Substance Information

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REACH Registration data can be found in the new ECHA CHEM database. The old ‘Registered substance factsheets’ will be available on this web site during the transition period but have not been updated since 19 May 2023. More

 

Formaldehyde

EC / List no.: 200-001-8

CAS no.: 50-00-0

Mol. formula: CH2O

formula
GHS05: Corrosive GHS08: Serious Health Hazard GHS06: Acute Toxicity

Danger! According to the harmonised classification and labelling (ATP06) approved by the European Union, this substance is toxic if swallowed, is toxic in contact with skin, causes severe skin burns and eye damage, is toxic if inhaled, may cause cancer, is suspected of causing genetic defects and may cause an allergic skin reaction.

GHS07: Health hazard

Additionally, the classification provided by companies to ECHA in REACH registrations identifies that this substance is fatal if inhaled and causes serious eye damage.

  • C

Carcinogenic

  • M

Possibly Mutagenic

  • Ss

Skin sensitising

This substance is registered under the REACH Regulation and is manufactured in and / or imported to the European Economic Area, at ≥ 1 000 000 tonnes per annum.

This substance is used by consumers, in articles, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing, at industrial sites and in manufacturing.

Biocidal Uses

This substance is approved for use as a biocide in the EEA and/or Switzerland, for: disinfection, veterinary hygiene.

This substance is being reviewed for use as a biocide in the EEA and/or Switzerland, for: embalming or taxidermy.

This substance is used by consumers, in articles, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing, at industrial sites and in manufacturing.

Consumer Uses

This substance is used in the following products: adhesives and sealants, coating products, fillers, putties, plasters, modelling clay, inks and toners, polymers, biocides (e.g. disinfectants, pest control products), fuels, polishes and waxes, washing & cleaning products and cosmetics and personal care products.
Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from: indoor use (e.g. machine wash liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coating or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners), outdoor use, outdoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. metal, wooden and plastic construction and building materials) and indoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. flooring, furniture, toys, construction materials, curtains, foot-wear, leather products, paper and cardboard products, electronic equipment).

Article service life

Release to the environment of this substance can occur from industrial use: industrial abrasion processing with low release rate (e.g. cutting of textile, cutting, machining or grinding of metal).
Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from: outdoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. metal, wooden and plastic construction and building materials) and indoor use in long-life materials with low release rate (e.g. flooring, furniture, toys, construction materials, curtains, foot-wear, leather products, paper and cardboard products, electronic equipment).
This substance can be found in products with material based on: plastic (e.g. food packaging and storage, toys, mobile phones), paper (e.g. tissues, feminine hygiene products, nappies, books, magazines, wallpaper), leather (e.g. gloves, shoes, purses, furniture), fabrics, textiles and apparel (e.g. clothing, mattress, curtains or carpets, textile toys), rubber (e.g. tyres, shoes, toys), wood (e.g. floors, furniture, toys) and metal (e.g. cutlery, pots, toys, jewellery).

Widespread uses by professional workers

This substance is used in the following products: adhesives and sealants, coating products, laboratory chemicals and polymers.
This substance is used in the following areas: building & construction work, health services, mining and scientific research and development.
This substance is used for the manufacture of: textile, leather or fur, wood and wood products, plastic products, furniture and .
Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from: indoor use (e.g. machine wash liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coating or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners) and outdoor use.

Formulation or re-packing

This substance is used in the following products: adhesives and sealants, polymers and laboratory chemicals.
This substance has an industrial use resulting in manufacture of another substance (use of intermediates).
Release to the environment of this substance can occur from industrial use: formulation of mixtures, formulation in materials and in the production of articles.

Uses at industrial sites

This substance is used in the following products: adhesives and sealants, polymers, leather treatment products, textile treatment products and dyes, fertilisers, pH regulators and water treatment products and laboratory chemicals.
This substance has an industrial use resulting in manufacture of another substance (use of intermediates).
This substance is used in the following areas: formulation of mixtures and/or re-packaging and building & construction work.
This substance is used for the manufacture of: chemicals, plastic products, textile, leather or fur, pulp, paper and paper products, mineral products (e.g. plasters, cement) and rubber products.
Release to the environment of this substance can occur from industrial use: in the production of articles, as processing aid, formulation of mixtures, formulation in materials, for thermoplastic manufacture and as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates).

Manufacture

Release to the environment of this substance can occur from industrial use: manufacturing of the substance, formulation of mixtures, formulation in materials, in processing aids at industrial sites, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates), as processing aid, for thermoplastic manufacture, as processing aid and of substances in closed systems with minimal release.

The InfoCard summarises the non-confidential data on substances as held in the databases of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), including data provided by third parties. The InfoCard is automatically generated. Information requirements under different legislative frameworks may therefore not be up–to–date or complete. Substance manufacturers and importers are responsible for consulting official publications. This InfoCard is covered by the ECHA Legal Disclaimer.

ECHA logo about INFOCARD - Last updated: 19/05/2023