Danger GHS08GHS06GHS05 NOAEL Data IARC Group 1 Prop 65 REACH Registered Cosmetic Ingredient

Formaldehyde

Also known as: Caswell No. 465, EINECS 200-001-8, EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 043001, Formaldehyde, gas, Formalin 40 (+15 more)

CAS 50-00-0

Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) is a chemical substance with GHS signal word Danger; key hazard signal: H350; H341; H330; H302; H314; H317. Key regulatory status: California Proposition 65, REACH registered, 60 regulatory/inventory lists, cosmetic ingredient cross-reference; source data from ECHA CLP, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, IARC, ECHA REACH, CA Prop 65, ILO ICSC, OSHA, EPA TRI.

View cosmetic safety profile for Formaldehyde →

Cross-Vertical Regulatory Divergence

Formaldehyde is prohibited in EU cosmetics at max 2.2% but has active industrial GHS classifications (H350, H341, H330, H302, H314, H317).

SOURCE Cross-vertical comparison Cosmetics: ingredients.eu_status/eu_max; Chemicals: eu_clp_annex_vi.signal_word/hazard_statement_code

SOURCE noael studies public

NOAEL studies

100

SOURCE chemical inventory jurisdictions

Regulatory lists

SOURCE eu clp annex vi

GHS signal

Danger

Chemical Identity

CAS, identifiers, formula, and alternate names for the matched substance record.

SOURCE DSSTox identifiers 26 fields

Name

Formaldehyde

CAS Number

50-00-0

DTXSID

DTXSID7020637

Molecular Formula

CH2O

InChI Key

WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N

Monoisotopic Mass

30.010565

Synonyms

Caswell No. 465EINECS 200-001-8EPA Pesticide Chemical Code 043001Formaldehyde, gasFormalin 40NCI-C02799RCRA waste number U122Aldehyd mravenciAldehyde formiqueAldeide formicaFormalin-loesungenOplossingen

IARC Carcinogen Classification

Carcinogenic hazard classification from IARC monograph evaluations.

SOURCE IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans 1 records

Group	Meaning	Evaluated	Volume
Group 1	Carcinogenic to humans	2009	Sup 7, 62, 88, 100F

California Proposition 65

California OEHHA listing status and toxicity category.

SOURCE California OEHHA Proposition 65 List 1 records

Chemical	Toxicity Type	Cancer	Developmental	Listed
-	cancer	Yes	No	-

GHS / CLP Classification

EU harmonized hazard classification, hazard statements, pictograms, and signal word.

SOURCE EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA) 1 classifications

Hazard Class	H-Statements	Pictograms	Signal
Carc. 1B; Muta. 2; Acute Tox. 2; Acute Tox. 4; Skin Corr. 1B; Skin Sens. 1A	H350; H341; H330; H302; H314; H317	GHS08; GHS06; GHS05	Danger

ICSC Chemical Safety

International Chemical Safety Card hazard and exposure summary.

SOURCE ILO/WHO International Chemical Safety Cards 2 records

Field	Value
GHS Signal Word	DANGER
GHS Hazard Statements	Extremely flammable gas Fatal if inhaled Causes serious eye irritation May cause cancer if inhaled May cause an allergic skin reaction May cause respiratory irritation
Short-term Effects	The substance is severely irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract. Inhalation of high concentrations may cause lung oedema, but only after initial corrosive effects on the eyes and the upper respiratory tract have become manifest.
Long-term Effects	Repeated or chronic inhalation of the vapour may cause chronic inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. Repeated or prolonged contact may cause skin sensitization. This substance is carcinogenic to humans.
Routes of Exposure	The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation.

OSHA Exposure Limits

Occupational exposure limits from OSHA, NIOSH, and ACGIH rows.

SOURCE OSHA / NIOSH / ACGIH occupational exposure limits 24 records

Agency	Metric	Value	ppm	mg/m3	Skin
OSHA	TWA	0.75 ppm [0.5 ppm Action Level]	0.75	-	N
OSHA	STEL	2 ppm	2	-	N
NIOSH	TWA	0.016 ppm	0.016	-	Y
NIOSH	CEILING	0.1 ppm [15 minutes]	0.1	-	Y
ACGIH	TWA	0.1 ppm [2016]	0.1	-	N
ACGIH	STEL	0.3 ppm [2016]	0.3	-	N
CAL/OSHA	TWA	0.75 ppm [0.50 ppm Action Level]	0.75	-	N
CAL/OSHA	STEL	2 ppm	2	-	N
NIOSH	IDLH	20 ppm	20	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-1	1 ppm	1	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-2	10 ppm	10	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-3	40 ppm	40	-	-
OSHA	TWA	0.75 ppm [0.5 ppm Action Level]	0.75	-	N
OSHA	STEL	2 ppm	2	-	N
NIOSH	TWA	0.016 ppm	0.016	-	N
NIOSH	CEILING	0.1 ppm [15 minutes]	0.1	-	N
ACGIH	TWA	0.1 ppm [2016]	0.1	-	N
ACGIH	STEL	0.3 ppm [2016]	0.3	-	N
CAL/OSHA	TWA	0.75 ppm [0.50 ppm Action Level]	0.75	-	N
CAL/OSHA	STEL	2 ppm	2	-	N
NIOSH	IDLH	20 ppm	20	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-1	1 ppm	1	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-2	10 ppm	10	-	-
AIHA	ERPG-3	40 ppm	40	-	-

Functional Uses

Industrial and product-use categories associated with this substance.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

BiocidePreservativeBinderInsulatorsDegradant/impurityMonomersNo specific technical function

Regulatory Lists

Inventory, screening, and regulatory list matches from public chemical databases.

SOURCE EPA CPDat 60 records

List	Keyword	Source
drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive	Belgaqua	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	State of California	State of California
active_ingredient; Pesticides	California Department of Pesticide Regulation	State of California
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides	European Commission	CPCat
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
Cons electronics mech appliances and machinery; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Other indirect contact consumer goods	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; Construction and building materials; detected; emissions; Europe	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
air; detected; emissions; Europe; Furniture and Furnishings	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides	Commission of the European Communities	CPCat
consumer_product; detected	Elsevier	CPCat
Europe; Personal care - nails - nail polish	Danish Environmental Protection Agency	Danish EPA
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat
active_ingredient; Pesticides	MN Department of Agriculture Pesticide Sales Database	CPCat

NOAEL Studies

Toxicology endpoints rendered from public NOAEL study rows.

SOURCE NOAEL studies Showing 50 of 100 studies

Value	Unit	Endpoint	Route	Species	Source
1	%	-	inhalation	rat	UnifiedCodex:SCCS_SHADOW:beta.noael_studies
1	ppm	-	inhalation	rat	UnifiedCodex:SCCS_SHADOW:beta.noael_studies
1	ppm	-	inhalation	rat	UnifiedCodex:SCCS_SHADOW:beta.noael_studies
2	ppm	-	inhalation	rat	UnifiedCodex:SCCS_SHADOW:beta.noael_studies
10	mg/kg bw/day	-	dermal	-	UnifiedCodex:SCCS_SHADOW:beta.noael_studies
=0.540348	mg/m3	BMCL (05)	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB_Cal_OEHHA_REL_derivations
5.14	ug/mL	CD54, EC200	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
5.2	ug/mL	CD54, EC200	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.634	ug/mL	CD86, EC120	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
1.6	ug/mL	CD86, EC150	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
4.3	ug/mL	CD86, EC150	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
5.74	ug/mL	CD86, EC150	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
5.8	ug/mL	CV75	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
23.3	ug/mL	CV75	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
SQE40	ug/day	California Proposition 65 NSRL	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQE40	ug/day	California Proposition 65 NSRL	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQE40	ug/day	California Proposition 65 NSRL	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQE40	ug/day	California Proposition 65 NSRL	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQEcancer	listing type	California Proposition 65 listing	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQEcancer	listing type	California Proposition 65 listing	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQEcancer	listing type	California Proposition 65 listing	-	-	California Proposition 65
SQEcancer	listing type	California Proposition 65 listing	-	-	California Proposition 65
0.1285	%	Concentration, 5% incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.4116	%	Concentration, 5% incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.9768	%	Concentration, 5% incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
1.202	%	Concentration, 5% incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
2.359	%	Concentration, 5% incidence of positive responses	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.0925	%	Concentration, one positive response	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.1028	%	Concentration, one positive response	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.222	%	Concentration, one positive response	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.4625	%	Concentration, one positive response	Dermal	Human	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
=0.375	mg/m3	DNEL local	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB_GESTIS_DNEL
=9	mg/m3	DNEL systemic	inhalation	Human	ToxValDB_GESTIS_DNEL
30.5	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
36.6	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
36.7	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
37.3	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
40.6	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
44.2	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
44.7	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
48.6	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
49.6	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
51.4	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
54.8	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
60.4	%	Depletion Cys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
0.3	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
1.3	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
1.8	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
2	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization
2.3	%	Depletion Lys	Dermal	-	NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization

Showing 50 of 100 studies

REACH Registration

Registration status from the ECHA REACH registered substances database.

SOURCE ECHA (EU) 1 records

Status	Name	EC Number	Link
Registered	Formaldehyde	200-001-8	ECHA overview →

EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)

TRI hazard and reporting flags for the matched chemical.

SOURCE EPA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemical list 1 records

Chemical	Category	Flags
Formaldehyde	-	-

Cosmetic Safety Profile

Same-CAS cosmetic ingredient record for cross-vertical context.

SOURCE CosIng / Ingredients DB

EU Status

prohibited

Max

2.2%

Pharmaceutical Data

Same-CAS pharmaceutical records from drug and bioactivity sources.

SOURCE EMBL-EBI ChEMBL FORMALDEHYDE

ChEMBL Phase

-1

Adverse Events

Bioactivity

View full pharmaceutical profile →

Food Safety Data

Same-CAS food additive, ADI, and GRAS records where available.

SOURCE EFSA / FDA GRAS 1 records

ADI: 0.15 mg/kg bw

View full food safety profile →

Cannabis Data

Same-CAS cannabis compliance and lab records where available.

SOURCE Cannabis regulatory / lab data efsa substances

1 cannabis record found in efsa substances.

View full cannabis profile →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GHS hazard classification for Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde (CAS 50-00-0) is classified under EU CLP Annex VI as Carc. 1B; Muta. 2; Acute Tox. 2; Acute Tox. 4; Skin Corr. 1B; Skin Sens. 1A with signal word Danger. Hazard statements: H350; H341; H330; H302; H314; H317. Source: EU CLP Annex VI (ECHA).

What is the NOAEL for Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde has 100 NOAEL studies in the database. The lowest reported value is 0.0925 % via Dermal in Human. Source: NTP_ICE_skin_sensitization.

What regulatory lists include Formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde appears on 20 regulatory/inventory lists including drinking_water; Europe; manufacturing; plastic_additive, active_ingredient; Pesticides, active_ingredient; Europe; Pesticides, and 17 more. Source: EPA CPDat.

Is Formaldehyde a carcinogen according to IARC?

Formaldehyde is classified by IARC as Group 1 — carcinogenic to humans (evaluated 2009). Source: IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans.

Is Formaldehyde on the California Proposition 65 list?

Yes, Formaldehyde is listed under California Proposition 65 for cancer. Source: California OEHHA Proposition 65.

What are the occupational exposure limits for Formaldehyde?

Occupational exposure limits for Formaldehyde are set by OSHA, NIOSH, ACGIH. 24 limit values from official agencies are documented in the database. Source: OSHA, NIOSH, ACGIH.

Is Formaldehyde used in cosmetics?

Yes, Formaldehyde is also indexed as a cosmetic ingredient under the name Formaldehyde. View the full cosmetic safety profile on the ingredient page for detailed safety data, SCCS opinions, and regulatory status.

Where does the safety data for Formaldehyde come from?

Safety data is sourced from ECHA CLP Annex VI, EPA ToxValDB, EPA CPDat, EPA DSSTox, IARC Monographs, ECHA REACH, California Proposition 65, ILO/WHO ICSC, OSHA/NIOSH/ACGIH, EPA Toxics Release Inventory, CosIng / Ingredients DB, ChEMBL / DailyMed, EFSA / FDA GRAS, cannabis regulatory/lab databases. All data traces to primary regulatory sources and is updated from official government databases.

Does Formaldehyde have different safety status in cosmetics vs industrial chemicals?

Formaldehyde is prohibited in EU cosmetics at max 2.2% but has active industrial GHS classifications (H350, H341, H330, H302, H314, H317).

Is Formaldehyde used outside industrial chemicals?

Formaldehyde also appears in cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food safety, cannabis databases.