EPA warns toxic chemical found ‘nearly everywhere’ presents an unreasonable risk of injury
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The agency’s final risk assessment for formaldehyde jump-starts the process to address the risk posed by the cancer-causing chemical. Using formaldehyde, a common chemical that can cause cancer and other chronic conditions, presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to human health” in current practices, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.
![[The Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday that it would propose a rule to protect people from formaldehyde’s negative health impacts going forward]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/02/17/iStock-2163652415.jpg)
While workers in places where formaldehyde is used are the most at risk, those who frequently use consumer products that contain it are also at “high risk” due to short-term inhalation and skin exposure, particularly when the products — like automotive car products and leather goods — are new.
People who live near facilities that release the toxic chemical are also at “some risk,” although the agency said it “did not determine that ambient air contributes significantly to the unreasonable risk determination” partially because modeling does not account for the atmospheric degradation of formaldehyde, because there are uncertainties regarding its cancer hazard assessment, and because of “extremely conservative assumptions” in its model. And, it noted, that additional regulatory measures are promoted under the Clean Air Act.
Notably, formaldehyde concentrations in the air are much lower than the concentrations needed to produce negative effects to the environment. It does not last long in water, sediment, or soil, resulting in lower exposure risks to plants, animals, and the environment. A risk of injury to the environment that would contribute to the unreasonable risk determination was not identified.
