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Sunday, 9 February, 2025
HomeEnvironmental HealthEPA warns of common chemical’s link to cancer

EPA warns of common chemical’s link to cancer

A recent investigation has found that formaldehyde causes more cancer than any other toxic air pollutant, exposing everyone to elevated risks of developing cancer no matter where they live – and often posing the greatest risk in their homes.

The authors of the ProPublica report are now urging swifter action from US authorities in banning the pervasive substance, and have slammed officials for dragging their heels in addressing the issue.

The investigators said little was being done to curb the use of formaldehyde, “which is so widespread that nobody in the United States is safe from it”.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had hoped to ban the substance before, but previously missed its own deadlines, drawing swift reaction from lawmakers over the last months of 2024, reports The Independent.

Last week it issued a notice announcing the availability of the final risk evaluation for formaldehyde, which can cause cancer and other chronic conditions, saying it presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to human health” in current practices.

The chemical is used to make glues, paints, plastics, textiles, semiconductors, construction materials, toys, and furniture, and as a preservative in laboratories and mortuaries. Over time, it may be released from those products.

Included in products to help straighten hair or smooth curls, formaldehyde can pose a disproportionate risk to black women, with exposure potentially resulting in various adverse health effects, which differ depending on how long a person is exposed.

A short amount of time can lead to eye and respiratory inflammation. But chronic periods have more serious consequences, like reduced lung function, allergic reactions, increased asthma and allergy conditions, and throat and nose cancer.

After its final risk evaluation and the release of a draft in March last year, the EPA said it will begin a “risk management process” to address the risk posed by formaldehyde, and propose a rule to protect workers and consumers.

While workers in places where formaldehyde is used are the most at risk, those who frequently use 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 living near facilities that release the toxic chemical are also at “some risk”, although the EPA said it “did not determine that ambient air contributes significantly to the unreasonable risk determination”, partially because modelling 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.

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, noted the agency.

“As such, all of these considerations led the agency to find that general population exposures from ambient air emissions under the conditions of use of formaldehyde do not significantly contribute to the unreasonable risk of formaldehyde,” the EPA said.

The ProPublica report said federal regulators have known for more than four decades that formaldehyde is toxic, but their attempts to limit the chemical have been repeatedly thwarted by the many companies that rely on it.

 

ProPublica article – Formaldehyde Causes More Cancer Than Any Other Toxic Air Pollutant. Little Is Being Done to Curb the Risk (Open access)

 

EPA report – Formaldehyde; Draft Risk Evaluation Peer Review by the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC); Notice of Availability, Public Meetings and Request for Comment (Open access)

 

The Independent article – EPA warns toxic chemical found ‘nearly everywhere’ presents an unreasonable risk of injury (Open access)

 

See more from MedicalBrief archives:

 

Hair products contain dangerous amounts of formaldehyde

 

FDA urged to expedite hair straightener ban

 

US flight attendants win chemicals-in-uniforms case

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