(Also known as: formalin; methanal; methyl aldehyde; methylene oxide; paraformaldehyde)
SUMMARY
Data alerts
The following alerts are based on the data in the tables below. An absence of an alert does not imply the substance has no implications for human health, biodiversity or the environment but just that we do not have the data to form a judgement.
Fungicide, Bactericide, Metabolite, Other substance
Metabolite Type
Soil, Water
Other constituent type
Inert solvent
Substance group
Unclassified
Minimum active substance purity
-
Known relevant impurities
-
Substance origin
Synthetic
Mode of action
Acts by protein denaturation
CAS RN
50-00-0
EC number
200-001-8
CIPAC number
156
US EPA chemical code
043001
PubChem CID
712
Molecular mass
30.03
PIN (Preferred Identification Name)
-
IUPAC name
formaldehyde
CAS name
formaldehyde
Other status information
Listed on USA Toxic Release Inventory; Registered as a UK Commodity Substance; Subject to the provisions of the UK Poisons Act 1972
Relevant Environmental Water Quality Standards
UK Environment Agency non-statutory standard for the protection of aquatic life in fresh surface water: 5 µg l⁻¹ as annual average, 50 µg l⁻¹ as max acceptable conc.
V3 V = ChemID online databases / IPCS INCHEM (ChemID; IPCS INCHEM ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Non-volatile
Maximum UV-vis absorption L mol⁻¹ cm⁻¹
-
-
-
Surface tension (mN m⁻¹)
-
-
-
Degradation
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
General biodegradability
-
Soil degradation (days) (aerobic)
DT₅₀ (typical)
6
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (lab at 20 °C)
1.9
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
Non-persistent
DT₅₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (lab at 20 °C)
-
-
-
DT₉₀ (field)
-
-
-
DT₅₀ modelling endpoint
-
-
-
Note
Other sources: DT₅₀ 2-20 days
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Dissipation rate RL₅₀ on and in plant matrix
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Aqueous photolysis DT₅₀ (days) at pH 7
Value
-
-
-
Note
-
Aqueous hydrolysis DT₅₀ (days) at 20 °C and pH 7
Value
Stable
P2 P = Other governments and regulators 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Stable
Note
-
Water-sediment DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Water phase only DT₅₀ (days)
-
-
-
Soil adsorption and mobility
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Linear
Kd
-
A3 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 3 = Unverified data of known source
Mobile
Koc
37
Notes and range
Other sources: DT₅₀ 2-20 days
Freundlich
Kf
-
-
-
Kfoc
-
1/n
-
Notes and range
-
pH sensitivity
-
Fate indices
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
GUS leaching potential index
0.68
Calculated
Low leachability
SCI-GROW groundwater index (μg l⁻¹) for a 1 kg ha⁻¹ or 1 l ha⁻¹ application rate
Value
1.64 X 10-03
Calculated
-
Note
-
Potential for particle bound transport index
Low
Calculated
-
Potential for loss via drain flow
Mobile
Calculated
-
ECOTOXICOLOGY
Property
Value
Source; quality score; and other information
Interpretation
Bio-concentration factor
BCF (l kg⁻¹)
0.2
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
Low potential
CT₅₀ (days)
Not available
-
Mammals - Acute oral LD₅₀ (mg kg⁻¹)
> 550
L3 L = Pesticide manuals and hard copy reference books / other sources 3 = Unverified data of known source
Rat
Moderate
Mammals - Short term dietary NOEL
(mg kg⁻¹)
-
Q2 Q = Miscellaneous internet resources 2 = Unverified data of unknown source
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
A5 A = EU regulatory and evaluation data as published by EC, EFSA (RAR, DAR & Conclusion dossiers), EMA (e.g. EU Annex III PIC DGD) (EU - Pesticides database; EFSA Scientific Publications ) 5 = Verified data used for regulatory purposes
Daphnia magna
Moderate
Aquatic invertebrates - Chronic 21 day NOEC (mg l⁻¹)
Most probable exposure route is via inhalation - PPE/PPC essential
MRLs
European
EU MRL pesticide database
Great Britain
GB MRL Register
Notes
-
Drinking Water Standards
-
-
-
Drinking Water MAC (μg l⁻¹)
-
-
-
Health issues
Specific human health issues
Carcinogen
Genotoxic
Endocrine disruptor
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
A0 A = Chromosome aberration (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
B0 B = DNA damage/repair (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
C0 C = Gene mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
D0 D = Genome mutation (EFSA database) 0 = No data
;
E1 E = Unspecified genotoxicity type (miscellaneous data source) 1 = Positive
No data found
Reproduction / development effects
Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitor
Neurotoxicant
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
XNo, known not to cause a problem
Respiratory tract irritant
Skin irritant
Skin sensitiser
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
Eye irritant
Phototoxicant
✓Yes, known to cause a problem
No data found
General human health issues
IARC group 1 carcinogen, UK HSE - carcinogen Severe obstructive tracheobronchitis may result from inhalation causing throat spasms and a build up of fluid in the lungs, leading to death May cause serious damage of the gastrointestinal tract
Handling issues
Property
Value and interpretation
General
Flammable gas Reacts explosively with peroxides and performic acid IMDG Tranport class 3
CLP classification 2013
Health: H301, H311, H314, H317, H331, H341, H350
EC Risk Classification
Carcinogen category 3: R40 T - Toxic: R23/24/25 Xn - Harmful: R43 H - Handling risks: R34
Lewis, K.A., Tzilivakis, J., Warner, D. and Green, A. (2016) An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 22(4), 1050-1064. DOI: 10.1080/10807039.2015.1133242
Environmental fate
Ecotoxicity
