Toxic Update Alert: EPA Refreshes Formaldehyde Risk Calculations for Review
Published Date: 12/3/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA is updating its science on formaldehyde to make sure the risk to people’s health is clear and accurate. They still believe formaldehyde is risky and are working on rules to keep us safe, but want your thoughts by February 2, 2026. This affects workers and anyone exposed to formaldehyde, with changes that could impact how it’s managed and regulated soon.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Acute exposure limit set to 0.3 ppm
If you work around or are exposed to formaldehyde, EPA updated its acute inhalation benchmark (point of departure) to 0.3 ppm and set the intra-human uncertainty factor (UFH) to 1. EPA will use this 0.3 ppm value to calculate 15-minute (acute) inhalation risk estimates and says it will apply this value to protect against all exposure durations, including cancer. EPA is asking for comment on the Draft Memorandum (comments due February 2, 2026).
EPA will continue TSCA risk management work
EPA states it still finds formaldehyde presents an unreasonable risk and is continuing work on a proposed risk management rule under TSCA section 6(a). EPA says it may regulate manufacture (including import), processing, distribution, commercial use, and disposal to ensure formaldehyde no longer presents unreasonable risk and may choose upstream actions to address downstream uses.
Inhalation risk no longer exceeds benchmark for certain uses
Using the revised POD (0.3 ppm) and UFH = 1, EPA found that inhalation exposure estimates for workers no longer exceed the benchmark for five specific conditions of use (COUs): lawn and garden products; oxidizing/reducing agent processing aids; adhesives and sealant chemicals in wood product manufacturing (and related plastics/construction/paper uses); recycling; and laboratory chemicals. EPA also identified three COUs where occupational non-user central tendency inhalation estimates no longer show risk.
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Key Dates
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