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Dept of the Environment

Answer

Mr. Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the risk to human health from the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes. [9564] Sir Paul Beresford: I have been asked to reply. The Health and Safety Executive on behalf of the Health and Safety Commission reviewed the health effects and occupational exposure of formaldehyde in 1984. HSC'S advisory committee on toxic substances agreed that the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes causes severe irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract. However, there was no evidence that the inhalation of formaldehyde fumes causes occupational asthma and the evidence for causing nasal tumours was considered equivocal. The Department commissioned the Medical Research Council institute for environment and health to review the available data on exposure to formaldehyde in typical UK homes and assess the likely impacts on the health of occupants. This assessment was published by the institute in May 1996, the conclusions on health effects of formaldehyde were: 1. The irritant effects reported in some of the US studies from the 1980's related to mobile homes and relatively high levels of formaldehyde exposure, and are not relevant to the current situation in the UK. 2. Chamber studies with normal adults or those with pre-existing asthma have not demonstrated any dysfunction to mean formaldehyde levels currently found in UK homes by the Building Research Establishment study (0.020-0.025 mg/m{3}, 0.017-0.021 ppm) or even at levels several times higher. 3. Epidemiological studies have not demonstrated any increase in respiratory symptoms or lung function at estimated current levels of formaldehyde in UK homes. However, there is a suggestion of an increase in asthma and chronic bronchitis among children living in homes with formaldehyde levels above 0.07 mg/m{3} (0.06 ppm). 4. There is no evidence to suggest that current domestic exposures to formaldehyde in the UK pose a carcinogenic risk.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

9564; 287 c709W

Session

1996-97

Subjects

Housing Health hazards Research Formaldehyde