# 2025-21776: Toxic Update Alert: EPA Refreshes Formaldehyde Risk Calculations for Review 2025-21776, Formaldehyde; Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment, is a Federal Register notice from Environmental Protection Agency published 2025-12-03, effective Comments must be received on or before February 2, 2026. (as of 2026-06-08). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21776 - As of: 2026-06-08 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-21776 - Title: Formaldehyde; Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum; Notice of Availability and Request for Comment - Type: Notice - Agencies: Environmental Protection Agency - Citation: 90 FR 55726 - Published: 2025-12-03 - Effective: Comments must be received on or before February 2, 2026. - Comments close: 2026-02-02 - Significant: no - Touches household money: no - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-06-08 ## In one line Toxic Update Alert: EPA Refreshes Formaldehyde Risk Calculations for Review ## 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. ## Abstract The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or "the Agency") is announcing the availability of and soliciting public comment on an Updated Draft Risk Calculation Memorandum (or "Draft Memorandum") to inform a Revised Draft Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health or the environment, without consideration of costs or non-risk factors, including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, under the conditions of use (COUs). Consistent with statutory obligations and Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science, EPA remains committed to the highest standards of scientific integrity and reliance on the best available scientific information. To that end, and after further consideration of comments raised during the scientific peer review process, EPA is reconsidering the use of certain hazard values in the formaldehyde risk evaluation. This Notice, Draft Memorandum, and the materials included in the docket provide the science and science policy basis for determining how the revised draft inhalation point of departure (POD) impacts the corresponding draft margin of exposure (MOE) estimates and the risk determination for formaldehyde under TSCA. Although the Agency is also providing a revised draft occupational exposure value, EPA is not changing its position that formaldehyde poses unreasonable risk of injury to human health. As such, the Agency is continuing work on a proposed risk management rule for formaldehyde as required by TSCA to ensure statutory deadlines are met and necessary protections are not delayed. EPA is also seeking additional information, specific to how formaldehyde is manufactured and used, which may inform the risk management of formaldehyde. After public comment, the Agency will determine if the proposed revisions discussed in this action warrant updating the Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde under TSCA. ## Effects PRIA read - Acute exposure limit set to 0.3 ppm: mixed, medium. 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 v… - EPA will continue TSCA risk management work: cost, medium. 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 pr… - Inhalation risk no longer exceeds benchmark for certain uses: benefit, low. 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 manufa… ## Related documents - [2026-19071](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19071): Partial Repeal of the Carbon Pollution Standards for Fossil Fuel-Fired Electric Generating Units, 2026-09-17 - [2026-19072](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19072): Rescission of the Greenhouse Gas Findings for Fossil Fuel-Fired Power Plants and Repeal of Regulations for Power Plant Greenhouse Gas Emiss…, 2026-09-17 - [2026-18317](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-18317): Updated Definition of “Waters of the United States”, 2026-09-09 - [2026-14112](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-14112): Amendments and Nonconformance Penalties for Model Year 2027 and Later Heavy-Duty Highway Engines and Amendments to Inducement Provisions fo…, 2026-07-14 - [2026-13667](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13667): Minor New Source Review Program Air Permitting Public Participation Requirements for State Implementation Plans, 2026-07-07 - [2026-13263](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13263): Revisions To Establish the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) for Public Water Systems, 2026-07-01 ## Sources - [2025-21776 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/03/2025-21776/formaldehyde-updated-draft-risk-calculation-memorandum-notice-of-availability-and-request-for) - [2025-21776 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-03/pdf/2025-21776.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-21775, Self-Regulatory Organizations; The Options Clearing Corporation; Notice of Fili…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21775) - [Next: 2025-21777, Submission for Review: 3206-NEW, Request for Reduction or Cancellation of Feder…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21777) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-21776 (as of 2026-06-08).