, so it is thought to be very unlikely that formaldehyde inhaled or in contact with the skin would be transferred from mother to infant through breast milk (ATSDR 1999), but it could occur in workplaces with high levels of exposure such as anatomic pathology laboratories, dissection classrooms, and mortuaries. (Kulisch 2020, CDC-NIOSH 2015)

Because of this, several agencies believe it is prudent for breastfeeding women to be relieved from jobs involving high levels of formaldehyde exposure (Kulisch 2020). If the company does not grant a job accommodation to an occupationally exposed nursing mother, it should ensure that protective work conditions (CDC-NIOSH 2015: masks, gloves) and good ventilation of rooms that keep the TLV-EC (TLV-STEL) below 0.3 ppm (0.37 mg/m3) are met. (INSHT 2024, USDHHS 2016)

Do not breastfeed if mother intoxicated by massive inhalation or ingestion. The benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risk from low levels of environmental contaminants in human milk, in many cases lower than those in cow's milk or other foods. (Mead 2008)


See below the information of this related product:

  • Hair straighteners (Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.)

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

Your contribution is essential for this service to continue to exist. We need the generosity of people like you who believe in the benefits of breastfeeding.

Thank you for helping to protect and promote breastfeeding.

José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.

Other names

Formaldehyde is also known as


Formaldehyde in other languages or writings:

Group

Formaldehyde belongs to this group or family:

Tradenames

Main tradenames from several countries containing Formaldehyde in its composition:

Pharmacokinetics

Variable Value Unit
Molecular weight 30 daltons

References

  1. INSHT - Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo. Límites de exposición profesional para agentes químicos en España. - 2024 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  2. Kulisch C, Langheinrich J, Heuckendorf E, Vida I, Brunk I. Challenges and implementation of the German maternity protection act for female medical students in macroscopic anatomical education. GMS J Med Educ. 2020 Mar 16;37(2):Doc17. Abstract
  3. Grajewski B, Rocheleau CM, Lawson CC, Johnson CY. "Will my work affect my pregnancy?" Resources for anticipating and answering patients' questions. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Formaldehyde. 14th Report on Carcinogens (RoC). 2016 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  5. CDC-NIOSH. Formaldehyde. Workplace Safety and Health Topic. 2015 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  6. INSHT. Modificación de la clasificación del Formaldehido (CAS: 50-00-0). Modificación del Reglamento (UE) nº 605/2014 2015 Full text (in our servers)
  7. Hassani S, Namvar M, Ghoreishvandi M, Attarchi M, Golabadi M, Seyedmehdi SM, Khodarahmian M. Menstrual disturbances and hormonal changes in women workers exposed to a mixture of organic solvents in a pharmaceutical company. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2014 Abstract
  8. LabKem. Formaldehído. Ficha técnica. 2013 Full text (in our servers)
  9. UN. United Nations. Codification of Hazard Statements, codification and use of Precautionary Statements and examples of precautionary pictograms. Annex 3. 2011 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  10. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Formaldehyde and Cancer Risk 2011 Full text (in our servers)
  11. National Cancer Institute (NCI). Formaldehído y riesgo de cáncer. 2011 Full text (in our servers)
  12. Mead MN. Contaminants in human milk: weighing the risks against the benefits of breastfeeding. Environ Health Perspect. 2008 Oct;116(10):A427-34. No abstract available. Abstract
  13. ATSDR. Formaldehyde. Public Health Statement. 2008 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  14. Comisión Europea. REGLAMENTO (CE) No 1272/2008 DEL PARLAMENTO EUROPEO Y DEL CONSEJO de 16 de diciembre de 2008 sobre clasificación, etiquetado y envasado de sustancias y mezclas. Diario oficial de la Unión Europea. 2008 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  15. ATSDR. Formaldehído. Resumen de Salud Pública. 1999 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)

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