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Environmental fate & pathways

Additional information on environmental fate and behaviour

Administrative data

Endpoint:
additional information on environmental fate and behaviour
Remarks:
natural occurance
Type of information:
other: monitoring data
Adequacy of study:
supporting study
Reliability:
2 (reliable with restrictions)
Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:
other: Review article

Data source

Referenceopen allclose all

Reference Type:
publication
Title:
An Ecological Risk Assessment of Formaldehyde
Author:
Chénier, Robert
Year:
2003
Bibliographic source:
Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal
9/2,483-509 3/2003
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Formaldehyde. Environmental Health Criteria 89.
Author:
WHO (World Health Organization)
Year:
1989
Bibliographic source:
International Programme on Chemical Safety, Geneva, Switzerland
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Formation of carbonyl compounds from UVinduced photodegradation of humic substances in natural waters: Fate of riverine carbon in the sea
Author:
Kieber RJ, Zhou X, and Mopper K.
Year:
1990
Bibliographic source:
Limnol Oceanogr 35:1503-15
Reference Type:
publication
Title:
Monitoring Firefighter Exposure to Air Toxins at Prescribed Burns of Forest and Range Biomass.
Author:
Reinhardt TE
Year:
1991
Bibliographic source:
Research Paper PNW-RP-441. Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest Service, US Department of Agriculture, Portland, OR, USA
Reference Type:
review article or handbook
Title:
Handbook of Environmental Fate and Exposure Data for Organic Chemicals, vol 1. Large Production and Priority Pollutants
Author:
Howard PH.
Year:
1989
Bibliographic source:
pp 101–6. Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, USA

Materials and methods

Results and discussion

Any other information on results incl. tables

Natural occurance is described in Chenier, 2003 based on several publications:


Formaldehyde occurs naturally in the environment and is the product of many natural processes. It is released during biomass combustion, such as forest and bush fires (Howard 1989; Reinhardt 1991). In water, it is also formed by the irradiation of humic substances by sunlight (Kieber et al. 1990). As a metabolic intermediate, formaldehyde is present at low levels in most living organisms (WHO 1989; IARC 1995). Studies have found it to be emitted by bacteria, algae, plankton and vegetation.

Applicant's summary and conclusion