Miscellaneous – Multipurpose Industrial Product

Formaldehyde was discovered in 1857 & is comprised of small Oxygen, Hydrogen & Carbon atoms. The molecular formula is CH2O, CAS # 50-00-0.

Formaldehyde has uses in many industries, including:

• Agriculture, in fertilisers and pesticides, and also used as a
• Disinfectant and other care requirements, in animal husbandry
• Medical, particularly hospitals, pathology labs and forensics
• Cosmetics and personal care industries as a preservative, and
• Preservation by embalming, in funeral homes & universities
• Building, with concrete and plasters and particularly
  Wood product industries that manufacture MDF
• Adhesive, resin and plastics and variety of household product industries

Use and levels of formaldehyde are regulated for safety reasons in Australia.

Inhaling formaldehyde can be harmful, irritating airways and exposure may irritate the eyes. With high exposure levels it can be toxic.

There is no antidote for formaldehyde.

Chemical properties of formaldehyde indicate that it reacts with strong oxidisers, alkalis and acids, phenols and urea. Poisonous gases are produced if formaldehyde catches fire. It is very reactive and combines with many substances and polymerises easily.

Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment though, from decaying plant material and is part of the process in normal living organisms.

Fun fact: Due to metabolic functions, about 40 grams of formaldehyde is produced by a human every day!

At this time, it is doubtful that formaldehyde chemistry can be replaced and so it continues to be an essential building block in many every day products in use today.